The Voice Newsletter

Recaps, photos, and press coverage from the Guild's most recent events — from our annual fashion show to the online auction. Guild events bring our community together in celebration of opera and the arts. Here's a look at what we've hosted, attended, and made possible this season — including video coverage, photo galleries, press features, and the stories behind the moments.

• Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon — As Seen in Town & Country

  

  The Guild's Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon made its way into the pages of Town & Country Magazine this May — and the spotlight was well deserved. Writer Erin Leigh Carlson captured what made the May 13th event at Neiman Marcus San Francisco so memorable: show-stopping looks, a room full of glamour, and a cause worth dressing up for.

  As presenter Chloe King noted during the event, getting dressed with a capital "D" is a form of resistance — and an act of empowerment. At the Guild, we believe the same is true of music and the arts. Every dollar raised at events like this one goes directly toward bringing music education to thousands of children across Northern California — because access to the arts changes lives.

  Read the full Town & Country feature at townandcountrymag.com.

• Red Curtain Addict: Full Episode & Recap — The Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon

  Red Curtain Addict is bringing you inside one of San Francisco's most stylish philanthropic afternoons — and we're thrilled to share their full-length video episode and coverage of The Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon.

  San Francisco Opera Guild and Neiman Marcus San Francisco came together for a beautifully curated afternoon celebrating fashion, philanthropy, and cultural expression — where every look felt inspired by the spirit of the arts. The luncheon brought together Opera Guild members, fashion enthusiasts, civic leaders, and first-time guests around a shared belief in the power of creativity and access to the arts.

  The runway presentation, curated by Chloe King of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, offered inspiration for the cultural season ahead — from Opera Ball to opening nights and galas across the city. Bold accessories, statement pieces, and looks that mixed glamour with modern ease gave guests plenty to consider as gala season approaches. Standout moments included a gold mirrored Oscar de la Renta gown that left Guild Board Member Aquila Farrell "still speechless" — and already dreaming of Opera Ball.

  Beyond the runway, every dollar raised supports the Guild's award-winning music education programs, reaching more than 60,000 students across Northern California each year.

  Red the full Red Curtain Addict article at redcurtainaddict.com

• Photo Recap: The Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon, Captured by Drew Altizer Photography

  

  The runway may be quiet now, but the memories from The Art of Fashion Runway Show & Luncheon are very much alive — and Drew Altizer Photography was there to capture every moment.

  Browse the full gallery for an inside look at an unforgettable afternoon of fashion, philanthropy, and community, hosted by San Francisco Opera Guild and presenting sponsor Neiman Marcus San Francisco. From the luncheon tables to the runway's final look, every frame reflects what made May 13th so special.

  Our gratitude goes to Co-Chairs Teresa Medearis and Pam Preston, and to curator Chloe King for bringing such a singular creative vision to the runway. A heartfelt thank you as well to the partners who made the day possible: Blake Charles Salon, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, Castellucci Napa Valley and Scharffenberger Cellars. To our partners J. Riccardo Benavides and McCalls Catering for bringing the event to life. And to our media partners — Haute Living SF, Nob Hill Gazette, and Red Curtain Addict — thank you for sharing the day with the wider community.

  Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and showed up in support of the Guild's music education programs. Your generosity helps bring arts learning to more than 60,000 students across the Bay Area each year.

  View the full photo gallery at DrewAltizer.com

Our education programs reach more than 64,000 students across 200+ Bay Area schools each year. These spotlights share the stories behind that work — the classrooms, the young artists, and the moments that make it matter. From school stages to community partnerships, Guild education programs are where opera meets everyday life. Here's what our educators and young artists have been up to.

• Sing a Story: Classic Operas Come to Life in the Classroom

  

  Sing a story? That’s what opera is all about. For over 20 years, SFOG teaching artists have been inspiring our youngest audiences all over the Bay Area with interactive versions of classic operas: Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, Das Rheingold, and a very special multicultural version of Cinderella. Visiting over 400 classrooms every spring, our talented artists, flourishing lavish capes, captivate our TK-3 students with vocal trills and story thrills before inviting them up to take the stage with magical costumes and props. After learning about the majestic, often silly, and heroic characters, these young artists get to act them out, say their words, and even sing some of their choruses and arias. Offered in English, Spanish, Russian, and Mandarin, Sing a Story is a beloved favorite throughout numerous school districts, and also takes residence in local libraries during the summer months. With performances running all over the Bay Area from February through May, this award-winning program is a special treat to observe. Let us know if you’d like to see this program in action!

  Learn more at sfoperaguild.com

• Residencies: Showcasing the Voices of Young Composers this Spring

  

  Students all over the Bay Area are humming original tunes and penning inspirational lyrics as the winter/spring semester of Book to Bravo! and Voices for Social Justice is underway! This spring 10 classrooms in 9 elementary schools are unlocking their creativity as they create, rehearse, and perform adaptations of important stories with topics ranging from isolation and discrimination in Island of the Blue Dolphins, to immigrant experiences in Front Desk, to morality and ethics in The Midas Touch to tales of cultural and political revolution focusing on Cesar Chavez and King George III. Students are brainstorming, stepping into the shoes of diverse characters, and dreaming them to life and onstage! Residencies in each classroom are 12 weeks long and team-taught by SFOG artists. Over the arc of the program students learn how to shape a dramatic narrative, create compelling dialogue, and basic melodic writing and text setting while they also practice vocal technique and performance skills, boosting confidence, creativity and collaboration. Live performances of these mini-operas start March 13 and run until the middle of May and this year you can catch the wonderful work of students from both the fall and spring semesters in our Residency Film Festival at the Herbst Theatre on Thursday, May 21 at 10:00 am. Stay tuned for information on both opportunities to watch these young composers shine!

  Learn more at sfoperaguild.com