Beaded bracelets, necklaces, and earrings of silver, gold, glass, and pearls glisten in the light as they wait to be picked for a holiday gift, or perhaps a special treat for the buyer. However, as a buyer picks up a pair of earrings to purchase for her daughter, she is also purchasing the chance for a brighter and better-funded future for Paly’s instrumental music department.

Paly parent Sandy Ostrau is opening her house for an instrumental music fundraiser from 6:30p.m – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30th with 15% of sales going towards Paly’s Music Boosters.

Ostrau will be selling oil paintings while Paly parent Susan Schaps will be selling her handmade jewelry and Nancy Christie will be selling some of her ceramic pieces.

"My son, [Scott Ostrau] is in Orchestra and Jazz Band," Ostrau said. "[He] has a friend in Jazz Band who did a similar fundraiser for Menlo-Atherton High School."

Scott Ostrau’s friend from Menlo-Atherton High gave Sandy Ostrau the idea for holding a fundraiser for Paly.

"People were getting together for a good cause," Ostrau said. "It was a really good, fun event."

Schaps, who has been making jewelry and showing her work in galleries for 15 years, now sells around 1,000 pairs of earrings a year. She also agrees that fundraisers are a good way to help out the community.

"I’ve worked with fundraisers for a couple of years; it’s something that I like to do," Schaps said. "I’ve done fundraisers with Adolescent Counseling Services and other various groups. I like fundraisers as long as the money is for a good cause."

Senior and oboe instrumentalist in the Symphonic Band, Joy Kim has hope that the fundraiser will raise money for the instrumental music programs at Paly.

Kim said, "I think it will raise money. Parents are pretty supportive [of the band]."

With a new way of fundraising, through the sale of jewelry, ceramics, and oil paintings, members of the instrumental music community look forward to raising money for department necessities.

Ostrau said, "Because this is the first year, I really have no idea how the fundraiser will do. I’m hoping it will do well and have a good turnout."