The Symphony’s Annual Fundraising event is coming up on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at The Village Hall Grand Ballroom at The Club at Olde Stone. The signature event for The Symphony at WKU, The Soirée raises funds to support the educational programs offered by The Symphony in the Bowling Green/Warren County community. Sponsors include US Bank, The Ervin G. Houchens Foundation (Covella Biggers, President) and Bennie and Pearl Beach.

This year’s event will feature an elegant dinner dance to the new band, “MatchDaddy”. Named after Judge Steve Wilson’s nickname in high school “Match”, this new band promises to make this Valentine’s weekend memorable. A silent auction will include a sampling of our “Parties of Note” which we began last year. Parties will include a “Phantom of Van Meter” party sponsored by Dean David Lee, Potter College of Arts & Letters and Laura Harper Lee. It will be a chance for folks to savor the history and mystery of WKU’s oldest building as we go “onstage” for cocktails and dinner in Van Meter Hall. Expect some ghostly companions and music to lift your spirits! Or a North Caroline style, Pig Pickin at the cabin of Lynn and Dennis O’Keefe hosted also by Dr. Bill and Susan Scott. Other parties include “Music to Fondue to” at the home of Leslie and Chris Watkins and a “Field Trip” that includes sideline passes to your choice of a WKU Football game hosted by Kyle Chapman and the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.

In addition to our traditional gala event and auction of our Parties of Note, this event will include a few uniquely hand painted violins. This past summer Dr. Bill Scott took inventory and noted that there were some violins in need of repairs too costly to make and so the WKU Music Department decided to partner with the Art Department to raise funds for both The Symphony at WKU and the Art Department by making the violins works of art. This was a fundraising idea Dr. Scott had done back in 2003 in Spartanburg, SC with the Spartanburg Philharmonic. In fact, Dr. Scott has two of the hand painted violins from that auction displayed in his home. Some of the violins are being painted by local artists. Each will, no doubt, have a story which will be shared as part of The Symphony’s Soiree.

Reservations are required for this event and seats may be reserved by calling (270)745-7681 or online at www.TheSymphonyatWKU.org Tickets are $75 per person and tables of 10 may be reserved.

For more information about The Symphony at WKU, please call Jennifer Bryant, executive director at (270)745-7681.