AN ALL HALLOWS EVE-NING
10.30.26 | 6:00pm
The Skirvin Hilton

Masquerade and elegance meet in this evening of dinner, drinks, dancing, and fun at our annual celebration of opera in central Oklahoma. All proceeds go towards supporting Painted Sky Opera’s mission of presenting inspiring, innovative opera education and performance in central Oklahoma.

Elegant masquerade attire is encouraged. What better way to accessorize your evening gown than with your finest mask or vampire fangs?

This year, we honor and remember Maestro Jan McDaniel for his immense contributions to opera in central Oklahoma as our 2026 Le Stelle recipient.

The 2026 Sunset Soiree will feature a silent auction, raffles, and performances by Painted Sky Opera’s Educational Touring production of The Pirate Project!, Painted Sky Opera mainstage artists, and an afterparty with dancing to music by the Mike Geib Quartet.

Jan McDaniel - our 2026 Le Stelle recipient

Maestro Jan McDaniel’s impact on opera in central Oklahoma is immeasurable. Over more than 25 years at Oklahoma City University as Professor of Vocal Coaching and a conductor of the Oklahoma City University Opera and Musical Theatre Company, Maestro McDaniel conducted more than 40 productions, including world and regional premieres. Many of those productions received recognition from the National Opera Association as first place winners in their opera production competition.

Maestro McDaniel also served as Painted Sky Opera’s music director starting in our first season and conducted almost all of our productions in that 10-year span. In that time, he conducted more than 25 productions, including several Oklahoma premieres. He has been nominated for the 2026 American Prize in Conducting for his work in PSO’s Proving Up.

Maestro McDaniel also led the highly successful Master of Music program in Vocal Coaching at OCU - one of the only programs of its kind in the United States – providing pianists with training in style, language, diction, and teaching techniques necessary to enter the field as successful vocal coaches of opera, art song, and musical theater. Its graduates are serving as vocal coaches and musical directors in professional and academic settings across the country.

Besides his work at OCU and PSO, Maestro McDaniel served for 10 years as director of accompanying and orchestral activities at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He appeared as a collaborative pianist all over the world and was the regular pianist for such luminaries as Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenowith, Marquita Lister, Susanne Mentzer, Mary Jane Johnson, Uwe Heilmann, Yvonne Redman, and Leona Mitchell. Maestro McDaniel also worked as assistant conductor and vocal coach with the Detmold State Theater Germany, served as music director for several productions with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, appeared regularly as a guest conductor for the OKC Philharmonic, served as musical director of the Key West Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Opera Program,, and was on the faculty of the Taos Opera Institute.