Doug and Dhuanne Tansill, Brady Roberts, Judy and Bill Schneebeck [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

Vero Beach Museum of Art patrons enjoyed a ‘Little Night Music’ at its annual fundraising Gala last Friday evening, which featured an intimate concert with world-renowned tenor Michael Amante.

Arriving guests were whisked down a tented red carpet to the East Terrace, where event co-chairs Judy Schneebeck and Dhuanne Tansill and their committee had created an intimate setting among white lanterns and twinkling spheres of lights.

“This is a nice way to welcome people back and officially start a new season at the museum,” said Brady Roberts, VBMA executive director/CEO. “We’ve got a new curator with lots of great ideas for future exhibitions and acquisitions. We’ve got a lot of momentum now.”

The evening was an elegant black-and-white affair, which Tansill said was a perfect way to highlight Amante’s impressive career, which includes leading roles on Broadway, television appearances and performances with symphony orchestras.

Lauded by opera legend Franco Corelli as “one of the greatest voices I’d ever heard,” Amante gave a spectacular performance in the Holmes Great Hall, touching on classical operatic favorites as well as popular Broadway tunes.

“I absolutely love to raise money for nonprofits, and I’ve always loved the arts, ever since I was a little girl,” said Tansill.

Guests also enjoyed a delicious three-course dinner catered by Elizabeth D. Kennedy & Company, where the stage had been set for a romantic affair. Lights dangled from the ceiling, giant black-and-white murals showcased iconic theater photographs, and candelabras atop striped tablecloths awaited the appreciative audience.

Guests later trickled back out to the East Terrace to finish off the evening with music and dancing under the stars to the band, Night and Day.

The current exhibit, From Homer to Hopper: American Art from The Phillips Collection, is on display through May 31, in the Holmes and Titelman Galleries.

For information, visit vbmuseum.org.