Pittsburgh Opera’s next annual season-closing gala, Celestial Celebration, will be on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto.
Join Pittsburgh Opera as we elevate this year's fundraising event by bringing it to a new venue high atop Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington. Enjoy panoramic city views and delicious food, experience operatic performances, and dance the night away at the Celestial Celebration. Your support of this event allows Pittsburgh Opera to offer educational opportunities to schoolchildren, engagement opportunities to underserved communities, and performance opportunities to young emerging artists. We are shooting for the moon with this event and hope you will take the journey with us.
For more information on event sponsorship, please contact Torrance Gricks or call (412) 281-0912 ext. 225.
DINNER TICKETS
6:30 PM Arrival
Host Committee/VIP Admission - $900
- Invitation to exclusive Honorees Reception at 6:00 PM
- Name recognition on the website and event signage
- Cosmic cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
- Awards dinner overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline
- Performances by the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists
- Dessert and dancing under the stars with DJ Jess
Patron Ticket - $500
- Cosmic cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
- Awards dinner overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline
- Performances by the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists
- Dessert and dancing under the stars with DJ Jess
SUPERNOVA SOIRÉE
8:30 PM Arrival
General Ticket - $125
- Cocktails and hors d‘oeuvres in the Lounge
- Open bar with cosmic cocktails
- Dessert and dancing under the stars with DJ Jess
- …and more!
2024 Event Commitee
Maecenas Chairs
Gene Welsh and Marty Healey
Supernova Co-Chairs
- Danielle Katz and James Snyder
- Tyler and Gary Zamary
Host Committee
- Nancy Traina, Host Committee Chair
- Francois Bitz
- Howard and Marilyn Bruschi
- Dr. Lisa Cibik and Bernie J. Kobosky
- John and Virginia DiPucci
- Victor Dozzi and Richard Eckman
- Michele Fabrizi
- Dr. Donald R. Fischer and Hon. Nora Barry Fischer
- Hilda Pang Fu
- Pete Fuscaldo, Esq. and Patty Fuscaldo
- Drs. Karen and R. Kent Galey
- Alice V. Gelormino
- Paul J. Gitnik, Esq.
- Nachum Golan and Steve Hough
- Alexandra Good, Esq. and Brian Linville
- Christopher Hahn and Ron Booth
- Dr. Susan Candace Hunt
- Jo and Mary Incorvaia
- Cynthia Kerr in honor of Arthur J. Kerr, Jr. (Jack)
- Rachel and Rich Kisic
- Richard J. LeBeau and Dr. Michael J. White
- Dr. Michael Lewis and Dr. Katia Sycara
- Dr. Nicholas and Susan Loutsion
- Abby L. Morrison and Paul M. Teplitz
- Christopher Pritchard
- Pam Selker Rak and Bob Rak
- Robin Randall
- Diana Reid and Marc Chazaud
- Dominic Rupprecht and Greg Vose
- Drs. Sharon and Robert Sclabassi
- Steve Seibert and Charlie Anderson
- Celia Soehner
- Drs. Robert H. and Janet E. Squires
- Gene Svrcek
- John Tippins and Dr. Laura Pallan
- John and Nancy Traina
- Woodruff Turner, Esq.
- Jeffrey Wigton
- Izear Winfrey
2024 Honorees
Maecenas Award
The Monteverdi Society
and its members who have invested in the future of Pittsburgh Opera through a legacy gift.
Renaissance Award
Charles Stegeman
for over 30 years as Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Arthur “Jack” Kerr
for his continued dedication and steadfast support of Pittsburgh Opera.
2024 SPONSORS
Are you looking to make a significant impact on the success of this event while introducing your unique brand to the Pittsburgh Opera audience? Please consider individual or corporate sponsorship. To sponsor Maecenas XXXIX and support Pittsburgh Opera's mission, please contact Torrance Gricks via email or at 412-281-0912 x225.
Gold Sponsor ($25,000 +)
David and Gabriela Porges
Silver Sponsor ($15,000 +)
Federated Investors
PNC
Pearl Sponsor ($10,000 +)
Highmark
UPMC and UPMC Health Plan
Bronze Sponsor ($5,000 +)
Miller McCurry
DT Midstream
Mark Flaherty & Mary McKinney
Maecenas Award History
The event’s namesake, Gaius Maecenas, was friend to the first Emperor of Rome, Caesar Augustus, and a celebrated patron to such artists of his time as Horace and Virgil. Today his name is synonymous with “patron of the arts.” Pittsburgh Opera’s Maecenas Award is bestowed upon benefactors whose exceptional dedication to our work ensures that live opera can thrive in Pittsburgh.
Previous award honorees include:
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Janet Sarbaugh
- Nadine E. Bognar
- Dr. Jared L. Cohon
- Governor Tom Corbett
- First Lady Susan Corbett
- Robert Nutting
- Vincent Sarni
- Tom Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Donald Cardinal Wuerl
Maecenas Award
- Mary Louise Gailliot and the late Henry J. Gailliot
- François J. Bitz
- Electra and James R. Agras
- Michele and Pat Atkins
- Nadine E. Bognar
- Carol R. Brown
- Tony Bucci
- Kathleen Casey Craig
- Daya
- Michele Fabrizi
- Teresa Heinz Kerry
- Dr. Arthur S. Levine
- Jeffrey Lipton
- Carol and Joseph A. Massaro, Jr.
- Dr. Andrew W. Moore
- Thomas H. O’Brien
- Mark Pasquerilla
- Jan and Dick Pagliari
- Kathe and Jim Patrinos
- David Porges
- Jeffrey Romoff
- Vincent A. Sarni
- Nancy and John Traina
- Doris Carson Williams
- PNC
Renaissance Award
- Mary Cardwell Dawson
- Stephanie Blythe
- Maestro Richard Bonynge
- Tito Capobianco
- Marianne Cornetti
- Vivica Genaux
- Nathan Gunn
- Christopher Hahn
- Jake Heggie
- Marilyn Horne
- Terrence McNally
- Sherrill Milnes
- Claudia Pinza
- Roberta Peters
- Mildred Miller Posvar
- Regina Resnik
- General Norman Schwarzkopf
- Renata Scotto
- Beverly Sills
- Dame Joan Sutherland
- Shirlee Verrett
- Joe Volpe
Past Chairs
- Chris Pritchard
- Electra and James R. Agras
- Barbara L. Barry
- Ritchie Battle
- Vivian and Bill Benter
- Sandra L. Bettor
- Nadine E. Bognar
- Maryanne dePalma and Howard Burnett
- Barbara and Gerald Chait
- Lisa M. Cibik and Bernie Kobosky
- Lisa M. Cibik and Ali Good
- Pamela Estes and James Ferry
- Cindy and Murry Gerber
- Laura and Claude Kronk
- Bonnie Levine
- Shelly and Jeffery Lipton
- Carol and Joseph A. Massaro, Jr.
- Patricia and Attila Molnar
- Christine Toretti Olson
- Jan and Dick Pagliari
- Kathe and Jim Patrinos
- Gabriela and David Porges
- Dottie and Vincent A. Sarni
- Teri and Damien Soffer
- Saundra and William Stout
- James Will
- Gillian and David Williams
Event History
Named for Gaius Maecenas, the wealthy Roman statesman and cultural patron, the Maecenas gala has developed a reputation for a spectacular environment and great entertainment. SEEN hails it as “one of the best black-tie galas in town” and by the Tribune-Review as one of Pittsburgh’s top parties of the year. Each year, this event is a critical aspect of Pittsburgh Opera’s fundraising efforts to keep music alive in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.
Annually, Maecenas galas celebrate a successful season for Pittsburgh Opera and recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the performing arts in Pittsburgh or within their respective fields. Each year, a few worthy recipients receive Awards from Pittsburgh Opera.
