YPO 54th Annual Black Tie Ball
Opera Patrons Masquerade as Phantoms, Lovers and Villains

An aura of mystery and intrigue filled the Grand ball room of the Eden Rock Resort & Spa as bejeweled and be-masked ladies and gentlemen bid generously on an array of auction items to support opera education in South Florida. Featured items included: a safari in South Africa, a membership to Metropolis Gym, a stay at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, Vero Beach and autographed sports memorabilia.
The evening’s highlights included live performances by two YPO In-School Opera singers, Margo Peace and Graham Fandrei, as well as a ballet presentation by University of Miami dance students under the direction of Rome Saladino, who also preformed a duet with his wife, Marina.
“The Masquerade Ball was a great success. “We wish to recognize and thank our Grand Benefactors Bunny Bastian and Swanee DiMare, and our Corporate Bronze Benefactors, AT&T and Bacardi, for their generosity,” said YPO President Julie Todaro, who along with ball co-chairwomen Karen Gottlieb, Nicole Lozano, Beth Tasca, Marilyn Wagner and a committee of 50 volunteers, had been busy planning and preparing for the event since January.
YPO, founded fifty-four years ago, is a non-profit group of women that advocates music and opera education. The group’s dedicated volunteers raise funds to bring professional children’s opera performances to over 45,000 elementary school students annually.
For more information abut YPO, please visit www.ypo-miami.org.
Gala Advisors: Amy Hafner, Debby Hasty, Debbie Campbell, Rene Beal (not shown, Cynthia MacEachern)
Dr. Ed & Claudia Barroso
Members with gala chair: Beth Tasca, Dr. Mort Hammond, Irene Swartz Hammond
YPO Past Presidents: Sitting: Ana Varela, Louise Todaro, Sheri Swanson; Standing: Barbara Reese, Susie Wampler, Debbie Campbell, Renee Gross, Holly Evans
Alexandra & Phillip Burchard with Rene and Ronald Beal
Gala Chairs with President and Benefactors: Marilyn Wagner, Nicole Lozano, Swanee DiMare, Julie Todaro, Bunny Bastian, Beth Tacsa, Karen Gottlieb
Julie Todaro, YPO President with Bob Heuer, CEO of the Florida Grand Opera
Daru Lane, Susie Wampler, Lisa Wheeler
Joe and Sissy DeMaria with Jason and Eveliny Bastos-Klein
Swanee and Paul Dimare with Michelle and Peter Manners
Alba Herzberg, Julie Todaro, Dr. Linda Nieder-Sugrue
Lynn & Lisa Chaffin, Dr’s Lee Ann & Andy Palomo, Vivian & Enrique Cortinas
Bunny Bastian and Jim Murphy
Rome & Marina Saladino - dancers
Donna and Richard Heisenbottle
Andrea Hellman, Mike Murray, Bunny Bastian, Dorothy St.John and Maynard Hellman
Amy Hafner, Julie Todaro with sister, Louise Todaro Sacks
Holly Evans and Louise Bendix
Karen Gottlieb with husband Elliot Sherker
Maxine Lando and Michael Gill
Lisa Bury, Justin and Troy Moss from the Florida Grand Opera
George & Ingrid Lyall
Marilyn Wagner, with Luis & Robin Ajamil
Paul and Swanee Dimare with the YPO In-School Opera singers: Margo Peace and Graham Fandrei
Vicky Rafool, Raymond Rafool, Nicole & Edgar Lozano
Barbara & Bill Reese
Maria-Rosa Lopez-Munoz, Lisa Wheeler, Ana Varela, Daru Lane