TheSircle Dinners - 2025 Calendar
TheSircle Dinner - Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Dinner Venue: Enventys Partners - 520 Elliot St., Charlotte, NC 28202 (2nd Floor)
Arrival/Wine Glass 6:30 PM - Buffet Dinner: 7:00 PM till 9:00 PM
Guest Speaker: David Fisk
President and CEO, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Theme: "Harmony for a Better Tomorrow – An Evening on the Transformative Power of Music”
Join us for an evening dedicated to exploring the profound, transformative, and healing power of music. Across centuries and cultures, classical music has been recognized as a universal language—one that speaks to the emotions, sharpens the mind, and uplifts the human spirit.
Research in neuroscience shows that listening to and engaging with music can lower stress hormones, boost immune function, improve memory, and foster empathy.
Educational studies confirm that sustained exposure to music—especially classical—develops focus, creativity, and emotional resilience in young people, preparing them to thrive in both academic and personal life.
Yet, the benefits of classical music remain underutilized in our society. By sharing its inspiring effects widely, through performances, outreach, and education, we can enrich communities, bridge divides, and nurture the next generation of creative thinkers and compassionate citizens.
This dinner with David Fisk is an opportunity to connect, reflect, and envision how music can be a powerful catalyst for cultural vitality and social well-being.
These Are Some of the Conversation Topics:
Music as Emotional Medicine
How classical music supports mental health, alleviates stress, and fosters emotional balance in daily life.Building Bridges Through Sound
Exploring how shared musical experiences can bring together diverse communities and strengthen social cohesion.Education in Harmony
The role of classical music in developing discipline, focus, and creativity in children and young adults.Innovation in Tradition
How orchestras can combine classical heritage with modern presentation to engage new audiences.The Symphony as a Civic Force
Reimagining the orchestra as not only an artistic institution but also a driver of community transformation.
About Our Guest Speaker:
David Fisk joined the Charlotte Symphony as its President & CEO in 2020. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia for 18 years, having previously held leadership roles in the UK and Ireland with a chamber orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an international arts festival, and a sculpture park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Manchester, and a postgraduate performer’s diploma specializing in piano accompaniment from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he also studied singing, composition and conducting.
David’s musical life began early, as a boy chorister for five years at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Studying cello led to a deep affinity for orchestral and chamber music, and learning organ at St. Paul’s developed his love of church and choral music into adulthood. Though he started out as a professional musician, and still continues to play piano and organ to this day, David made the turn in his early twenties to arts management, to which he has ever since dedicated his career.
In 2024, David joined the Board of Directors for the British-American Business Council (BABC) Carolinas; a network dedicated to helping companies connect and build their business on both sides of the Atlantic.
David is married to the Irish opera singer and voice teacher Anne O’Byrne. They live in Dilworth and have two grown children, both currently studying in Europe.
Register to Attend with PayPal
DINNER REGISTRATION is $95.00 per person - Buffet Dinner by Chef Todd Villani (Terre a Terre)
No refunds or replacements for cancellation or absence - Free Parking On-Site
DAVID FISK
SAVE THE DATES - Upcoming Dinners 2025
Wednesday, September 10 - David Fisk - President & CEO, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday, October 14 - Walter Frye - Founder & CEO, InkWell Tides Ventures
Tuesday, November 18 - Siu Challons Lipton - Exec. Dir., Dept. of Art, Design and Music, Distinguished Fellow, Queens University
About TheSircle Dinners
Goal and Objectives
GOAL
To provide Leaders with a framework for creative dialogue and meaningful connections
OBJECTIVES
To make meaning by facilitating connections among leaders
To discover what makes us transformational leaders who excel
To understand what motivates engaged leaders to go beyond personal best
THESE ARE THE ONLY RULES:
Be yourself. Let us understand Who You Are, What You Do and Why It Matters
Don't sell. You will be able to do business after the event, in private
Turn off your phone - Don't text during dinner. You can use the phone away from the table
Focus
The Focus is LEADERSHIP and its many facets and expressions.
You are the real conversation catalyst, along with the Guest Presenter and everyone else in the room (I believe the collective talent and expertise are the source of our Breakthrough)
The aim is to engage in Creative Dialogue:
to understand how our experiences converge
to enrich perspectives, approaches and strategies that help us lead better.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING DINNER
I choose specific topics for us to explore with a profound perspective.
I craft Provocative Questions to guide the conversation towards "what works best."
We use Games to discover new insights and ideas.
You collect Practical Approaches and Tools which you can use in your professional life.
You receive everyone's e-mail to connect privately.
Past Dinners
2025
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
“Jack Ossa: The Architecture of Becoming”
Guest Presenter: Jack Ossa, AIA, CEO - Ossa Studio
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
“A Seat at the Table: Building Communities of Kinship through Philanthropy.”
Guest Presenter: Charlie Elberson, CEO, Reemprise Fund
Monday, June 16, 2025
“Transformational Leadership in Healthcare: The Case for Whole Health.”
Guest Presenter: Russ Greenfield MD, Integrative Medicine and Whole Health Expert
Thursday, May 29 , 2025
“Cultivating Global Citizens: Reflections on a Life Between Cultures.”
Guest Presenter: Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk, CEO World Affairs Council of Charlotte
Tuesday, April 22 , 2025
“The Evolving Self: Embracing Open-ended Life Possibilities”
Guest Presenter: Mark Peres, Founder of The Charlotte Center for Humanities and Civic Imagination
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
“The Heart of Leadership: Stories of Growth, Purpose, and Change”
Guest Presenter: Elizabeth McKee, President of Leadership Charlotte
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
“The Seven Weapons to Silence the Imposter”
Guest Presenter: Gary Frey, author of “Silence the Imposter”
2024
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
“The Path from Entrepreneurial Passion to International Resonance”
Guest Presenter: Manuel “Manolo” Betancur, Owner - Manolo’s Bakery, Artisen Gelato - World Bread Hero 2021
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
“Leadership and the Power of Disciplined Listening”
Guest Presenter: Michael Reddington, Executive Resource, Certified Interviewer and Author
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
“Leading with Your Kinder, Higher Self”
Guest Presenter: Angela Gala, Entrepreneur, Founder and Non-Profit Executive
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
“Innovation is a Leadership Strategy”
Guest Presenter: Louis Foreman, CEO and Founder, Enventys Partners
2019
Thursday, November 14, 2019
“Finding Inspiration to Lead”
Guest Presenter: Stephanie Ansaldo, President, The Echo Foundation
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
“Find Your Voice and Lead”
Guest Presenter: Katie Oates, Folk Music Artist
Thursday, August 29, 2019
“Stories to Lead By”
Guest Presenter: Jack Grossman, Entrepreneur, Author and Philanthropist
Tuesday, May 23, 2019
“Cowboy Up: Recover from Defeat and Succeed”
Guest Presenter: Chaz Seale, CEO of Billie Jean King EyeCoach
Monday, January 14, 2019
“Transforming Through Collaborative Leadership”
Guest Presenter: Candice Langston, Managing Director, The Lee Institute
2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
“Building a Legacy of World Class Service”
Guest Presenter: Timothy Miron, Catering Manager, The Ritz Carlton Charlotte
Monday, August 27, 2018
“Leading through Mastery and Meaning”
Guest Presenter: Peter Reinhart, International Bread Expert
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
“The Magic of Networking”
Guest Presenter: Cindy Sisson, Marketing/Sales & Networking Expert
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
“Living Creatively”
Guest Presenter: Matt Olin, writer, host of Creative Mornings Charlotte
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
“The 7 Keys of Extraordinary Leadership”
Guest Presenter: Lou Gayoso, International Business Leader
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
“The Magic Within”
Guest Presenter: Hannibal, world-renowned Magician
2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
“Using Big Data Analytics for Social Good”
Guest Presenter: Rishi Bhatnaghar, CEO of Syntelli Solutions
Thursday, September 7, 2017
“Swiss Leadership Wisdom for Entrepreneurs”
Guest Presenter: Prof. Dr. Andres Pfister, ZHAW Switzerland
Thursday, July 6, 2017
“Passionate Entrepreneurship”
Guest Presenter: Mac Lackey
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
“Leading with Significance”
Guest Presenter: Laura Meyer Wellman
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
“Influence: The Power of Great Ideas”
Guest Presenter: Mark Moore, CEO of Mana Nutrition
2014 - 2016
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
“Deep Friendships”
Guest Presenter: Roger Baumgarte
Thursday, June 9, 2016
“Making Meaning”
Saturday, April 30, 2016
VIP Event - TheSircle Olympic Gold Event
U.S. Olympic Swimmers Time Trials and Dinner
Queens University Levine Wellness Center
Thursday, February 18, 2016
"The Most: Living in Joy"
Thursday, January 21, 2016
"Lead with a Story"
Thursday, December 3, 2015
"Purpose Your Big Why"
Thursday, October 29, 2015
"Real Connections"
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
"Captivate Your Audience and Get Buy-In"
Guest Presenter: Dianne Chase, partner at C4CS
Thursday, May 21, 2015
"Reinvent Yourself and Lead"
Guest Presenter: Michael Solender - Writer
Thursday, March 19, 2015
"The Sartorial Factor: Dress Your Purpose"
Guest Presenter: William Wilson, CEO, William Wilson Clothing
Thursday, February 19, 2015
"From $0 to $100 Million"
Guest Presenter: Ben Dominitz, Vistage Chair, CEOGuru LLC
Thursday, January 15, 2015
"In Leadership as in Art"
Guest Presenter: Jerald Melberg - The Jerald Melberg Gallery
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
"Leading through Simplicity"
Guest Presenter: Deborah Bosley - The Plain Language Group
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
"Leading through Creativity"
Guest Presenter: Sheila Mullen - McColl Innovation Institute
Thursday, August 21, 2014
"Awakening Your Professional Soul"
Guest Presenter: David Pinkley - The Career Sage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
"Communicating Your Essence"
Guest Presenter: Marcia Merrill - Red Rover Communications
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
"Leadership WISDOM"
Facilitated by Carlos Salum
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Charlotte and the Media"
Guest Presenter: Allison Latos - News Anchor WSOCTV-ABC
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
"Fully Engaged Leadership in Action"
Guest Presenter: John Paul Galles, publisher Great Charlotte Biz
2011 - 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
"Radical Connectivity: People, Ideas, Action"
Guest Presenter: Mike Watson, Emcee TEDxCharlotte, AIC
Thrusday, October 3, 2013
"Leading through a Theory of H.O.P.E."
Guest Presenter: Jay Jaboneta - Social Entrepreneur
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
"Leadership in North Carolina, then and now"
Guest Presenter: Mary C. Curtis - award-winning journalist
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
"The Power of Entrepreneurial Innovation"
Guest Presenter: Louis Foreman, Founder & CEO of Enventys
Wednesday, June 20, 2013
"Cultural Breakthrough"
Guest Presenter: Astrid Chirinos, President LACC
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
"The Entrepreneur's Search for Meaning"
Guest Presenter: Fabi Preslar, President of SPARK Publications
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
"Beyond Winning: Life Lessons from Sports"
Guest Presenter: Trudi Lacey, WNBA/Executive Coach
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
"Leadership and Community Engagement"
Guest Presenter: Elizabeth Nisbet Miller, Connector
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"How I lead: Manifest Your Leadership Style"
Facilitated by Carlos Salum
Thursday, October 8, 2012
"Going Deep Quickly Authentic Trust"
Guest Presenter: Mark Peres, Prof. Johnson & Wales
Thursday, September 27, 2012
"The John Love Experience" (what is it?)
Guest Presenter: John W. Love, Jr. - Interdisciplinary Artist
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
On Leadership: "The Resetting of America"
Guest Presenter: Bruce Fritch, Principal - Fritch Consulting
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
"Fulfilling Your Compelling Vision"
Guest Presenter: Manny Ohonme - Founder, Samaritan's Feet
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - TheGrandSircle
"A Brave New You" Evolving Brands - Global Impact
Presenters: Tom Morgan - Melanie Buchanan - Carlos Salum
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
"Spring Up: Evolving through Challenges"
Guest Presenter: Dr. Sam Santander, MD, MPH
Thursday, February 16, 2012
"Developing Your Philanthropic Vision"
Guest Presenter: Chris McLeod, Philanthropy Advisor
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Personal Branding"
Guest Presenter: Melanie Guinn, President of ZGM Brand
Thursday, September 8, 2011
"Inspiring Stories of Personal Achievement"
Guest Presenter: Kenneth Kahn, President, Black Label Advisory
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Inaugural Dinner
"Enduring Value Creation"
Presenters: Jim Alexander and Carlos Salum
2010 - ReNEW Interactive Series (5 dinners) - Hodges Taylor Gallery
2009 - Interact Live Series on Leadership (6 dinners) - Interact Studio