The rise of Cumberland University's Phoenix Ball to premier Wilson County black-tie event

Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read
The Phoenix Ball is a fundraiser that raises money for scholarships at Cumberland University.
The Phoenix Ball is a fundraiser that raises money for scholarships at Cumberland University.

Cumberland University’s Phoenix Ball has become one of Wilson County's most established formal social events. The 39th annual event, scheduled for Saturday, June 3, is expected to draw at least 525 attendees.

It's been sold out for months and has a substantial waiting list.

The overriding premise of the ball is to raise funds for student scholarships. This year’s ball is expected to raise approximately $100,000 for the school’s General Scholarship Fund, which helps the university offer more than 100 scholarships to a variety of students.

The Phoenix Ball offers “a fun date night for couples to dress up and get out,” said Tasha Irby, this year’s event chair with husband Brad.

As the black-tie fundraiser “continues to grow in both size and impact,” Cumberland President Paul Stumb said, it also now manages growth.

Cumberland’s Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena transforms into a ballroom, which puts a limit on size. But organizers say holding the event Stumb describes as “an important part of the fabric of both our university and the Wilson County community,” is vital to the ball.

The Phoenix Ball is held annually at Cumberland University.
The Phoenix Ball is held annually at Cumberland University.

Katy and husband Michael Moscardelli chaired the ball in 2016 when organizers decided to change of course and utilize volunteer committees to take the lead in planning the event.

Help was incorporated from other longtime ball goers and bigger sponsorships were gained and attendance grew to more than 300, Moscardelli said. Growth continued and last year about 450 attended.

“Cumberland is super important to Lebanon," Katy Moscardelli said. "When Cumberland succeeds it’s good for Lebanon.”

The first Phoenix Ball was held in 1984 under the direction of Mary Clement who was the husband to then Cumberland President Bob Clement. Initially proceeds from the ball were used for campus needs like carpeting or library books.

Tickets for 2024 are expected to go on sale in the fall and is generally announced through social media, and on the school's website cumberland.edu. Tickets this year were $450 per person with additional sponsorship opportunities available, according to the school.

About this year’s ball

  • This year’s decorating theme is Black and White.

  • Hunt Brothers Pizza is the presenting sponsor. Gordon Carroll – Carroll Homes is the entertainment sponsor and Pryor Family Dentistry is the Black & White Sponsor. Tables are also sponsored by local businesses.

  • A bourbon bar and photo booth are available.

  • Approximately 150 silent auction items and five live auction items. One live auction item is a dinner party for up to 20 with a chef and five songwriters performing. Jewelry, vacations, sports and music memorabilia are part of the silent auction.

  • This year proceeds from the ball will also be used to fund a new memorial scholarship created to honor two late photographers, Al Ashworth and Dallus Whitfield. Ashworth of Custom Color Photography in Lebanon regularly was hired to shoot the ball. Whitfield was a photographer who worked at the “Lebanon Democrat” and “Wilson Post” during his career and shot the Phoenix Ball.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cumberland's Phoenix Ball takes leaps as Wilson County social event