CINCINNATI OPERA presentS
PRIDE NIGHT
saturDAY, June 20, 2026
Music Hall | wilks studio
A celebration of LGBTQIA+ community
Following the performance of Richard Strauss’s riveting Salome, we’ll lighten the mood with drinks, dancing, laughs, and surprises in Wilks Studio at Music Hall. Enjoy nibbles, festive drinks, and dance beats—plus, we’ll tip our hats to honoree Kathy Nardiello. Make a full night of it with tickets to Salome (included with sponsorships; hosts receive 20% off performance tickets) or purchase a Pride Night attendee ticket and join us for the party starting at 10:00 p.m.
🎉 YOUR PRIDE NIGHT PLAYBILL 🎉
6:30 p.m. – VIP Sponsor Cocktail Reception
Sip, sparkle, and schmooze in the Taft Suite. Colorful cocktails and glittering conversation await.
7:30 p.m. – Richard Strauss’s Salome
Lust! Scandal! Unhinged! And a twist ending you will NOT see coming. (Salome is an opera you could lose your head over.)
10:30 p.m. – Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
It’s the afterparty of your disco ball dreams, full of dancing, light bites, and at least seven veils!
How can you participate?
$1000+ Sponsor
Includes tickets for two (2) to:
Pre-show VIP Sponsor Reception in the exclusive Taft Suite
Preferred seating for Strauss’s Salome in Springer Auditorium
Post-show Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
Six (6) drink tickets (distributed at the event)
Recognition at the event and on the webpage
$406 tax-deductible
$500 Sponsor
Includes tickets for two (2) to:
Pre-show VIP Sponsor Reception in the exclusive Taft Suite
Strauss’s Salome in Springer Auditorium
Post-show Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
Four (4) drink tickets (distributed at the event)
Recognition at the event and on the webpage
$136 tax-deductible
$35 Attendee
Includes ticket for one (1) to:
One (1) ticket to Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
One (1) drink ticket (distributed at the event)
$65 Host
Includes ticket for one (1) to:
Pride Night Celebration in Wilks Studio
One (1) drink ticket (distributed at the event)
20% discount on tickets to Strauss’s Salome
(promo code provided in email receipt)$31 tax-deductible
SALOME
Tickets for the performance of Salome at 7:30 p.m. in Springer Auditorium are on sale now. If you already have tickets for a different date, we're here to assist. Give us a call at 513-241-2742 (Mon.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m.), and we'll be happy to exchange them for you or assist you with donating them to an individual or community service organization.
about our honoree
For more than four decades, KATHY NARDIELLO has been a steady and transformative force within Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ community — a leader whose influence spans crisis response, civil rights advocacy, executive leadership, and the enduring power of the arts.
Kathy became involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy in the mid-1980s, serving with AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC), STOP AIDS, and Caracole during a defining and challenging chapter in our community’s history. She served five years as Board President of AVOC and chaired the annual Red Ribbon Walk for 15 of its 16 years, helping build visibility, compassion, and sustained community support. Her leadership during that era strengthened critical nonprofit infrastructure and ensured that dignity and care remained at the center of the response.
As the movement for equality evolved, Kathy remained deeply engaged. She has been a long-time supporter and leader within Cincinnati’s human rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including Stonewall Cincinnati and the Human Rights Campaign. Through board leadership, thought partnership, and significant financial commitment, she has helped sustain the policy and advocacy frameworks that protect and advance LGBTQ+ rights locally and nationally.
Continued >>
Click below to make a gift in honor of Kathy.
💅 Serving Looks 💅
So, what do you wear? This year, we’re tapping into the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE! (And, of course, whatever makes you feel fearless.) Think: a pop of color, a piece of unexpected drama, bold choices. Go full glam. Go minimalist with a statement. Go rainbow. Go rogue. Just surprise us.
Premier Sponsor
TBD
$1,000+ Sponsors
Blank Rome, LLP
Carroll Edward Lahniers and Joseph Koester
Mike Powell, Esq. & Dr. Jonathan Egel
Ellen and Louis Ross
$500 Sponsors
At Your Service Cincinnati, LLC
Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston
IPA Source, LLC
Victor Canfield, in loving memory of Richard Sacksteder
Hosts
Marina Abanto
M. Todd Bezold
Anne-Marie Blancquaert, D.V.M., and Walter Bruyninckx, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Jennifer S. Buchholz & Carrie Carothers
James D. Geier and Gregory A. Smith
Jeffrey Geoberti & David Bronner
Jennifer & Toby Groff
Kay A. Johnson, M.D.
Rachel Kirley & Joe Jaquette
Sarah Reinhardt & Ray Jacobs
Cynthia Starr & Richard Boydston
Susan Strick, M.D.
Tricia Suit & Eric Appleby
Mark Wert & Mark Johnson
Brett Willson & John Fredeking
scenes from pride 2024—What a fabulous evening!
If you would like to peruse the full gallery of photos and download for personal use, click below. We ask that you recognize and tag our photographer, Paige Pederzani, in any instances of social media use.