Toledo Opera will host its annual fundraising gala, Opera Gala Route 250, at the Millbury Classic Cars & Trucks Museum (1435 S. State Route 795, Millbury, OH 43447) on Saturday, May 9, 2026 beginning at 6:30 p.m.. This year’s event introduces a new setting and format for Toledo Opera’s signature fundraiser – celebrating 250 years of American music through vintage style, classic cars, and live performances by the Toledo Opera Resident Artists.
Opera Gala Route 250 will take place among the museum’s collection of classic and custom vehicles and will feature musical interludes by the Toledo Opera Resident Artists, heavy grazing stations, and a cash bar. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the museum, enjoy a retro Americana atmosphere, bid in the silent auction, and participate in a paddle raise supporting Toledo Opera’s artistic and educational programs.
A limited VIP Experience will begin at 6:00 p.m. and includes a private welcome reception and museum tour, complimentary drink tickets, and exclusive perks throughout the evening. At 6:30 p.m., doors will open for all attendees for the full gala experience. Tickets are $300 for the VIP Experience and $200 for General Admission. Opera Unlimited subscribers receive one complimentary drink ticket with the purchase of either ticketing option. Cocktail attire is requested.
For Toledo Opera General Director James M. Norman, the gala is more than a celebration – it’s a chance to honor the community that supports the company: “Our annual fundraising gala is a celebration of the community that sustains Toledo Opera, and this year’s Route 250 classic car theme – honoring our nation’s 250th birthday – adds a fun and nostalgic twist to the evening. It’s a night where generosity and artistry come together to keep opera inspiring, educating, and enriching our region. We are deeply grateful to our supporters, whose commitment makes Toledo Opera possible.”
Toledo Opera Artistic Director, Kevin Bylsma, added: “Could there be a more thrilling way to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday than with classic cars and classic music? Join our stellar Resident Artists as they bring you everything from iconic American opera arias to beloved Broadway hits. And don’t miss a spirited rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ as we toast this milestone in our nation’s history.”
Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels and include recognition in Toledo Opera’s donor listings, program, and website, as well as an invitation to the VIP Reception. Businesses and community partners are invited to support Opera Gala Route 250 while gaining visibility among Toledo Opera’s patrons.
With more than three decades experience as a vocal coach, collaborative pianist, choral conductor, and organist, Kevin J. Bylsma is a musician of impressive depth and ability, well known for his work in opera, art song, and oratorio. A longtime member of the Toledo Opera staff, Mr. Bylsma is currently the Co-Artistic Director/Head of Music Preparation and Chorus Master. He was formerly Music Director of the Department of Community Programs for the Michigan Opera Theatre and vocal coach, accompanist, and chorus master for OPERA! Lenawee. In recitals and master classes, he has collaborated with the great American singers Samuel Ramey, Diane Soviero, Marilyn Horne, Dawn Upshaw, Michelle De Young, Irina Mishura, Kathryn Lewek, and Jennifer Rowley. He is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor Festival of Song, and, for the past twenty-nine years, he has served the historic Mariners’ Church of Detroit as Associate Organist and Choirmaster. Dedicated to the education and training of the next generation of operatic talent, Mr. Bylsma is the Coordinator of Opera and Repetiteur for Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts, responsible for vocal coaching as well as serving as a collaborative pianist for the school’s large body of young singers. From 2009–2018, Mr. Bylsma taught at OperaWorks, an intensive summer opera program, based in Los Angeles, CA, and since 2014, he has served the Michigan District Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition as principal pianist. Increasingly active as a music director, Mr. Bylsma has conducted Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Poulenc’s Gloria, R. Vaughan Williams’ Mystical Songs, and Beethoven’s Mass in C and Choral Fantasy, and most recently led the Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre’s production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.
Filipino-American soprano Sarah Rachel Bacani is currently the soprano Resident Artist at Toledo Opera. Her 2023-2024 season included covering the role of Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) at Central City Opera, where she also performed the role in their Family Matinee production as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program Apprentice Artist. In 2022, also with Central City Opera, she made her professional debut performing the role of Mariola in Heggie’s Two Remain. On the Indiana University Opera Theater stage, she performed the roles of Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte). There, she also performed in scenes as Leïla (Les Pécheurs de Perles), Micaëla (Carmen), and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte). An accomplished competitor, this year, she placed in the Top 12 of the Inaugural Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition and is a semi-finalist in Fort Worth Opera’s McCammon Voice Competition. She previously competed as a finalist for the 2024 Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera National Voice Competition, placing sixth (Kay Carpenter Memorial Award) and winning the Irene Patti Swartz Memorial Award to a Soprano. She was also a semi-finalist for the 2024 Shreveport Opera Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition. In concert, Ms. Bacani has performed the soprano solo in Britten's Les Illuminations, Mozart’s Requiem, and Getty’s The White Election. Hailing from Toms River, NJ, Ms. Bacani received her Performer Diploma and Master of Music in voice at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the tutelage of Jane Dutton. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Cynthia Hoffmann. Ms. Bacani last appeared with Toledo Opera as Micaëla (Carmen).
Mezzo-soprano Danielle Casós is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she earned her Master of Music degree in 2023 and Specialist of Music degree in 2025, studying under Professor Freda Herseth. While at the University of Michigan, she performed the roles of Mrs. Grose (Turn of the Screw), Elizabeth Cree (Elizabeth Cree), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Fox Gold-Stripe (Cunning Little Vixen), and Mrs. McClean (Susannah). An avid performer of new works, Ms. Casós was involved in UMich's orchestral workshop premiere of Derek Bermel's The House on Mango Street as the leading role of Esperanza (2024), and also originated the role of Older Leah in Lori Laitman's chamber opera, Uncovered (2022). In 2024, she joined the Sandford Studio Artist training program at Kentucky Opera, where she performed the role of Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). In 2023, Ms. Casós performed as a Studio Artist in Central City Opera's Bonfils-Stanton Training Program, where she performed in a scenes program as Dorabella (Cosí fan tutte) and Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte). In 2022, she joined the Lehrer Vocal Institute at Music Academy of the West where she covered the role of Olga (Eugene Onegin). Ms. Casós is thrilled to be joining Toledo Opera for their 2025-2026 season where she sang the role of Mercedes (Carmen).
Tenor, Brady DelVecchio is known for his versatility on stage and screen. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his career has brought him international acclaim for his portrayals of engaging romantic leads. Mr. DelVecchio attended The Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University and New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Since then, he has had the pleasure of portraying Le Prince Charmant (Cendrillon), Mercurio (La Calisto), Rektor, Komár, and Pasek (The Cunning Little Vixen), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Tony (West Side Story), Nanki Poo (The Mikado) and Timothy Harper (Strike Up the Band). While performing traditional operatic, musical theater, and recital repertoire, he has had the privilege of premiering staged new works by Melissa Dunphy (The Gonzales Cantata) with the American Opera Theater, Richard Allan White (Hester) with the Center for Contemporary Opera and Felix Jarrar (Fall of the House of Usher). Mr. DelVecchio’s upcoming work includes an Untitled Colin Mochrie Film by Nicola Rose, and a recital series at First Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he serves as tenor soloist. Mr. DelVecchio is incredibly thankful and excited to return as the tenor resident artist at Toledo Opera for their 2025-2026 season. In Carmen, he sang Remendado and last season, he performed the roles of Spoletta (Tosca) and the Professor (South Pacific) for Toledo Opera.
Baritone Rick Hale believes that music is one of the most fundamentally powerful mediums for communicating human emotions and stories. Opera, in his opinion, is the best-equipped method to communicate the human experience. Mr. Hale is elated to join Toledo Opera as a Resident Artist for the 2025/2026 season, where he will make his mainstage debut as El Dancaïro in Carmen and cover Belcore in the Elixir of Love. During the 2024/2025 season, Mr. Hale made his company debut with Resonance Works as the Drunkard in Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince. In the summer of 2024, he made his debut at the Seagle Festival where he performed the role of W. P. Inman in Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain and covered the title character in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Additionally, Mr. Hale performed with Slippery Rock University as the Unnamed Bass in the university’s production of Too Many Sopranos. This summer, he will be an Apprentice Artist at Sante Fe Opera. During his time at Carnegie Mellon University, Mr. Hale performed the roles of Kaiser Overall in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis and Ben Upthegrove in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Telephone. Mr. Hale received his Bachelor of Science in mathematical economics from Gettysburg College, and he recently completed his Master of Music in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University where he studied under the tutelage of Daniel Teadt. Along with music, he enjoys keeping up with professional basketball, learning about the brain, and spending time in Pennsylvania’s state parks with his family. Mr. Hale made his Toledo Opera debut with Dancaïro (Carmen).
Yura Jang is a highly accomplished pianist and opera coach who recently completed her master’s degree in collaborative piano at the Mannes School of Music in New York City, under the mentorship of Cristina Stanescu. Her musical foundation was established at the University of Seoul in South Korea, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in piano performance. Ms. Jang has distinguished herself particularly in the field of opera coaching, having worked on productions such as Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, Puccini’s La Bohème, and Verdi’s Rigoletto. Each of these productions enjoyed sold-out performances, underscoring her effectiveness and excellence as an opera coach. Additionally, her collaboration as a vocal soloist performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 showcases her profound understanding and sensitivity toward vocal performance. Since relocating to the United States, Ms. Jang has captivated audiences with expressive interpretations and technical precision at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, the German Consulate General in New York, and WQXR (New York's classical radio station). Her versatility extends beyond opera to chamber music concerts and various competitions, earning her the grand prize at the UK International Music Competition 2024. Additionally, she was awarded first place at the LAKMA Scholarship Competition in Los Angeles, receiving both a scholarship and an opportunity to perform a piano concerto. Ms. Jang’s career is defined by her dedication, resilience, and the artistic insight she brings to both performances and teaching. She continues to contribute passionately to the vibrant New York musical community, believing firmly in music's transformative power to convey profound human emotions and unite audiences.
Toledo Opera’s fundraising gala will take place at the Millbury Classic Cars & Trucks Museum on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m.. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Leah Whitaker at lwhitaker@toledoopera.org. To to purchase tickets visit: toledoopera.org. For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
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