Christie Kosal was waiting near the Music Building three years ago when someone approached her and asked if she wanted to be serenaded.
Almost instantly, the 22-year-old UF music education junior said she was pushed into a chair, and a group of men began to serenade her.
Phi Mu Alpha, UF’s music fraternity, is taking orders for personal serenades until Saturday. A portion of the profits from the serenades will benefit Relay for Life.
A serenade costs $35 for a UF student and includes one song from the fraternity’s list and the “Sweetheart” song. A rose can also be presented for $3. Serenades are $40 today.
Orders can be made on the fraternity’s website, www.ufphimualpha.com/serenades using PayPal or with cash.
For non-UF students, a serenade is $45 today and $40 other days.
“It’s one of the sweetest things you can have, especially on Valentine’s Day,” Kosal said.
Groups of 20 fraternity members serenade people on and off campus.
Phi Mu Alpha’s music director, Ismael Sandoval, said the serenades have been a UF tradition for more than eight years.
“It gives them a special moment they wouldn’t get with just flowers and candy,” the 19-year-old UF music education sophomore said.
Kelvin Medina, the fraternity’s spokesman, said the “Sweetheart” song was composed by a fraternity brother for his girlfriend more than 50 years ago.
He said most girls can’t help but shed a few tears during the song.
“You see that glimmer in their eye like we just made their day,” the 20-year-old UF marketing sophomore said.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@alligator.org.
