The Xenophon Board of Directors put their talents together on Saturday night to present a memorable concert for Eric Rudney and his guests. Eric was the winning bidder of “For Your Eyes Only – Private Concert for 20” at this year’s gala. The Lafayette home of Trudy and Bruce Presser, with its expansive decks and lush gardens, set a beautiful stage for the evening’s festivities. Several board members could easily moonlight as chefs, based on the mouth-watering appetizers professionally displayed on the tables. Others expertly stepped into the role of bartenders extraordinaire, serving up the signature cocktail designed by Xenophon’s private mixologist. Bruce Johnstone, pastry chef at Insalata’s Restaurant in San Anselmo, yet again donated his artwork in the form of cookies and pastries that tantalized the palette.

The exceptional food and drink were the precursor to a night that continued to surprise and astonish the guests. Jessica Winn, a mezzo-soprano opera singer professionally trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, put on a fabulous program. Jessica made her professional vocal debut in 2011 with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Stephen Montague’s Requiem. In 2015, Ms. Winn sang La Madre in Golden Gate Opera’s Production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and with Marin Baroque in their choral season as well as in their June production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and with Opera on Tap San Francisco as the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Her list of roles and accomplishments is extensive and was evident in the wide array of music she performed, singing in French, Italian, German and English. Jessica was accompanied by Bruce Olstad; director, chorus master, pianist and vocal coach for opera companies throughout the Bay Area.

It was a night to remember. Our thanks go out to Eric Rudney for purchasing this event and for his support of our program.