Social Seens... Photography by Gram and Noraa
St. Petersburg Opera Gala
To celebrate its 11th season of presenting opera, the St. Petersburg Opera Company held its annual fundraising gala,
Bella Voce, in Preis Hall at Opera Central in St. Petersburg. The dinner was provided by Parkshore Catering and featured the theme
Into the Woods with vocal performances by a wide variety of performers, along with a silent and live auction that helped to raise
funds for the company’s ever expanding children’s educational programs. A VIP reception preceded the gala at the nearby studio
of famed photographer Jorge Alvarez.
168 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
| MAY/JUNE 2017
Linda Pugliese, the event chair who
orchestrated the transformation of Preis Hall
into a wooded wonderland, and her husband
Bob were platinum sponsors of the
Bella Voce gala.
Brad and Mary Ann Morse were sponsors
of the St. Petersburg Opera’s production of
The Elixer of Love that was performed
at the Paladium.
Joan and Harry McCreary, who were the
primary sponsors of the 2017 Bella Voce
fundraiser, feel strongly about the opera
group’s importance in the community.
Liz Smith and her husband sculptor
J. Harrison “Jim” Smith were enchanted by
the evening’s vocal and instrumental
music presentations.
Maestro Mark Sforzini thanked
Michael Roberts, the opera’s administrator,
for conducting the live auction and serving
as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
Belinda Dumont, a consistent sponsor
and president of the opera group’s board
of directors, and Diane Bailey Morton, its
vice president, thanked the gala committee
for its work.