2011 PIPER 5K March 3, 2011

2011 Piper 5K                       Saturday– 3/5/11

Donations Still Needed For Race   The following items remain on our checklist of donations needed for the race:  ICE Coolers   VOLUNTEERS  NEEDED FOR THE RACE   If you are unable to participate in the race but would still like to attend and help out, we are always in need of volunteers for the registration tables and water tables. Please contact Ed Ryan if you have the time to volunteer. Gateway Charter school students and parents, you can get volunteer hours toward the money you will owe at the end of the year if you volunteer at our race. Please contact the appropriate person at your school and meet me at the church at 7AM.      THE 2011 MUDDY BUDDY LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AWAY.  Our next adventure race is April 16th at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando. The 2011 Muddy Buddy is an awesome experience and tons of fun.

The 2011 Piper 5K Race in Gateway.  Have You Registered?   Follow the 2011 Piper 5K Race FACEBOOK The 3.1 run and walk will be held on Saturday, March 5th at the Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church. This year’s race will be timed by Lin Mark Sports of Cape Coral using the B-Tag chip system. Results will be available immediately after the race and posted online later on race day. We will have bounce houses for the kids, a live band starting at 9AM and each runner will receive a ticket for food and a tote bag.     To register for the race, visit www.piperbuckley.com download a registration form and drop it off at Zervos hair Salon on Gateway Boulevard today or tomorrow. We WILL have race day registration starting at 7AM.      100 % of the money raised (after expenses) from the race are given back to kids in OUR community. The Piper Buckley foundation helps infants and young children in desperate need and many of you know all about the great work the N.I.C.U. at Healthpark does for premature babies. If you would like to donate to the Piper Buckley Foundation you can also make a donation – of any dollar amount – via our secure paypal account. And, as we found out with Yomar (the little boy who needed shoes and a high chair) every $10.00 counts. We raised nearly $1,500 in cash and 2 truckloads of clothing and other items for Yomar. Your donation is tax deductible. The Piper Buckley foundation is a registered 5013C. The paypal account is set up for $10.00 donations. If you’d like to donate more, simply enter the number of $10.00 donations you’d like to give. Ed Ryan edryan@fortmyersfitness.com

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY/TASTE OF THE ARTS September 21, 2010

Taste of the Arts, presented by FineMark National Bank & Trust, will be a unique event for art enthusiasts.  Taste of the Arts will be held at the Alliance for the Arts, November 14, 2010 from 4pm – 7pm. For the first time, the Alliance for the Arts, ArtFest Fort Myers, Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Southwest Florida Symphony will come together to showcase their upcoming season. This is a great opportunity to sample Lee County’s finest art offerings and experience firsthand the amazing talent in Southwest Florida.

The various arts organizations will bring the Alliance for the Arts alive with visual arts and performances every 30 minutes. Performances include members of Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Gulfshore Ballet, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center’s Laboratory Theater of Florida and the Southwest Florida Symphony. There will also be awe-inspiring art displays representing artists from the Alliance for the Arts and ArtFest Fort Myers.

All guests will be able to enjoy complimentary fine wines provided by Total Wine & More and delectable hors d’oeuvres provided by Crispers, Crowne Plaza, Lazy Flamingo, Morgan House Restaurant, Norman Love Confections, Nirvana Indian Fusion, Pizza Fusion and Sunshine Seafood Café. 

Be part of something fresh & exciting and support the arts that make our community a great place to live, work and play. Admission is $25 per person, which includes 3 stages of live performances, art exhibits, food and wine as well as a cultural coupon book with coupons valued at over $400.

For tickets call 239.332.4488 or visit www.tasteofthearts.com

Taste of the Arts is presented by FineMark National Bank & Trust in partnership with Alliance for the Arts, ArtFest Fort Myers, Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Southwest Florida Symphony. 

SAMPLING OF THE SYMPHONY AT BISTRO 41 September 9, 2010

The Bistro 41 will play host as the Southwest Florida Symphony invites music lovers interested in the Symphony as well as loyal patrons to a “Sampling of the Symphony” Subscription Party on September 15, 2010 from 5:30pm to 7pm. Join us for a special performance by Symphony musicians, Alex Albanese and Danut Muresan.

The “Sampling of the Symphony” Subscription Party will provide new subscribers an opportunity to meet Maestro Michael Hall and hear about the Symphony’s exciting 50^th Anniversary Season.  All new subscribers will also be able to purchase 2010-2011 season subscription at a 50% discount.

Bistro 41 is located in the Bell Tower Mall and provides a relaxing atmosphere where the Southwest Florida Symphony can offer a sampling of our music, learn about the Symphony’s 50^th Anniversary Season and be treated to a taste of Bistro 41’s finest appetizers. A cash bar will be provided for those wanting an after-hours cocktail.

For more information contact the Symphony office at 418-0996 or visit us online at www.swflso.org

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES THE GLORY OF SPRING March 26, 2010

The glory of spring is celebrated when the Southwest Florida Symphony performs a musical impression of the beauty of springtime.  The Glory of Spring, a Chamber Series Concert, conducted by Michael Hall, sponsored by ‘Tween Waters Inn, the Friends of the Symphony on Sanibel, and the Cape Coral Community Foundation,  will be performed on Friday, April 9th, 7:30 at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral and on Sunday April 11th, 7pm at Schein Hall, BIG ARTS on Sanibel.

Music will include a piece by Arthur Honegger, a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived most of his life in Paris.  Pastoral d’été is a short symphonic poem inspired by Honegger’s vacation to the Swiss Alps and has been described as a musical impression of a peaceful early morning in the Swiss Alps.  Honegger opens with a languorous soaring theme on the horn which is then taken up by the strings, the middle section is more lively and colorful and the piece closes in a more peaceful manner.

Our guest artist, Gene Berger, Interlochen Arts Academy faculty and Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Principal Horn, will perform Mozart’s Horn Concerto no. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 147. In addition to his faculty position, Mr. Berger has performed as guest principal horn with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.   The Horn Concerto no.2 is full of melody, with an expansive opening movement in common time.  Mr. Berger’s horn solo then enters with a new theme with a middle section of rare beauty.  The piece concludes with a hunt-inspired Rondo by the soloist followed closely by the orchestra.

This program also includes Toro Takemitsu’s, Rain Coming.  Takemitsu, one of the most important Japanese composers, creates masterworks that are descriptive with tone colors that clash, smear and have sweeping sounds that will let your imagination see colors and patterns as the tones change with the different instruments.

The evening will conclude with the sounds of Aaron Copland’s, Appalachian Spring Suite, from the ballet in the original instrumentation for 13 instruments.  This ballet story is set to the celebrations of springtime. Copland’s Americana style is melodic and harmonically simplistic.  The music opens in a somber manner as if spring is slow to take hold and then suddenly the music springs to life with lively themes that exhibit the folk like quality of the Americana style that Copland is so famous.

Whether you are a first time attendee or a seasonal listener Michael Hall will entice your senses and invites everyone to enjoy the sounds of spring.  For more information or to order tickets, call the Symphony box office at 418-1500 or order online at www.swflso.org.  Tickets are $20 at Cape Coral and $25 at BIG ARTS.

ORCHESTRAS FEEDING AMERICA March 4, 2010

 On March 12 & 13 the Southwest Florida Symphony will participate in Orchestras Feeding America, a national food drive by members of the League of American Orchestras in partnership with Feeding America. This is the second consecutive year that America’s orchestras have mobilized their musicians, staff, volunteers and audiences to help alleviate hunger in communities across the country. Non-perishable food will be collected at concerts on March 12 & 13 in the lobby of the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall prior to the Star Spangled Pops Concert.

To date, 245 orchestras are participating in Orchestras Feeding America and the number of participants is growing daily. Most orchestras will conduct their food drives during the month of March, but dates may vary locally. The project is organized by the League of American Orchestras, which represents the nation’s professional, volunteer, and youth orchestras, and Feeding America’s network of over 200 food banks and 63,000 agencies. In 2009, 250 orchestras in all 50 states collected more than 200,000 pounds of food. Fran Goldman, Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony said, “Lee County has been severely impacted by the economic downturn. Many of our neighbors and their children now need our help. This food drive is one way our orchestra can give back to the community that has supported us for nearly 50 years.” The Symphony will donate the food to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Since 1983, the Harry Chapin Food Bank has served as the only Food Bank in Southwest Florida (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties). On an annual basis the Food Bank provides nutritious, quality food to more than 160 Partner Agencies that provide direct services to those in need. Patrons and community members are invited to drop off food on March 12 & 13 at the Symphony Box Office or at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall prior to the Star Spangled Pops Concert honoring Maestro Erich Kunzel. For any additional information contact the Symphony office at 239-418-0996. ##

February 25, 2010

Darryl Pottorf Donates “Music to My Ears”
to the Southwest Florida Symphony

“Music to My Ears – A Symphony” is an original painting by internationally acclaimed Captiva artist Darryl Pottorf. Its creation was inspired by the celebration of the upcoming 50^th Anniversary of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.   This generous donation valued at $27,000 will be offered for sale in a “Rolling Auction” during the month of March 2010 with proceeds benefiting the Symphony. 

The piece is approximately 5 feet by 31/2 feet.  It is described as a UV coated transfer, acrylic & graphite on paper mounted on Polylaminate. The piece will be on display at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts and will be revealed at Alliance for the Arts on March 5^th.

The bidding for this unique painting will begin on Friday, March 5^th at 6:30 pm during the Opening Reception of an exhibit entitled “Framing the Past – Inspiring the Future Through Music”. This juried exhibit will include 50 works specially selected for this exhibit and three winners will be chosen to be featured throughout the 50^th anniversary season. 

Bidding will continue through the month of March until March 27^th. At that time the Pottorf piece, along with the Symphony exhibit, will move to the lobby of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The final display will be open to the public beginning at 6:00 PM prior to the Symphony’s evening classical concert, Passion and Fury.   Bidding on the Pottorf piece will close at 7:45 pm on March 27^th and the winning bidder will be announced from the stage before the concert.

Bids will be accepted in person or by telephone at the Alliance for the Arts during regular business hours. The highest bids will be posted each day on the websites of both the Alliance for the Arts (www.artinlee.org) and the Southwest Florida Symphony (www.swflso.org ). Complete instructions for bidding will be available on these websites prior to the exhibit opening on March 5^th.  For more information about the exhibit or to place a bid, call the Alliance for the Arts at 239-939-2787. 

Darryl Pottorf has created complex, visually provocative work for over 30 years, enmeshing historical, iconic, architectural, and cultural imagery into beautiful and sometimes unsettling compositions that intrigue the viewer, and often contains subtle and surprising combinations missed at first glance. Pottorf uses photo transfer techniques to create a photographic palette from his travels around the world.

The works are created by overlays of the images with bold brush strokes and delicate lines drawn in graphite and sometimes by attaching objects breaking the flat surface into a three dimensional construction. The paintings offer the delicacy of a watercolor and the depth of oil on canvas with the dimensional relief of a sculpture. Curator Barbara Rose states: “Pottorf has never given up drawing although he separates it from painting so that his concept of representation does not depend on depiction. He draws in charcoal on top of the imagery creating an animated lively surface with rhythmic patterns as well as a more complicated space than that of uninflected flatness suggested by photography. As specific as the photographed images are, the drawing element in his paintings now has an autonomous life of its own.”

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pottorf worked with his father in the building industry, where he learned his love of architecture and craftsmanship. As a young man he studied art and art history in Florence, Italy at the Florida State University, Florence campus, working with Dr. Fred Licht as a research assistant on Licht’s book on Goya and the origins of modernism, Goya and the Modern Temperament. During this period, Pottorf developed a deep love and respect for the significance of the past and its influence and clash with modern culture. Pottorf’s experiences while living in Florence and his later travels through Europe working with Robert Rauschenberg on the Rauschenberg Culture Interchange incorporate a world view that incorporates a historical record by combining classical and modern urban scenes of everyday life; Pottorf’s paintings have been described as an “archeological dig.”

For more information on this exhibit, the Pottorf piece or the auction, please contact the Southwest Florida Symphony at 239.418.0996 or the Alliance for the Arts at 239.939.2787

VALENTINE SERENADE February 11, 2010

Southwest Florida Symphony

Celebrates Love with its

“Valentine Serenade”

 

The Southwest Florida Symphony, along with concert sponsors Cape Coral Community Foundation and Madeleine Taeni, present the Youth Chorus in its heartwarming concert entitled Valentine Serenade on Sunday, February 14 at 4 pm at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral.

Celebrate love past, present and future with music highlighting the many different kinds of love – love of a mother, love among friends and young love. Bring a memory, a note or love letter and we will include it in our Tokens of Love Time Capsule which will be unveiled in 2060.

Valentine Serenade marks the third in the Southwest Florida Symphony Stained Glass Series. Our series continues with “Brahms at the Beach” on February 21 at Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers Beach. The Symphony will conclude the 2009 – 2010 Stained Glass Series with “The Power of Three” on April 18 at Faith Methodist Church in Fort Myers.

Tickets are available at $15. For tickets or more information, call the Symphony Box Office at 239.418.1500 or visit us online at www.swflso.org/tickets.

2ND ANNUAL JOHN ENTWISTLE CHARITY October 14, 2009

Join us for the 2nd John Entwistle charity event at Firepit City Grill, Gulf Coast Town Center. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 27th from 5 until 10 pm. The TJKelly band will be playing from 7:30 to 10pm. Great food and drink from Firepit City Grill. Art and Memorabilia from across music, sports and movie stars will be for sale.

John Entwistle was the bass player for the UK rock group The Who.  It is said that “John did for the bass what Jimi Hendrix did for the guitar.” During his life John used his immense celebrity to help raise millions of dollars to help others that were less  fortunate.

John is now gone, but this foundation, created in his honor continues to help those in need. They have developed the “Check-Out Music” program that utilizes the public library system to provide free instruments to those who would otherwise not have that opportunity. In 2008 they built music rooms in children’s hospitals.  Two such rooms are in the SW Florida area, one here in Fort Myers and one in Sarasota.

Firepit City Grill is happy to continue to support this wonderful charity. All proceeds from the events event will go directly to the John Entwistle Foundation.

JOIN US!!!! TONIGHT……. May 22, 2009

Richie C is performing tonight at the Gulf Coast Town Center! Stop by the Sunnymobile to get some refreshing Hoosier WaWa (403-wawa)and see Paul from Sunny 106!!

To see where else Richie C will be playing, just go here http://www.richiec.info/calendar.html