Bella Notte 2022

An Opera Carolina

special event

Luxurious Designs by John Lupton

Sumptuous Cuisine byBest Impressions

Music by

Aris Quoirga, guitarist and members of the Opera Carolina Orchestra

Peter DeVries, violin

David Strassberg, violin

Piotr Swic, viola Grace Anderson, cello

Master of Ceremonies

M° James Meena

Allie Fulgum, soprano (Opera Academy Member)

Opera Carolina Three Tenors

Michael Owens

John Kim

Johnnie Felder

Lydia Kang, pianist

Bella Notte Bella Notte

Bella Notte 2022

Friday, October 21 hosted by Charlotte & John Wickham

Co-chairs

Liz & Lane Faison and Liz & David Shuford

Honorary Chairs

Mary & Charles Bowman

LIVE AUCTION AND PADDLE RAISE WITH

Dan Lyles

Join the cast of La traviata April 20, 22 & 23, 2023

Two couples per performance (12 people total) will be costumed and put on stage in the opening party scene of La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.

The winners must attend one rehearsal before opening night on April 20th, and meet with Opera Carolina’s costume coordinator (Opera will accommodate busy schedules).

Following Act I, a member of the Opera team will escort you to your seats to enjoy the rest of this famous opera.

MEXICO

LIVE AUCTION AND PADDLE RAISE WITH

Dan Lyles

Travel with Opera Carolina

(Buy this trip and you decide when to go)

Enchanting Santa Fe’

Bite the Big Apple

The Magic of Milan

An exclusive, small group guided special tour at the Santa Fé Opera. (www.santafeopera.org).

Package includes 2 premium tickets for the performance of your choice (predicated on availability of night and ticketing selection), plus pre-dinner and 2 nights at the luxurious Eldorado Hotel.

Opera shines in NYC starting with a private small group special tour at the Metropolitan Opera (backstage or costumes according to the current policy of the Theater), followed by 2 tickets for one Opera performance (www.metopera.org). Drinks at the Links Club, dinner with a special Opera VIP Guest, and 2 nights at the Thompson Central Park Hotel will complete this amazing package.

“Stupendo” special guided tour of Teatro alla Scala. (www.teatroallascala.org). Package includes 2 premium tickets for the performance of your choice (predicated on availability of night and ticketing selection), an exclusive dinner with International Opera Diva Barbara Frittoli, plus 2 nights at the ultra-chic Bvlgari Hotel.

SUPPORT OPERA CAROLINA

Cause to Give

Investing in Education, Mentorship, Career Advancement

This season, your Charitable Gift can be directed to support Scholarships to the Youth Academy and Sponsorships for members of the prestigious Resident Company.

About the Youth Academy

Opera Carolina’s instructional arm. The Youth Academy offers regional 3rd-12th graders foundational and immersive training that hones voices and cultivates essential life and learning skills, with equitable access at the core of our mission. Through the Academy Chorus’ weeky rehearsals and the annual Summer Workshop for teens, our students learn singing skills and find their own voice, explore foreign languages and diverse cultures, learn diligence and dedication, and make new friends and lasting bonds.

About the Resident Company

As Greater Charlotte has grown, it has become a magnet for opera artists moving to our community, and a vibrant city where recent college graduates want to live, work and hone their skills as professionals. Young American opera artists are often told they can only build their careers in New York City or the major capitals of Europe, even if they are not ready for the demanding world of professional opera. Opera Carolina is committed to changing this paradigm in our Queen City by directing the artistic and financial resources of the company to the development of Charlotte’s creative community by investing in our region’s opera artists.

SUPPORT OPERA CAROLINA

Giving Levels

The Verdi Society

Caci Jaeger and Aundrea Wilson, Co-Chairs

Verdi Society members receive all the benefits of Encore! Society members, and invitations to Bella Notte, The Salon, Piccolo Verdi events, Champagne Toasts, Lunch with the Stars and the Spring Season Celebration.

Piccolo Verdi

Kati Small, Chair

For Verdi Society families with young children who want to enjoy a special experience at the Opera, including exclusive family-friendly small group gatherings to introduce the ope ra via on-stage tours, and dress rehearsals of each Grand Opera production.

The Verdi Society

$10,000 Diamond Circle

$5,000 Gold Circle

$2,500 Silver Circle

The Encore! Society

$1,000 Piccolo Verdi and Benefactor

$500 Patrons

$100 Scholarships to the Youth Academy

THANK YOU TO OUR

Host Committee

Mary Margaret and Josh Beaver

Sarah Edwards Bharti and Gaurav Bharti

Kelly and Brian Chambers

Keri and Nick Clavin

Beth and Michael Clifton

Angela and Jesse Cureton

Gigi and Malcolm Dixon

Pontea and Jonathan Dixon

Mary Tabor and Rob Engel

Kitty Hall Heather and Roman Harper

Michlene and Stephen Healy

Liz Hilliard and Lee Kennelly

Caci and Max Jaeger

Charlotte Harris Lucas

Amy and Matt Moore

Laura Vinroot and Perry Poole

Mary Margaret and Fritz Porter

Virginia Secor Shaw

Anne Carter and Dean Smith

Nazy and Durham Weeks

Allison and Al Welch

Charlotte and John Wickham

Aundrea and Stephen Wilson

THANK YOU TO OUR Corporate Sponsors

A TRIBUTE TO

Charles Bowman

By Cathy Bessant

Charles Bowman is my hero, my colleague and my friend. He is known for turning the ordinary or routine into the extraordinary and unique. A well-known visionary, leader and pioneer, Charles is a wonderful motivator of teams. Countless stories at Bank of America and in Charlotte testify to his optimism and humble spirit. Anyone who knows him will tell you his laugh is infectious. He doesn’t shy away from the tough jobs because he knows how to drive teams towards a common goal. Charles started in Bank of America’s Legal Department as an attorney for Global Corporate

& Investment Banking. Soon, he was asked to lead Corporate Compliance, well before compliance became “cool” within our industry. As was typical for Charles, he often addressed topics before they became popular in order to best prepare the bank for the future.

As a market president for Charlotte and North Carolina, Charles has served on more civic and community boards that are, literally, too numerous to list. He is an advisor and mentor to our region’s greatest minds – and hearts. He often takes on “impossible” tasks: raising money, rescuing struggling organizations or projects. And being market president and corralling the likes of Hugh McColl, David Darnell, Andrea Smith and me? His greatest strength, however, might be his collaborator and wife: Mary Bowman. Mary is one of the most kind and thoughtful people you will meet. She always wants to hear how you and your family are doing and she has a knack for remembering everything you tell her. You can’t spend five minutes with Mary, Charles or their sons, John and Peter, without recognizing that their family values are core to who they are and everything they do. Together, Charles and Mary will continue to see that Charlotte rises to her full potential, just as they have helped us all achieve ours.

(Excerpts from the article issued in Avanti magazine #1, October 2022. Scan the QR code for the full version.)

2022-23

Education

Civic Engagement

Opera Xpress The Tortoise & the Hare

Student Night