Bemidji State University’s School of Music brings opera to the North Woods for its annual Opera Night Gala, set for February 20 at Bemidji’s Sanford Center.

The Opera Night Gala features solo and ensemble performances by School of Music students, faculty and guest artists performing a variety of opera, Broadway and other repertoire. The event encourages attendees to dress to delight, with cocktail attire optional but not required. The evening begins with a cocktail hour and includes a catered meal.

This year’s meal options are slow-roasted beef or chicken cordon bleu, with a dessert option of cheesecake or chocolate truffle mousse cake.

This year’s featured guest artist will be Dr. Jeremy Kelly, assistant director of voice at Western Kentucky University. A baritone, Kelly’s previous operatic experiences include performances with Opera Pacific and opera troupes from coast-to-coast including Seattle; Omaha, Nebraska; Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and in Florida and Kentucky. He also has performed in Bogotá, Colombia and with the New York City Ballet.

Last year’s Opera Night Gala featured more than 20 performances presented across four acts, including ensemble numbers, solo performances and a duet. Guest artists included Emily Bergeron, a graduate vocal performance student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Josh Kohl, a renowned tenor who has performed around the globe, including several years as a member of the ensemble at Theater Freiburg in Germany.

Opera Night Tickets

Tickets for the Opera Night Gala are $100 and are on sale now through the Hometown Fan app. Meal and dessert choices can be made when purchasing tickets. An additional “Date-Night Package” includes a bottle of wine, commemorative stemless glasses, chocolate from Chocolates Plus of Bemidji and a thank-you bag, is available for an additional $50.

Hometown Fan is available as a free download on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.