Photo Flash: Palm Beach Opera Celebrates Upcoming Gala with Kickoff Reception at Private Palm Beach Home

Palm Beach residents Jane and John Shalam hosted Palm Beach Opera's Gala Kickoff Reception on Dec. 12 to celebrate the company's upcoming Gala and to commend the event's sponsors and supporters.

Guests included the company's Gala benefactors, whose support helps develop Palm Beach Opera's largest annual fundraising event, showcasing a prominent artist over an elegant dinner. The 2018 Gala will feature globally-celebrated soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, recently named Vocalist of the Year by Musical America, in an intimate recital at The Breakers Palm Beach on Feb. 15.

"We are so excited to applaud our Gala sponsors and supporters whose philanthropy provides for an incredible event our community looks forward to every year," said Managing Director David Walker. "To be able to present a world-renowned artist like Sondra Radvanovsky at such a prestigious venue this season is a huge accomplishment."

The Gala Kickoff began with a cocktail reception provided by gourmet caterer Ken Keffer at 5:30 p.m., followed by a surprise performance by Palm Beach Opera Apprentice Artist James Wright and the company's Head Coach and pianist Tim Cheung, which included selections from "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" and "Pagliacci," as well as an encore of Loehr's "Little Irish Girl."

The cocktail reception was followed by a warm welcome from hosts Jane and John Shalam, and a toast from David and Joan Genser, thanking all guests in attendance for their sponsorships and gifts, and encouraging increased support for Palm Beach Opera's 2018 Gala. Palm Beach Opera General Director Daniel Biaggi closed the evening with a final message of appreciation.

Palm Beach Opera's Gala Kickoff Reception was attended by hosts John and Jane Shalam, 2018 Gala Chairs David and Joan Genser, General Director Daniel Biaggi, Jeffery and Lee Ann Alderton, David Auerbach and Ariane Csonka-Comstock, Rona Forstadt, Robert and Ann Fromer, Allan and Mickey Greenblatt, Ross and Susan Hechinger, David Kaplan and Naomi Alexandroff-Brest, Peter and Paula Lunder, John and Lynn Pohanka, Paul and Terri Sriberg, John and Karin Strasswimmer, Howard Weinstein and Suzanne Le Vine, and Palm Beach Opera's Managing Director, David Walker.

For information on Palm Beach Opera's 2018 Gala, please contact Loren Varvarigos, Special Events & Corporate Relations Manager, at 561-835-7557 or loren@pbopera.org.

Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence and to enriching the life of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents main stage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

Photo credit: Kelly Wagner

John Shalam, Apprentice Artist James Wright, Jane Shalam

Mickey and Allan Greenblatt

Joan and David Genser, Daniel Biaggi

Ross and Susan Hechinger

Lynn and John Pohanka

Ellis and Nancy Parker

Karin and John Strasswimmer

Lee and Jeffrey Alderton

Robert and Ann Fromer

Rona Forstadt and David Walker