Operazzi Bash Raises $120,000 for Opera Education
The sold-out gala at Dr. Phillips Center funds Opera Orlando's youth, apprentice and school-based programs.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Opera
Opera Orlando's inaugural-style Operazzi Bash, "a night under a thousand blossoms," sold out the DeVos Family Room at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, October 24, and raised $120,000 for the company's education and outreach programs.
Why it matters
The proceeds support the Youth Company, Apprentice Artist and Studio Artist programs as well as school-based performances across Central Florida, expanding opera access for Orlando-area students and families.
The 2026 gala raised $120,000, 32 percent more than the 2025 inaugural event, based on the organization's reported totals. The filing does not specify how the proceeds will be divided among the Youth Company, apprentice and studio programs, or school performances.
The players
Gabriel Preisser
Grammy Award-winning baritone who serves as general director of Opera Orlando and hosted the Bash.
Sarah Purser
Education director of Opera Orlando who co-hosted the event and oversees the company's youth and school-based programming.
Opera Orlando
Orlando-based opera company whose education, youth and apprentice programs are funded by the gala's proceeds.
The details
The evening featured a raffle, a live auction, a cherry blossom display and a celebratory dance party, hosted by Grammy Award-winning baritone Gabriel Preisser and education director Sarah Purser. Performers included soprano Alexandra Kzeski, mezzo-soprano Sarah Kathryn Curtis, tenor Benjamin Ruiz, violinist Daniela Garzon and pianist Nathan Cicero, and the theme grew out of the company's production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.
Timeline
- Saturday, October 24: Operazzi Bash sells out the DeVos Family Room at Dr. Phillips Center.
- Saturday, November 21 at 5 p.m.: Youth Company hosts its FREE Soup Opera showcase and soup competition at Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center.
- December 12 and 13: Youth Company performs Brundibár / Vedem at Orlando Family Stage, with tickets starting at $19.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 Bash's 32 percent rise over the 2025 inaugural event suggests the signature fundraiser is gaining traction for Opera Orlando. The organization plans to share its programming for next season, which will show whether this growth carries into its broader education offerings.
Brundibár / Vedem tickets start at $19 for the December 12 and 13 performances at Orlando Family Stage. The FREE Soup Opera showcase on November 21 offers a no-cost way to see the Youth Company perform.
The takeaway
Community fundraising events like the Operazzi Bash can meaningfully expand access to live opera for young people and school audiences. Readers interested in supporting arts education can attend upcoming free or low-cost youth performances to see the programs firsthand.
What happens next
Youth Company's FREE Soup Opera showcase takes place Saturday, November 21 at 5 p.m., followed by Brundibár / Vedem on December 12 and 13 at Orlando Family Stage.
Further reading
Explore more Opera coverage from Orlando's performing arts scene.
More information
Find tickets and details for upcoming productions on the Opera Orlando tickets and information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
