Voice of Resilience WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Alan M. Kaye
FRIENDS OF FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
Welcome, dear friends
ITHANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR PRESENCE MAKES AN IMPACT.
raisnotjustaneveningout;itisalivingartform edforwardformorethan400years Tonight,that tionmeetssomethingthrillingandimmediate:a brationofextraordinaryvoices,iconicmusic,and ticbrillianceacrossgenres Opera&All-Starsreminds hatitmeanstobehuman;tofeeldeeply,tolisten ely,tolaugh,todream,andtobemovedtogetherin time
ght,weareproudtospotlightVoicesofWellness,an tivethatbringsthehealingpowerofmusicdirectlyto ewhoserveourcommunitieseveryday.Throughthis k,wereachfirstresponders,veterans,activemilitary, medicalpersonnel,offeringmomentsofconnection, oration,andcarethroughliveperformance.Weare plygratefultoourpartnerswhoaresteppingforward pportthisinitiative,andtoourdonorswho erstandthatmusicisnotonlyanartform,buta erfulforceforhealing.
tyouexperiencethiseveningistheresultofatrue ge:artistsandcollaboratorscomingtogethertoliftthe m,celebrateexcellence,andreminduswhylive ormancematters.Andyoursupportreacheswell ondtonightʼsconcert.FloridaGrandOperaserves ethan35,000children,veterans,firstresponders,and mbersofthemilitaryeachyearthroughprogramsthat gmusic,meaning,andaccessintoourcommunity. wemovetowardour85thanniversary,welookahead withbothgratitudeandambition,honoringourlegacy whilebuildinganevenbolderfuture.Thatfutureisledby extraordinaryartistsandfueledbyourpartnersand supporterslikeyouwhobelieveinthepowerofliveartto transformlives.
Soenjoythiseveningofmusic,connection,and celebration.ThankyouforbeingpartoftheFloridaGrand Operafamily,forbelievinginthiscompany,itsartists,and itsfuture.
MaríaTodaro General Director & CEO
OFFICERS
TinaVidal-Duart
Chair
RobertB.Glick
CPA,Treasurer
LawrenceKamin
Secretary
DIRECTORS
GiacomoBossa
RavneetR.Chowdhury
RobertDinerstein
RobertC.Gang
LaurentGermain
AntonioGomezReal
PatriciaL.Guinn
JosephGulino,Esq.
LisseteHermida,Msc.,MBA
Dr.DeepakKapoor
Dr.NarendraKini
ElliotKrowe
RadmilaLolly
Per-OlofLööf
VictorH.Mendelson
ArvindJ.Singh
PatriceTedescko,Esq.
ChangOhTurkmani
ABOUT FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
THE WORLD’S STAGE
South Florida’s Heart
FloridaGrandOperaiswhere globalartistrymeetsMiamiʼs culturalmomentum—anightat theoperathatlivesfarbeyondthe curtaincall.Fromlegendary momentslikeLucianoPavarottiʼs Americandebutwithour companytothebold,modern productionswestagetoday,FGO isbothaculturallandmarkanda livingforceinSouthFlorida.And aswelookahead,weareproudly enteringour85thseasonin 2026–2027 amilestoneyearthat willcelebratelove,legacy,andthe extraordinarycommunitythat makesthisworkpossible.
OUR MISSION
Topushoperaʼsartisticboundaries, fosterthenextgenerationof talent,andcreateunforgettable experiencesthatinspireand connectourdiversecommunity.
VISION
Enhance,unite,andinspire communitiesthroughthepower ofoperaandthehumanvoice.
VALUES
Excellence.Westriveforthe higheststandardsinallwedo. Transparency.Weleadwith opennessandhonesty. Community Webuild meaningful,lastingrelationships. Decency.Weactwithintegrity, generosity,andrespect.
FGO.ORG
@fgopera
ABOUT FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
OUR FIVE PROGRAM PILLARS
ARTISTDEVELOPMENT
Launchingrisingstarsand nurturingworld-classtalent.
LEGACY&INNOVATION
Honoring85yearsofhistory whilebuildingoperaʼsfuture.
EDUCATION&ACCESS
Bringingoperatostudentsand ensuringaccessforall.
WELLNESS&RESILIENCE
Harnessingthehumanvoiceto uplift,heal,andrestore.
COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT
MeetingSouthFloridawhereitis, withperformancesandprograms thatuniteus.
ALL STAR ENCORE STORY
AllStarEncoredidnʼtbeginasacompany.It beganasaperspective,oneshapedbyalife thatneverfitneatlyintoasinglelane.
AdamUngerhadlivedinworldsthatrarely intersect.Asaminorleaguebaseballplayerin theNewYorkYankeesandColoradoRockies systems,heunderstoodthediscipline, pressure,andidentityofprofessionalathletes. Asanoperasinger,heexperiencedtherigor andbeautyofclassicalmusicatthehighest level.Andasasportsandentertainmentlawyer atHerrickFeinsteinLLP,heoperatedatthe intersectionofbusiness,talent,and opportunity.
Whatbecameimpossibletoignorewasthe disconnect
Ononeside,opera,oneofthemostpowerful andemotionallyresonantartformsintheworld, wasstrugglingwithperception,accessibility, andaudiencegrowth.
Ontheother,eliteathletes,someofthemost recognizableandinfluentialfiguresinculture, manyofwhomhaddeep,authenticmusical abilitiesthattheworldrarelysaw.
Andthentherewasoneparticularlystriking example,BernieWilliams.
Afour-timeWorldSerieschampionandoneof themostbelovedYankeesofalltime,whohad quietlybecomeaseriousmusician,trainedat theManhattanSchoolofMusic,performing jazzguitaratanexceptionallyhighlevel.
Thequestionthatsparkedeverythingwas simple:
WhywassomeonelikeBernieWilliams,a culturaliconwithrealmusicalcredibility, playinginrelativelysmallvenues,whileopera housesweresearchingfornewaudiences?
Andmoreambitiously:
Whatwouldhappenifyouplacedthatathletemusicianononeoftheworldʼsgreatest stages,notasanovelty,butaspartofa world-classartisticexperience,alongsideone ofthebestclassicalperformersintheworld?
ThatideabecamethefoundationofAllStar Encore.
Theconceptwasdeceptivelysimple,but fundamentallynew,paireliteathleteswhoare realmusicianswithworld-classartists,and presentthemtogetheraticonicvenues,notasa gimmick,butasacohesive,high-level performancebuiltaroundstorytelling.
Becauseatitscore,thiswasnʼtjustaboutmusic. Itwasaboutnarrative.
Athletesaresomeofthemostcompelling storytellersinmodernculture,buttheirstories arealmostalwaysconfinedtosports AllStar Encorereframedthem,allowingaudiencesto experiencethesefiguresinacompletely differentlight,vulnerable,artistic,anddeeply human.
Atthesametime,themodelsolvedamajor challengeintheclassicalworld.Bybringingin athleteswithbuilt-inaudiencesandcultural reach,institutionscouldaccess:
younger,morediverseaudiences, first-timeattendeestooperaandclassical venues,expandedmediacoverageacross sports,lifestyle,andmainstreampress, newsponsorshipandbrandengagement opportunities
ALL STAR ENCORE STORY
TheproofofconceptcameonJanuary13, 2026,atCarnegieHall.
ThedebutAllStarEncoreperformance featuredBernieWilliamsalongside internationallyacclaimedtenorJonathan Tetelman,supportedbymembersofthe MetropolitanOperaOrchestraandagenrespanningensemble.TheeventsoldoutStern Auditorium,over2,700seats,and,more importantly,fundamentallyshifted expectations.
Theaudiencedidnʼtbehavelikeatraditional operacrowd.
Theywereengaged,vocal,energized Atonepoint,chantsof“Bernie!Bernie!ˮ echoedthroughthehall.
Bythefinale,acommunalrenditionof“Take MeOuttotheBallGame,ˮtheentireaudience wassingingtogether
Dataandanecdotalfeedbacktoldthesame story,asignificantportionofattendeescame fromthesportsworld,manyexperiencing operaforthefirsttime,andleavingwitha genuinedesiretoreturn
Themedianoticed.Coveragespannedoutlets fromsportsnetworkstomainstreampress, reinforcingwhatthenightmadeclear:
Thiswasnʼtaone-offevent.Itwasanew format.
Fromthere,AllStarEncoreisexpandingto FloridaGrandOpera,withitsnextmajor performancescheduledforMay6atthe AdrienneArshtCenterinMiami.Theprogram buildsontheCarnegieHallfoundationwithan evenbroaderculturalmix,addingLatinmusic iconWillyChirinoandtheNFLProPlayersChoir, whileanchoringtheperformanceagainwith BernieWilliamsandJonathanTetelman. Thevisionisgrowinglarger,notjustconcerts, butaplatform
Aplatformwhere,athletesarereintroducedas multidimensionalartists,classicalinstitutionsare re-energizedwithnewaudiences,brands engageinculturallymeaningful,emotionally resonantenvironments,andstorytelling becomestheconnectivetissuebetweensports andthearts.
AllStarEncoreisnowmovingintoitsnext chapter,returningtoCarnegieHall,expanding intonewmarkets,andbuildingarepeatable seriesthatlivesattheintersectionofsports, music,andculture.
Whatstartedasasimplequestion,“whatif?ˮ , hasbecomesomethingmuchbigger: amovementthatchallengeshowwesee athletes,howweexperienceclassicalmusic, andhowtwoworldsthatneverspokearenow creatingsomethingentirelynewtogether
ARTEMISRISINGFOUNDATIONSALUTESTHE FLORIDAGRANDOPERAANDTHEIRVOICESOF WELLNESSINITIATIVEASYOUALLGATHERFOR THEOPERAANDALL-STARSCONCERT!
WithMaybeingMentalHealthAwarenessMonth,wehonor thosewhopracticeserviceaboveself…ourveterans,first responders,healthcareworkers,teachers,therapistsand volunteers-whosededicationandresilienceintheir vocationsoftencomeswithacost.Wecometogetherforan unforgettableeveningofmusic-whichhasthepowerto unite,healandinspire!
WELLNESS & RESILIENCE
FGO’S VOICE OF WELLNESS Where Music Meets Purpose
VOICES OF WELLNESS
REDEFINES THE ROLE OF A CULTURAL INSTITUTION AS CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
VoicesofWellness ispartofFloridaa GrandOperainitiativededicatedto improvingemotional,physical,and mentalwellbeingthroughthe transformativepowerofthehuman voice.RootedinFGOʼs84yearlegacy ofartisticexcellenceandinspiredbya growingbodyofresearchaffirming musicʼstherapeuticimpact,theprogram reflectsadeepcommitmenttooperaas asourceofhealing,connection,and hope.
Operaʼsuniquecombinationof storytelling,breath,andvocal expressionhasthecapacitytoreduce stress,easeanxiety,andfoster emotionalresilience.VoicesofWellness bringsthesebenefitsbeyondthestage anddirectlyintothecommunitythrough thoughtfullydesignedperformances, workshops,andimmersiveexperiences ledbyspeciallytrainedartists.By engagingthebody,mind,andspirit,the programcreatesmomentsof restorationandempowermentfor individualsnavigatingsomeoflifeʼs mostchallengingcircumstances.
FGO’S STUDIO ARTISTS
WELLNESS & RESILIENCE
VOICE OF WELLNESS Who we serve
Theinitiativeservesfirstresponders, veterans,militaryandmedical personnel,andindividualsfacinghealth challenges,trauma,orcrisis those whogivesomuchofthemselvesin servicetoothersorwhoareseeking comfortandconnectionduringtimesof profoundneed.Throughcompassionate engagementandmeaningfulartistic encounters,VoicesofWellnesshonors theirexperienceswhileofferingaspace forreflection,healing,andrenewed strength.
Morethananoutreachprogram,Voices ofWellnessaffirmsFloridaGrand Operaʼsbeliefthatthevoiceismore thansound itisabridgetowellness, resilience,andhumanconnection.By unitingartistrywithcare,theinitiative ensuresthatmusicnotonlyinspires, butsustains,remindingusallofoperaʼs enduringpowertohealanduplift.
VOICES OF WELLNESS SUPPORTING CONTRIBUTORS
VOICES OF WELLNESS COMMUNITY PARTNERS
SUPPORTFLORIDAGRAND OPERAʼSWELLNESS& RESILIENCEPROGRAM
Friends
OPERA AND ALL-STARS CONCERT Bernie Williams, Jonathan Tetelman Willy Chirino &
Main Artists
BernieWilliams–Guitar
JonathanTetelman–Tenor
WillyChirino–Singer
ArianaMaloney-Soprano
MiriamCosta-Jackson–Soprano
Pro Players Group
CamNewton–Chorus/Representative
OlrickJohnson–Chorus
NathanPalmer–Chorus
KeshunFreeman–Chorus
BryantMcKinnie–Chorus
TommieHarris–Chorus
MichaelGaines–Chorus
Music Directors
DemarcusWilliams–ProPlayersGroup
JavierConcepcion–WillyChirino
Band/Musicians
JohnBenitez–Bass
MichaelBernabe–JazzPiano
SammyFigueroa–Drummer
FrancisBenitez–Drummer
BrianHolman–ClassicalPianist
AviNagin–Violin(AmernetQuartet)
MishaVitenson–Viola(AmernetQuartet)
JackKessler–Viola
JasonCalloway–Cello(AmernetQuartet)
AmyNickler–DoubleBass
GabrielGutierrez–Trumpet
Speakers
MariaTodaro–GeneralDirector&CEO,FloridaGrand Opera
AdamUnger&StephonMarbury-AllStarEncoure
DarrenRovell–MasterofCeremonies
BaptistHealth
MannyFernandez–PresidentandCEO,BanyanHealth Dr.TobiasNobigrot–Founder,HealTheHealersand Authorof“PhysiciansBurnoutˮ
CarolynAcosta–Founder,FirstAlarmFoundation
EricKussin–#SameHereGlobal
FGO Studio ARtists
AlexanderGranito-Baritone
CatherinMeza-Soprano
IngridKuribayashi-Soprano
JamesMancuso-Tenor
LeviAdkins-Tenor
WilliamDopp-Bass-Baritone
Honor Guard
KeyBiscayneFire-RescueDepartment
Miami-DadeSheriffʼsOffice
Miami-DadeCorrections&RehabilitationDepartment
Miami-DadeFireRescueDepartment
CityofMiamiFire-RescueDepartment
CoralGablesFireDepartment
CityofHialeahFireDepartment
MiamiBeachFireDepartment
TONIGHTS PROGRAM
“Honor Guard”
MiamiDadeFireRescue, MiriamCosta-Jackson
“Granada”
AgustinLara
JonathanTetelman,BernieWilliams, AmernetStringQuartet,Bass,&Trumpet
“El día que me quieras”
CarlosGardel
JonathanTetelman,BernieWilliams, AmernetQuartet,&Band
“Para Don Berna” BernieWilliams BernieWilliams&Band
“No puede ser”
PabloSorozábal fromLataberneradelpuerto
JonathanTetelman&BrianHolman
“Libiamo ne' lieti calici” GiuseppeVerdi fromLaTraviata
JonathanTetelman,BernieWilliams, ArianaMaloney,AmernetQuartet,& Band
“Ritmo de Otono” BernieWilliams BernieWilliams&Band
“Bésame mucho”
ConsueloVelázquez
JonathanTetelman,BernieWilliams, ArianaMaloney,AmernetQuartet&Band
“Parla più piano”
(LoveThemefromTheGodfather) NinoRota
JonathanTetelman,BernieWilliams& AmernetQuartet
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
DARREN ROVELL
DarrenRovellisasportsbusinessanalyst andthefounderandCEOofCllct,a24/7 mediabrandthatcoverscollectibles.He's alsothefounderandCEOofKickStand CocktailsandapartneratTastemaker Capital.RovellisknownforhisTwitter presence,wherehesharessportsbusiness factsandstatistics.Somesayhe'sbeen instrumentalinchangingsportsreporting. Rovell'scareerincludesrolesatESPNfrom 2000–2006andagainin2012,CNBC,and ABCNews
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
MIRIAM COSTA JACKSON
IItalian-AmericansopranoMiriamCostaJacksonisknownforherbrightcoloratura andlyricalwarmthoninternationalstages. ShehasperformedleadingrolesinCarmen andDieFledermaus,earningacclaimforher expressivevoice Highlightsinclude appearanceswithSeattleOperaandFlorida GrandOpera,aswellasperformances alongsideDmitriHvorostovsky.Trainedby RenataScottoandSherrillMilnes,she continuesherfamilyʼsoperaticlegacy
FEATURED ARTISTS
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
BERNIE WILLIAMS
Afour-timeWorldSerieschampion,fivetimeMLBAll-Star,andGoldGlovewinner, BernieWilliamsspentfifteenseasonswith theNewYorkYankees.Afterretiringfrom baseball,hepursuedasuccessfulmusic career.AgraduateoftheManhattanSchool ofMusic,heisaGrammy-nominatedjazz guitaristandcomposer.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
JONATHAN TETELMAN
JonathanTetelmanisaninternationally acclaimedtenorknownforhis powerfulinterpretationsofworksby PucciniandVerdi.Heperformson majoroperastagesworldwideandis recognizedforhisemotionaldepthand commandingpresence.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
WILLY CHIRINO
JoiningtheeveningisWillyChirino,an iconicvoiceofCubanmusicwhose presencebringsculturaldepthand resonancetotheprogram.Hisbeliefin theunifyingandtransformativepower ofmusicreflectsthespiritofthis collaboration.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
ARIANA MALONEY
Praisedfortheclarityandwarmthof hervoice,withatimbredistinguished byshimmeringhighnotes,Ariana MaloneyisanAmericansoprano recognizedforherrefinedlyricismand poiseddramaticpresence Appearing onstagesacrosstheUnitedStatesand internationally,sheisnotedfor performancesthatcombineelegant musicianshipwithaninstinctivesense ofcharacterandtext
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
THE AMERNET STRING QUARTET
PraisedbyTheNewYorkTimesfor their“intelligenceˮand“immensely satisfyingˮplaying,theAmernetString Quartetisrecognizedasoneoftodayʼs leadingensembles.Theyserveas Ensemble-in-ResidenceatFlorida InternationalUniversityinMiami.
MishaVitenson,violin FranzFelkl,violin MichaelKlotz,viola JasonCalloway,cello
Tonightsperformancewillinclude: JackKessler,Viola
Opera & All-Stars
WHERE OPERA MEETS SPORTS. WHERE MUSIC MEETS PURPOSE
THE PRO PLAYERS GROUP
TheprogramalsofeaturesthePro PlayersGroup,including:
1.KeShunFreeman(formerNew OrleansSaintsplayer,actor)
2.OlrickJohnson(formerNew EnglandPatriotslinebacker)
3.CamNewton(formerNFLplayer, communitymentor)
4.Nathan“NaPalmˮPalmer(former NFLwidereceiver,R&Bartist)
5StephenPierce(formerCleveland Brownswidereceiver)
AdditionalparticipantsincludeBryant McKinnie,TommieHarris,Stephon Marbury,KatiaRegueroLindor,Eric Kussin,andDarrenRovell,NeilNelson andArianaMaloney.
THE OPERA CLOSET
Rooted in a spirit of generosity and artistic continuity, The Opera Closet opens the door for up-and-coming artists to access beautifully crafted costumes from the initiative’s storied past. By placing elegant pieces into new hands, it helps emerging talent bring their visions to life.
Discover FGO'S PROGRAMS
FloridaGrandOperastandsatthe heartofSouthFloridaʼscultural identity agatewaythrough whichoperaʼsuniversallanguage resonateswithbothourlocaland globalcommunities.Thisisthe newFGO:boldinvision, expansiveinreach,anddeeply attunedtotheneedsofourtime.
BeyondourMainStage performances,ourmissionis broughttolifethroughfivecore programareasthateducate, inspire,andconnect—advancing artisticexcellencewhile positioningoperaasacatalystfor healing,innovation,andinclusion.
Thisisadefiningmomentforthe futureofopera.Weinviteyouto joinus toinvestin avisionthattranscendsthestage andshapesthenextchapterof FloridaGrandOpera
EXPLORE THE FIVE PROGRAM AREAS THAT DEFINE FGO’S RENEWED MISSION AND EXPANSIVE IMPACT.
ArtisticDevelopment
ArtisticInnovation&Legacy
Education&Access CommunityEngagement
Wellness&Resilience
SUPPORTFLORIDAGRAND OPERAʼSWELLNESS& RESILIENCEPROGRAM