Nashville Opera’s Jukebox Live Supports Community Outreach

Jovial guests descended on the Noah Liff Opera Center for the second annual Nashville Opera Jukebox Live. The cabaret-style evening lets guests choose the playlist by bidding for performers to serenade them tableside. Since its founding in 1981, Nashville Opera has brought world-class opera to the city and supported local artists. It has also introduced more people to the art form through outreach programs like Opera on Wheels, which brings opera to schoolchildren and neighbors who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it.

Guests dressed as their favorite music genres, bringing out besparkled ensembles and even a poodle skirt or two. As revelers settled in for dinner and a show, the first course — a late-summer salad and hot chicken sandwich from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken — kicked off the opening round of bidding and songs.

Guests bid furiously on several performances — per course — by incredible local talent. Miles Aubrey opened with James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” the perfect way to start the evening. Ben Gulley followed with “Che gelida manina” from Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. Sarah Antell delivered an incredible rendition of “She Used to Be Mine” from the hit Broadway musical Waitress. Steven McCoy performed “Somewhere” from West Side Story, and Flora Hawk finished the round with “Deh, vieni, non tardar” from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

The delicious second and third courses followed the same pattern, with guests increasing their bids for tableside performances. Megan Murphy Chambers sang “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, while Ben received a standing ovation for his performance of “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot. Megan also offered a great suggestion for next year’s auction: a seat at the performers’ table, which was full of energy and clearly having a great time.

At the end of the evening, performers treated the room to a surprise tribute to arts patrons Dolly Parton and Martha Ingram.