The 2019 Annual Benefit Dinner for The Music Foundation of Southwest Florida is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, at The Helm Club at The Landings Yacht, Golf, and Tennis Club in Fort Myers. The fundraising celebration will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include a social hour and silent auction followed by dinner. The Music Foundation’s high school scholarship recipients and featured artist, award-winning professional young pianist Noah Waddell, will perform.

The annual dinner is the main source of funding for the programs that The Music Foundation sponsors. The non-profit’s mission is to offer programs that reach out to the young people in Southwest Florida, including the Summer Music & Arts Camps, Fifth Grade Traveling Instrument Program, Double Reed & Music Festivals, and High School Summer Music Camp Scholarships. Each year The Music Foundation benefits more than 4,000 students with its programs and awards $10,000 to $15,000 each year to disadvantaged and deserving students.  

Waddell is a local musical prodigy who started playing the piano at 7 years old. He has won numerous competitions and performed with The Southwest Florida Symphony and the Tampa Bay Symphony.  He performs weekly at Lee Health’s HealthPark Medical Center and has appeared on the nationally syndicated radio program From the Top with Christopher O’Riley. Waddell recorded his debut album at age 12.

Several of the award-winning high school scholarship students will perform at the showcase dinner. These include Grace Anderson, voice; Gus Bahruth, alto sax; Kassandra Cooper, cello; Carly Fulcher, cello; Jonathan Gardella, viola; Daniel Holmes, piano; Danyel Lawston, alto sax; Gwen Morris, oboe; and Victoria O’Donnell, violin.

This year The Music Foundation will also announce winners of the new Professional Development Program that supports local music teachers with continuing education opportunities. 

Tickets to the Annual Benefit Dinner are $50 each and can be purchased online at https://www.music-foundation.org. For those unable to attend, tax-deductible donations to support The Music Foundation can also be given online. For more information about the High School Summer Program Scholarship auditions and the Summer Music & Arts Camps call Ruth Christman at (239) 275-0057. The Helm Club at The Landings Yacht, Golf, and Tennis Club is located at 4420 Flagship Drive in Fort Myers.