The elegant surroundings and fine service of the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa’s Governor’s Hall will be accentuated by The Inman Company for the 2007 Symphony Ball, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28.  Also brand new this year:  twelve violins have been transformed into unique works of sculptural art by some of the area’s leading artists; sponsored by area companies, these works of art will be displayed throughout the community next month and then raffled at the event.  Entertainment at the Symphony Ball will feature musicians of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and special guest soprano Lynn Church and her husband, pianist and arranger Rick Church, in a program of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical theatre favorites.  The TSO Brass Ensemble, Traverse Youth Orchestra Honors String Quartet, and other ensembles will also be featured.  A gourmet dinner, sumptuous auction items and the Painted Violins raffle will complete the event.  Tickets are $100 per person, reduced in price over previous seasons.  Lead sponsors for this year’s gala include Corporate Title Agency, The Falconer Group, and Newstalk 580 WTCM.  For more information, contact the TSO at 231/947-7120 or visit www.tso-online.org.

Shane Inman’s plan for the design of the event is calculated to achieve a sense of overall elegance in keeping with the artistic quality of the TSO as well as the excellent regional artists whose talents will be on featured throughout the 12 Painted Violins and the Silent Auction. His goal is to create a “wow” moment for attendees as they enter each area of the event. 

The promenade area at the entrance to Governor’s Hall will be transformed into an art gallery for the evening. Greeted by the musical talents of the Traverse Youth Orchestra Honors String Quartet – the four principal musicians from TYO, guests will experience a broad display of the talents of the region.  Strolling through the promenade, they will view pieces contributed by area artists for the silent and live auction as well as the beautiful painted violins. The area will be illuminated by chandeliers installed for the event and the visual impact will be striking – modern clean lines and the impact of white and light in furnishings, lighting and décor.

Sparkling floor-to-ceiling mobiles will highlight the silent auction room, where guests will enjoy a cocktail hour with plenty of time to bid on the many alluring and attractive auction items.  The rich, lively tones of the TSO Brass Ensemble will entertain them. Curtains will part to reveal the elegant décor of the main dining area, complete with special lighting and stage décor for the evening, and with elegant table setting, continuing the use of white as a dominant color and clean modern lines as an aesthetic.

Throughout the winter months, Mr. Inman and his staff, as well as a cadre of gifted volunteers led by TSO Board Member Fred Zwemer, have been at work building and assembling the many pedestals, light boxes, chandeliers, and mobiles.

Shane Inman, president and founder of the Inman Company, has captured the attention of a roster of discerning commercial and residential clients throughout Grand Traverse region.  His most recent accomplishments include the completion of two commercial projects:  The Hagerty Insurance Headquarters and Northern Vision Eye Care at Copper Ridge. The Inman Company is committed to raising the standard of business and design to incorporate the highest quality of customer service together with unwavering excellence in design.  The Inman Company also provides real estate staging, consulting, event design, and organizational services to his clients. Shane is pleased to give back to the community by being involved in many pro-bono projects.

Mr. Inman’s career began in San Francisco and the neighboring communities of Sausalito and Mill Valley.  On the East Coast, he held a five-year partnership with a prominent Fortune 500 company as Director of Design, On-site Designer, Project Manager and Senior Interior Designer.  In this capacity, he designed interiors for several private residences in Miami, Miami Beach, and Key West.  Soon after, his expanding expertise in export services allowed him to include projects in Turks and Caicos, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  He has designed interiors for many private clients in Grosse Ile, West Bloomfield, Royal Oak, Grosse Pointe, and Farmington Hills.   While in Miami, Shane was creative consultant to the Miami City Ballet, Southern Florida's largest non-profit organization, where he planned several highly visible events and galas.  Mr. Inman is a graduate of Michigan State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in interior design.
 
“We are extremely grateful to Shane Inman for lending his talents and vision to our goal of making this year’s Symphony Ball the most memorable event of the season in the Grand Traverse area,” said TSO Executive Director Andrew Buelow.