Symphony raising funds with painted violins

COURTESY PHOTO From the left: Butterfly by Jessica Smith Geraghty, Monet's Water Music by Pat Dunn, Garden Party by Maria Dyer, Just Horsin' Around by Cheryl Lamm and In Remembrance of Bach by Debra Stone. The Violins will be raffled off as part of a fundraiser for the Symphony Society in support of the Southwest Florida Symphony. Exquisitely detailed and cleverly designed, fourteen violins were prepared for the Symphony Society's Vibrant Violin project. This fundraiser celebrates the 'Art of Music' and the imagination of fourteen local, regional and national artists.

Rosealie Lesser and Beverly Treichel, co-chairs of the event, said they are pleased with the variety of artists that were commissioned to participate. "We not only have two of our Symphony Society members, Lynne Elkins and Clarisse Fehrmann, but also a nationally-known artists such as Mel Meo, Muffy Clark Gill, Jaki Katz Ashford and Leoma Lovegrove who have committed their time and talents to the project," said Lesser.

Raffle tickets are now on sale for twelve of the violins. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. Tickets may be purchased at any Symphony event, Symphony Society meetings or on line at www.swflso.org/seevent3.html . The raffle winners will be drawn at intermission during the Jewels of Italy classical concert March 22.

Violins to be auctioned include Jaki Katz Ashford's Tarantella for Violin and Leoma Lovegrove's You're the Violin. These violins will be up for auction at the Gatsby Garden Party March 16 at Patio 33 and Space 39 in historic downtown Fort Myers. The Gatsby Garden Party offers a glorious brunch, music and a treasure trove of experiences and items that await your bidding. The event is from 12:30 - 3:30 and tickets are $75 per person. Call the Symphony office at 418-0996 for additional details or visit the web at www.swflso.org