Sarasota Opera Hosts Friend-Raising Event in Pinellas County

Sarasota Opera hosted two friend-raising events for the Florida Suncoast Opera League, the Pinellas Opera League and patrons of Sarasota Opera on Saturday, November 19th in St. Petersburg, FL and Sunday, November 20th in Dunedin, FL. Tampa Bay Magazine publisher Aaron Fodiman, and his wife Margaret Wood Burnside, generously donated their homes for the events. The events were chaired by Sarasota Opera Trustee Don Worthington and his wife Rachael Worthington, and were generously underwritten by PNC Bank.


Executive Director Susan Danis, Aaron Fodiman and his wife, Margaret Wood Burnside at Ovation.


Sarasota Opera Trustee member Don Worthington welcomes the guests at Ovation.

The events were two hours each and attendees enjoyed cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres and a 30 minute concert presented by Sarasota Opera Artists Youna Jang, soprano and tenor Heath Huberg. “The purpose of these two events was to bring Sarasota Opera to our friends and supporters in Pinellas County”, says Greg Parry, Director of Marketing at Sarasota Opera. “This was a wonderful opportunity to say hello to new and existing patrons, let them know what we have coming up for our 2012 Winter Festival Season and, most importantly, enjoy some wonderful singing by our artists. We are grateful to Mr. Fodiman and Ms. Burnside for opening their homes, Don and Rachael Worthington for chairing the events and PNC Bank for their generous underwriting.”

Guests included Sarasota Opera Executive Director Susan T. Danis, Dr. Zena Lansky and Warren Rodgers, Aaron Fodiman and his wife Margaret Wood Burnside, Ambassador Mel Sembler and his wife Betty Sembler, the Honorable Pamela Campbell and her husband George Campbell, Sarasota Opera Board Chairman Joe Stephan and his wife Nora Stephan, and Kathleen Monahan, Director of Cultural & Civic Services for the City of Tarpon Springs.

Below are some photos from the event at Ovation:


Tenor Heath Huberg sings for the crowd


Soprano Youna Jang entertains the crowd with a selection of arias


Richard and Marita Rotella (left) and Lilo and Jeffrey Barnes (right)


Jay Kaminsky and Aaron Fodiman at Ovation


George Campbell, Sarasota Opera Board Chairman Joe Stephan, Nora Stephan and Ambassador Mel Sembler


The Honorable Pamela Campbell, Rachael Worthington, and George Campbell

And here are some photos from the next day's event at the home of Aaron Fodiman and Margaret Wood Burnside in Dunedin, FL:

Fazal Fazlin and Fay Lazaris


The Honorable and Mrs. William Castagna, John Prevas, Mavis Gibson, and Margaret Carrington


Pat Benjamin, Elena Cifuentes, Patti Italiano, Judy Dato


Joe and Michelle Menasce, Bonny Heet, Martin Martel, and John Rinde