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The Color of Music

Fine artists pull strings for local young musicians.

A A A Comments By Susan Froyd Thursday, Apr 30 2009

The kids, ages eight to 23, who are good enough to make the prestigious Denver Young Artists Orchestra, are works of art all on their own. But it’s still a fitting tribute to their hard work and big dreams to help bankroll their endeavors through another form of art. That’s why the DYAO’s annual Painted Violin Raffle, for which artists donate their time and talent to decorate retired and unplayable violins for a fundraiser, has only grown in popularity in the five years since its conception.

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“Some are highly distinguished artists who exhibit their work all over the world, but there are also some who are new and emerging,” notes DYAO assistant director Deborah de la Torre, adding that one artist, Lucien Hut, whose contribution this year features musical notation and whimsical imagery on the front and a beautiful Dutch landscape inspired by the Old Masters on the back, is also an accomplished concert musician and composer. His artwork, and that of the others, has been on display over the past couple of months online and at galleries and venues all over town in anticipation of tonight’s culminating gala at the Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m., the party also includes dessert, silent auction and a full DYAO concert (one traditional auction item is an opportunity to conduct the orchestra in a rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever” at the end of this performance). It’s all topped off by the violin raffle, when the works of art finally go to work for the youth orchestra. Admission is $80 for the entire evening, or $15 to $30 for dessert and the concert only, and raffle tickets are $10 each or $50 for six; call 303-433-2420 or go to www.paintedviolin.com for reservations and information.
Sun., May 3, 5:30 p.m., 2009

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