This one of a kind violin created by Caroline Fedor was originally meant for a fundraiser for PYSO's 2020 tour of Scandinavia (which had to be cancelled at the last minute due to the pandemic).

Caroline's painting represents one of the most popular Swedish folk art images - the Dalecarlian or Dala Horse. Often carved out of wood or appearing in prints and patterns, Caroline has painted her violin with whimsical images of the horse.

Swedish artisans have been producing Dala horse for centuries. Although the exact history is not known, the popular tale about its origin is based on the winter of 1716 when King Charles XII waged war. Soldiers were quartered in many private homes and food was scarce for all. One soldier carved a horse, painted it, and presented it to the child in the home he was staying. In return for the toy, the child's mother gave the soldier a bowl of soup. They repeated this exchange, and soon, other soldiers began craving horses to barter for food. Thus, the Dala horse is said to have helped the Swedish army survive the long winter.

Caroline Nadia Fedor has a B.A. in Biochemistry, a Minor in Music, and a Concentration in Russian Studies from Washington and Jefferson College ('20). She is currently a research fellow in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Having studied classical piano since the age of three under Dr. Marina Lupinacci, Caroline still enjoys music. In her spare time, Caroline teaches English as a second language and has a passion for anything artistic, including painting and creating garden landscapes.