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

Dean Mark Parker retired on June 30, 2025, after 35 years of leadership at Oklahoma City University. During his tenure, he elevated OCU’s schools of theatre and music into the ranks of top performing arts schools in the nation and supported the tremendous growth of OCU into a national powerhouse for operatic excellence. Dean Parker’s work at OCU played a major role in creating the vibrant atmosphere for classical vocal music in central Oklahoma into which Painted Sky Opera entered in 2016.

Dean Parker is the recipient of Oklahoma’s highest honor in the arts, the Governor’s Arts Award. He has served on the board of directors of Creative Oklahoma and of the National Association of Schools of Music, and is founding president of the DaVinci Institute, an interdisciplinary arts and education think tank. He conducted the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra for two decades, and has led honor, regional, and All-State ensembles across the nation.

During his tenure, Dean Parker transformed both schools into international leaders in the fusion of arts, technology, and creativity. The Bass School doubled its square footage, to more than 200,000, and nearly doubled its enrollment, to more than 350 music majors, in part due to the success of the vocal music programs at OCU. The opera program at OCU in particular has won numerous first place awards in the National Opera Association Opera Production Competition over Dean Parker’s tenure, including multiple years with multiple award-winning productions.

Dean Parker also has created pioneering artistic collaborative partnerships between OCU and the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras, Canterbury Voices, El Sistema Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. Earlier this year, he was honored with the Oklahoma Music Educators 2025 President’s Award for contributions to music education and with the inaugural Legacy Award from Oklahoma Youth Orchestras. In 2024, he was inducted into the OCU School of Theatre Hall of Honor.