11th Annual Gala Featuring the Auction of Arias
Schedule
Sat, 07 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy | Houston, TX
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SOLD OUT!The Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents its annual “Auction of Arias” gala, a celebration of the Society’s 75th anniversary season as Houston’s longest-running opera company.
The evening, which begins with an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a three-course dinner, will feature society artists - drawn from past productions and the upcoming summer show, The Gondoliers - performing Gilbert & Sullivan favorites, celebrated arias, and beloved musical theater standards.
In a unique fundraising twist, audience members bid to choose which songs will accompany each course of their meal. With a limited number of songs performed with each course, guests will need to bid well to ensure their favorite song is heard. In effect, gala guests get to direct the evening’s entertainment with their pocketbooks.
Appetizer Song Menu (choice of three)
Pantelis Karastamatis Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes – The Gondoliers – Gilbert & Sullivan
Riley Vagis Cheerily Carols the Lark – Ruddigore – Gilbert & Sullivan
Riley Ortega Je Veux Vivre – Romeo et Juliette – Gounod
Sean Holshouser Hai Gia Vinta la Causa – Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart
Julie Hoeltzel Poor Wandering One – The Pirates of Penzance – Gilbert & Sullivan
Meaghan Heath Can’t Help Lovin’ that Man of Mine – Showboat – Kern
Richard Paul Fink I Stole The Prince – The Gondoliers – Gilbert & Sullivan
Laura Coleman The Sun Whose Rays – The Mikado – Gilbert & Sullivan
Julie Hoeltzel & Sean Holshouser Bei Mannern – The Magic Flute – Mozart
Richard Paul Fink & Julie Hoetzel Make Believe – Showboat – Kern
Entree Song Menu (choice of four)
Riley Ortega Dear Friends, Take Pity On My Lot – The Sorcerer – Gilbert & Sullivan
Riley Vagis Chacun A Son Gout – Die Fledermaus – Strauß
Pantelis Karastamatis Santa Fe – Newsies – Menken
Sean Holshouser Mein Sehnen, Mein Wähnen – Die Tote Stadt – Korngold
Julie Hoeltzel Ach, ich Fuhls – The Magic Flute – Mozart
Richard Paul Fink Where Is The Life That Late I Led – Kiss Me, Kate – Porter
Meaghan Heath When a Merry Maiden Marries – The Gondoliers – Gilbert & Sullivan
Laura Coleman Glitter And Be Gay – Candide – Bernstein
Meaghan Heath & Pantelis Karastamatis As Long as You’re Mine – Wicked – Schwartz
Meaghan Heath, Julie Hoetzel, & Riley Vagis Three Little Maids – The Mikado – Gilbert & Sullivan
Laura Coleman & Meaghan Heath Sisters – White Christmas – Berlin
Richard Paul Fink & Riley Ortega All I Ask of You – The Phantom of the Opera – Webber
Dessert Song Menu (choice of two)
Laura Coleman Vanilla Ice Cream – She Loves Me – Harnick & Bock
Riley Vagis Tipsy Waltz – La Périchole – Offenbach
Richard Paul Fink The Impossible Dream – Man of La Mancha – Leigh
Julie Hoeltzel Let It Go – Frozen – Anderson-Lopez & Lopez
Riley Ortega Think of Me – The Phantom of the Opera – Webber
Pantelis Karastamatis You’ll Be Back – Hamilton – Miranda
Sean Holshouser Oh Better Far to Live and Die – The Pirates of Penzance – Gilbert & Sullivan
Meaghan Heath She Used to Be Mine – Waitress – Bareilles
Riley Ortega & Sean Holshouser The Song That Goes Like This – Spamalot – Du Prez
Meaghan Heath & Riley Ortega Flower Duet – Lakmé – Delibes
Tickets are $175, and table sponsorships begin at $1,250
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Where is it happening?
Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, Jones Graduate School of Business, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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