Celebrating Nancy and Paul Pelosi: An Evening on Stage with San Francisco Opera Guild
The War Memorial Opera House came alive tonight for the San Francisco Opera Guild’s 11th annual An Evening on Stage. This extraordinary event offers guests the unique opportunity to dine on the opera stage itself, surrounded by the grandeur of a space that has hosted countless iconic performances. The evening celebrated the transformative power of the arts, honoring individuals who champion creativity and music education in profound ways.
Click above to watch highlights from the night!
This year’s honorees were Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, recognized for their enduring commitment to supporting the arts and music education, both in the Bay Area and across the nation.
“This recognition is something that is emotional for me,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi shared during her heartfelt remarks. “Because it does mean a great deal for what the arts are. What they are to us as individuals, what they are to a community, what they are to our country. And I’ll quote President Kennedy, who talks about the arts and says, they’re not incidental to our country; they are at the core of who we are.”
The event also highlighted the incredible work of the San Francisco Opera Guild, an organization that has been empowering young people through music education for over eight decades. Their award-winning programs inspire creativity, leadership, and empathy, reaching thousands of Bay Area students each year and instilling a lifelong love of the arts.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi underscored the unifying power of the arts in her remarks, saying, “The arts really bring us together. We laugh together, we cry together, we’re inspired together, we find common ground. And that is what gives us hope.”
A particularly moving moment of the evening was a surprise performance of America the Beautiful by Ronny Michael Greenberg, Moisés Salazar, and Caroline Corrales. This song, especially its fourth verse, holds deep significance for Speaker Emerita Pelosi:
"O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!"
Reflecting on the lyrics, Speaker Emerita Pelosi shared, “O beautiful for patriot dreams that see beyond the years. We really need that right now, don’t we? But this part is what I love: Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears. Isn’t that San Francisco? This alabaster city, just always, always hopeful. So San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Opera Guild, all very beautiful—and crescendo, meaning much more to come.”
The evening was filled with heartfelt stories, special performances, and a profound sense of community. Dining on the iconic stage itself, surrounded by the very heart of the opera, was a powerful reminder of how the arts connect us and inspire us to build bridges across our differences.
Thanks to the San Francisco Opera Guild for hosting this unforgettable event and to Nancy and Paul Pelosi for their passionate advocacy for the arts. It was a night to remember, honoring the essential role of creativity in shaping our communities and the lives of future generations.
Here’s to celebrating the arts and the leaders who champion them!
Photos by Drew Altizer
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