Cognizant of economic belt-tightening, the SVSA postponed its lavish gala in favor of a more scaled down, yet still upscale, party, said Helen Manring, chair of the event.
Tickets are priced at a modest $35 each. The receipts from this event will help fund the depleted assets for the concerts of the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra.
  
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“Come join your friends for an evening of holiday festivities,” said SVSA President Terry Bowmaster. “You may find that special Christmas gift at the silent auction.” After all the event intends to raise significant funds to keep the music-making concerts going.
The recently re-decorated hotel will be festively festooned with holiday lights, trees, wreaths and other effulgent decor, said Manring.
Instead of black tie, guests are invited to be less formal by wearing cocktail/business attire.
Dazzling desserts and glistening wines are at the center of the affair, while the jewel-like tones of the Cochise College Singers, directed by Sunny Fichtl, promise to add their own vocal sparkle to the evening.
Their harmonies include the beloved Irving Berlin “White Christmas,” and Mel Torme’s “Christmas Song.” Traditional carols will be included states Fichtl. Caroling in the Windemere’s long hallway, the chorus will welcome others to carol with them.
The choral conductor promises a “rousing rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’ ” to add spice to the occasion, as well as Franz Gruber’s gem “Silent Night.” The real glitter is Liza Weissler’s arrangement of “We Three Kings,” since she is one of the singers, whose gilded voices add a 24-carat gleam to the evening.
From luxurious jewelry and original works of art to pragmatic culinary items, the silent auction offers an array of fanciful items for personal use or seasonal gifting.
An original watercolor painting by renowned artist Edie Manion, a hand-made Navajo rug in the “Dazzler” pattern, and designer sunglasses from Daynes Optical are among the items for bidding. Add to those an eight-piece place setting of Christmas dishes, as well as a glass champagne bucket with four flutes and a bottle of bubbly and you have some of the many tempting gift ideas collected by Sue Nagle for the event.
Also available are pots from the world-famous potters of Mata Ortiz in Chihuahua, and an opportunity to bid on an “afternoon English tea” for eight, prepared and served at the discretion of the winning bidder.
Baskets of wine or brandy, and a Bobby Claborn original “Hot Stuff” oak server are to be displayed at the auction with a golf gift basket for a lady from Greg Norman. Golf for four with both cart and lunch is being offered by Pueblo del Sol Country Club.
With many other alluring objects — it’s a dreamland of the exotic.
A raffle is to add its own scintillating shine to the Jewels of Joy with a spectacular first place award of a gleaming sterling silver-and-turquoise necklace-with-earrings set, worth more than $400, created by Cecil Carlile.
Second place is an immense recently published $250 tome of colorful plates illustrating the history of Venice. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25 said Midge Grieshop, a member of the planning committee.
The SVSA re-thought its annual gala in the light of current economic restraints, but the organization did not want to give up its seasonal get-together. More importantly, the SVSA is dependent on the event’s receipts to carry on its program.
Thus this more modest party evolved to inaugurate the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons.
“We still need to raise funds for the symphony to complete its season this year as always,” said Bowmaster. “Arts organizations across the nation are suffering due to the economic down-turn, but we can’t let that trend defeat our goal of providing live orchestral music for the benefit of Cochise County.”
An average concert costs between $20,000 and $30,000 to put on, which means ticket sales pay for only about one-fifth of that amount. The rest is raised by memberships in the SVSA and fundraisers such as the Jewels of Joy party, said Development Chair Peter Huisking.
“While the board of directors continues to work with ideas to sustain the Symphony as a vital and viable part of our community,” said Husking, “we really need the community to support fund-raisers like the forthcoming event on Nov. 22. It’s important to spread the word about this event and to invite everyone in the community to the Jewels of Joy.”
“Sharing the spirit of the season and providing a lovely evening for symphony supporters to get together to celebrate provides a happy way to bolster the SVSA finances,” said General Manager Richard Andersen. “So accept our invitation to join the merriment and the glittering array of guests.”
Tickets are available at Dillard’s, Oscar Yrun, Safeway and the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce.
Deadline for tickets is Nov. 17. Tables may be reserved by calling 458-5189.
