Hundreds of music fans turned out Saturday night at the 9th annual Casino Night Gala and Silent Auction to benefit the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.

Angie Hillier of Knoxville was attending the fundraiser for her first time.

“My father is big into the Orpheum and symphony and I came with him,” she said while sitting at a poker table. “I really like the silent auction and am trying to outbid my mother.”

C.C. Wilcox was the card dealer at Hillier’s table.

“This is my third or fourth year as a dealer,” he said, adding he didn’t need any training to learn to deal poker. “I do a little on the side,” he said with a smile.

Wilcox’s father, Kit, also volunteered to deal cards at a poker table.

“We have been supporters of the organization for years. Very few communities have this level of music available. It’s an asset and we are blessed. The food and gambling are a plus, too,” he joked.

For eight years, the Casino Night Gala was held at Legends Banquet Hall. This year the event was relocated to Soangetaha Country Club.

“We weren’t at all unhappy with Legends. We just needed more space to grow,” said KGS executive director Pearl Strickland. “We expanded not only in space but added wine-tasting, more food and a bigger dance floor.”

To accommodate those wanting to dance the night away, live music was extended from two hours to four hours.

“It is pure fun,” said Bob Clark, fundraising chairman of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Society and leader of Saturday night’s Bob Clark Combo. “Every year, people ask us to play longer. We are bringing it on this year.”

John Vellenga, president of the symphony board, said every year the event comes together because of the volunteers. “The symphony has such a loyal following. Our state funding has been cut back so much, we hope to fill the gap with this event.”

Strickland said state cuts to the Illinois Arts Council slashed the symphony’s funding between 30 and 50 percent.

“When we started, we would get about twenty grand. Now we are lucky to get six,” she said.

About 200 advance tickets were purchased but it was too soon Saturday night for Strickland to estimate how much the fundraiser would net.

Besides paying $25 for tickets, attendees could gamble at casino games such as craps, poker and blackjack. People also could bid on about $17,000 worth of goods, services and gift certificates donated for a silent auction.

“In this time, with this economy, it is amazing that people are so willing to give,” said Strickland. “All the tables are sponsored. All the food was gifted to us. Everyone working out here is volunteering their time for this benefit. My heart is just full.”