OPERA NAPLES CELEBRATES BREAKTHROUGH 2025/26 SEASON
Published on May 27, 2026
Highlights include $1 million gift strengthening the Opera Naples endowment, launch of the Encore
Society planned giving program, expansion of the Festival Under the Stars in its sixth year,
international exposure from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice
Competition, 84% increase in sponsorship support and the addition of two distinguished members to
the Board of Trustees
NAPLES, FL (May 27, 2026) – Opera Naples celebrates a season of significant growth and achievement
as it concludes its 2025/26 fiscal year and prepares to announce its upcoming season. Under the
leadership of Executive Director Melanie Kalnins, Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar and Board
of Directors Co-Chairs Lawrence Ost and Bronwen Adams, the organization advanced its artistic
programming, expanded its audience reach and strengthened its financial foundation.
Opera Naples was honored to announce at its annual benefit gala on December 11, 2025 at Royal
Poinciana Golf Club that an anonymous benefactor pledged $1 million in support of its mission. The
majority of these funds were directed toward growing the Opera Naples endowment, ensuring long-term
financial stability for the organization. Furthermore, Opera Naples introduced the Encore Society,
a new planned giving program offering special benefits to individuals who include Opera Naples in
their estate plans.
The sixth annual Festival Under the Stars continued its growth, expanding to a five-week series of
performances from February 13 through March 15, 2026. The festival featured a dynamic range of
concerts and opera performances at the Wang Opera Center and Baker Park, with six sold-out
performances. The season also featured the second Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples
International Voice Competition, led by Maestro Ramón Tebar and Luciano Pavarotti Foundation
President Nicoletta Mantovani. The competition attracted 430 applicants from 19 countries, with 19
finalists competing over three days from March 13 to March 15, 2026. Opera Naples and the Luciano
Pavarotti Foundation were pleased to partner with the Florida Gulf Coast University Bower School
for Music & the Arts which co-hosted the competition. Five winners were awarded contracts of at
least $10,000: Victor Cardamone, tenor; Byung Jun Ko, baritone; Kara Morgan, mezzo-soprano; Luke
Norvell, tenor; and Grace Ryan, mezzo-soprano.
A D D R E S S
Opera Naples 2408 Linwood Ave
Naples, FL 34112
P H O N E
(239) 844 SING
W E B S I T E
operanaples.org
A D D R E S S
Opera Naples 2408 Linwood Ave
Naples, FL 34112
P H O N E
(239) 844 SING
W E B S I T E
operanaples.org
Sponsorship revenue continued its strong upward trajectory, increasing by 84% over the previous
season. Opera Naples is deeply grateful for generous support of both individuals and corporate
sponsors, whose contributions made the Festival Under the Stars possible. Lead sponsorship support
was provided by Larry & Louise Ost, Jan Burrus, Sally Gleason, Melody Sawyer Richardson, Cindy
Stegemann, John & Nicoletta Pepe, Susan Gibbons, Elizabeth Harrington, Bruce & Lois Selfon,
Kathleen Field Orr & Roy Beck, Ice Miller, PNC Private Bank and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation.
Additional sponsorship and partnership support was provided by Steve & Kathy Nichols, Ronald C.
Smith, Freeman’s, Bentley Naples, Ciccarelli Advisory Services, FineMark Bank & Trust, Florida
Trust Wealth Management, Peacock + Lewis, Stock Development, Gulfshore Life, The Naples Press,
Naples Daily News, Driftwood Garden Center, the Aielli Group, Winfield Coffee, the City of Naples,
The House of Turk & Turk, Gulfshore Ballet, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Naples, Marco
Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, Florida’s Paradise Coast and the Florida
Theatrical Association.
Opera Naples welcomed Edward J. Ludwig and Melody Sawyer Richardson to its Board of Trustees this
season. Ludwig is a highly respected leader in the healthcare and medical technology sectors, who
is currently serving as Lead Independent Director of Boston Scientific and previously served as
Chairman and CEO of Becton, Dickinson and Company. With decades of executive leadership experience,
including board service with organizations such as CVS Health Corporation and Aetna, Inc., he
brings significant strategic and financial expertise as Opera Naples continues to expand its
artistic and community impact. Richardson brings a distinguished career in law, finance and real
estate: first as an attorney on Wall Street and then as General Counsel of a real estate developer
in New Jersey. She earned a BA from University of Cincinnati, a Master’s from Ohio State University
and an MBA and JD from Rutgers University. She has held leadership roles on numerous prominent arts
and cultural boards, including serving as Board Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra,
Cincinnati Ballet and Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority.
Additionally, effective July 1, 2026, Richardson will serve as Chair of the Opera Naples Board of
Directors.
Opera Naples undertook several strategic initiatives to enhance the capabilities of the Wang Opera
Center as a rental venue this season. The facility offers a versatile performance space and special
event space with retractable 320-tiered seats. Opera Naples further invested in new sound and
lighting equipment, including an 18’ x 40’ LED screen, increasing its ability to serve a wide range
of clients. A new role, Production & Technical Director, was filled by Daniel Goodsitt, who is set
to assume the position on July 1, 2026. Goodsitt brings extensive experience in event production
and will support both Opera Naples’ internal productions and external rental partnerships.
Opera Naples concludes its 2025/26 season with a match campaign. All gifts of $150 or more made by
June 30, 2026, will both count for member benefits and be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000,
thanks to a generous contribution from Edward and Kathleen Ludwig. Friends of Opera Naples receive
benefits such as invitations to special events, waived ticket exchange fees, advance performance
notifications and donor recognition in Opera Naples publications and online.
Commenting on the 2025/26 season, Executive Director Melanie Kalnins said: “This season has been a
remarkable testament to what our community can achieve together. From the continued growth of the
festival and incredible international reach of the competition, to transformational philanthropic
support and exciting investments in the Wang Opera Center, Opera Naples is building a strong future
for opera in Southwest Florida. As we prepare to announce our next season, we invite our patrons
and supporters to help us sustain this momentum by participating in our end-of-season campaign.
Every gift plays a vital role in ensuring that Opera Naples continues to inspire, educate and
enrich our community through the power of music and the performing arts.”
Donations may be made by calling 239-844-SING or visiting operanaples.org.
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Opera Naples is an artistic powerhouse, dedicated to presenting high-quality opera productions and
concerts featuring prominent international, national and regional performers and directors. Opera
Naples has presented well-known grand operas such as La bohème, Carmen, Faust, La Traviata, Madama
Butterfly, Rigoletto, Tosca and more. An advocate of community service and education outreach,
Opera Naples introduces opera to thousands of children each year through various programs,
including in-school programs and performances in Collier and Lee counties, the Resident Artists
Program and Summer Youth Program. The company is also committed to nurturing promising young talent
through the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples Academy led by a faculty of prominent opera
luminaries who offer an immersive program of vocal instruction, lectures and masterclasses. In
collaboration with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, Opera Naples also hosts an International Voice
Competition, in partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University. The company has earned local,
regional and state government support. For
more information, visit operanaples.org.