The Villa Sinfonia Foundation is a nonprofit organization, which offers student and amateur string players of all ages and abilities the opportunity to perform on a regular basis. These performances include three chamber orchestra concerts each year (in which students have the experience of performing next to professional musicians), solo and chamber music workshops, a family ensemble concert featuring siblings, parents, and friends performing together, orchestra rehearsals, Suzuki group classes, annual Veteran’s Hospital performances in December, summer performances at Ghirardelli Square, and our annual Zephyr Point Chamber Music Camp. Every three years, the Villa Sinfonia embarks on a tour. Past tours have included Hawaii, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, and Carnegie Hall. The 2005 tour travelled to Prague and a festival in Italy.

Proceeds from the Dec. 4, 2005 Silent Auction will support the Foundation’s operating expenses, which include securing spaces for rehearsals and performances, purchasing music and equipment, engaging professional coaches and performers, running the Zephyr Point Chamber Music Camp during the summer and these proceeds also provide tuition scholarships and help to offset the expenses associated with touring.

In addition to tuitions, the Villa Sinfonia depends on the generosity of our donors to help us meet our goals and we are always working on securing grants. However, the Annual Giving in the fall semester and the Silent Auction help so much to secure our financial stability! And grant programs are impressed with organizations that are able to sustain themselves through fundraising.

We want to thank all of the people who work so hard on the preparations for the Silent Auction creating gift baskets, picking up items, mailing, setting up the auction, creating the catalog, and telephoning. We also want to especially thank all of the donors for without you, we couldn’t have an auction.

Please enjoy yourselves at the Silent Auction during and after the concert and we thank you for making it possible for our programs to continue.