On The Town:

Members from Glendale on hand to honor the past presidents were Mary Jo Bronn, Charlene Carnachan, Carla Chan, Kathy Dupree, Helen Fey, Rosa Frommer, Lina Harper, Lisolette Koerner, Marilyn Nelson, Sharon Ouellette, Leni Richardson, Mary Margaret Smith, Anna Torres and CarlaWalker.

Co-chairwomen were Laurie Galleher and Oralia Van Leuven.

After the luncheon, Norma Cunanan introduced the speaker, Carla J. Christofferson, co-owner of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. Christofferson is also a litigation partner in the office of O’Melveny and Meyers LLP. All appreciated her take on women in sports.

The Education Foundation of the American Assn. of University Women granted 86 fellowships in 2006-07, totaling $1,665,250. The Education Foundation is also credited with giving Marie Curie $156,413 to buy 1 gram of radium in 1920.

The 10th annual Traveling Cremona [Italy] Exhibition and Sale took place at Glendale’s Metzler Violin Shop on Sunday afternoon.

Fifty-one violins by modern Italian violin makers were on display and were played and compared before an audience. The violins ranged in price from $4,500 to $26,500, depending on the violin maker.

David Stenske, associate concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera orchestra and concertmaster of the Glendale Symphony, performed for his 10th year in a row at the violin shop.

This year, he played the first two phrases of the Bruch violin concerto as he compared each violin side by side. Commenting as he played, Stenske said, “I prefer the bright [sound] with some depth.”

About 60 violin shoppers made up the audience that hung on Stenske’s every note. After the free demonstration, anyone could inspect and play a violin. Daniel Kay of Alhambra has purchased five Cremonese violins from shop owner David Metzler and was considering buying a sixth. Miki Todd of San Pedro bought a violin two years ago and was tempted to buy another.

Glendale residents in the audience were Inna Asatryan, David Manukyan, Oganesyan Hakop, Karo Hakop, Rima Shirvanyan, David Pan, David Ayvazyan, Albert Ayvazyan, Enrique Ramirez Sr., Zoila Cecilia Ramirez, Helen Chinn, Jeanne Tellez, Sharon Jenkins, Christopher Rose, Julian Jaramillo and Cecelia Walker, who works in Glendale.

The violins will be available for trial, inspection and sale at Metzler Violin Shop Tuesdays through Saturdays until Feb. 9.

 RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthsowby@msn.com.