VERO BEACH — Organically grown musical talent will be paired with organically grown food for “Midsummer Medley,” an inaugural fun and fund-raising event to benefit the Scholarship Endowment Fund of the non-profit Vero Beach Choral Society. The event will be held on Friday, July 29 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach.
Performing scholarship recipients will include vocalist Danya Etter, a 2011 graduate of Stetson University with a degree in music education, and flautist Emilio Rutllant, a senior studying at Stetson University. Choral Society pianist Joanne Knott will provide accompaniment.
The meal will feature vegetarian-fed, marinated and baked chicken, gingered basmati rice, seasonal organic fruits and vegetables, and bread courtesy of The Fresh Market. Dessert will consist of carrot cupcakes and ice cream donated by Baskin Robbins in the Miracle Mile Plaza. Preparations and cooking are being handled by members of the Choral Society.
Admission to both the dinner and performance is a modest $10.
Separately, at the event, goodie-filled tote bags will be sold to benefit the Vero Beach Choral Society’s Scholarship Endowment Fund. Only 100 of the tote bags are available, each selling for $100.
Each earth-friendly tote bag will contain a 2011-2012 season pass to the Choral Society’s winter and spring concerts and a dress rehearsal to see its directors “in action.” Also in the tote will be CDs of the Choral Society’s 2010-2011 season and a chance to win gift certificates at three popular eateries.
Season tickets will double as chances toward a $75 dinner at the Ocean Grill, the drawing for which will take place at the spring concert reception. One $50 gift certificate to The French Quarter and two $10 gift certificates to the Italian Grill will randomly be placed in the first 50 tote bags sold. Each of the first 50 totes will also contain a $10 gift card good at Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts in the Miracle Mile Plaza.
Any tote bags remaining after “Midsummer Medley” will be sold on the Choral Society website. Proceeds will directly support the higher education of talented Indian River County musicians. Since 1997, the fund has benefited 18 graduating seniors selected on the basis of an audition in front of a panel of objective judges.
Vero Beach Choral Society Board President Loren Smith will speak briefly at the event about the group’s plans to significantly grow the Endowment Fund, in addition to unveiling the Top Ten Reasons to Support Music Scholarships. Music educators as well as local businesses and individuals looking for a meaningful way to contribute to the betterment of the community and its cultural heritage are urged to attend.
Newly engaged Assistant Director Jason Hobratschk will also be in attendance to meet prospective singers and discuss his plans to create a small women’s ensemble this fall.
Tickets may be purchased online between now and July 22 at verobeachchoralsociety.org.
Until July 22, seats can also be reserved (payment at the door) by emailing info@verobeachchoralsociety.org.
For further information, or to reserve a seat by phone, call Deborah Borfitz at 772-569-8165.
