A white grand piano illuminated by warm golden light

Music · Community · Opportunity

Everyone Is Talking About Us

Since 1997, the Opera Club has brought outstanding live classical music, opera, and musical theater to The Villages.

Three Tenors Plus One: That’s Amore, featuring Christopher Macchio, Benjamin Ruiz, Todd Wilander, Maria Steinhilber, and Maestro Bill Doherty

Save the date

Three Tenors Plus One

That’s Amore

Christopher Macchio, Benjamin Ruiz, Todd Wilander, and Maria Steinhilber come together for the Opera Club’s annual scholarship benefit, produced by Maestro Bill Doherty.

Date
Showtimes
3 PM and 7 PM
Venue
The Sharon
View tickets at The Sharon

Benefiting the Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program

Welcome

A love of good music is our only requirement.

The Opera Club of The Villages presents live monthly musical programs — free to members — where members can enjoy exceptional professional artists with friends and neighbors. No need to be a singer or performer to join the Opera Club. Membership is $30 annually.

The club also established the Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program, providing tuition support to local high-school graduates who continue their music studies in college.

Join us each monthFourth Thursday · 7 PMLaurel Manor Recreation Center1985 Laurel Manor Drive, The Villages
Ask about membership

Our purpose

Music that enriches our community.

Live performance and educational opportunity are at the heart of everything the Opera Club does.

Mission statement

The Opera Club of The Villages

The Opera Club of The Villages is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the community through the presentation and support of opera, classical music, and high-quality entertainment. The organization promotes excellence in vocal artistry and seeks to encourage the development of emerging performers through educational initiatives, performance opportunities, live opera presentations, and the awarding of scholarships to deserving music students.

Scholarship mission

The Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program

In 2004, The Opera Club of The Villages established the Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program to honor the founder of The Villages and commemorate his lifelong love of music.

The Opera Club is dedicated to encouraging and supporting talented music students as they develop their abilities and pursue their educational goals. Through these scholarships, we help aspiring musicians achieve their dreams while enriching the cultural life of our communities. Thanks to the generosity of our members, sponsors, and supporters over the years, we have awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships to deserving students from Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties. Your continued support makes it possible for these gifted young musicians to pursue their passion and share their talents with future generations. Together, we are investing in the future of music—one student at a time.

Explore the scholarship program

2026–27 member programs

The complete season

Free exclusive members concerts.

Raise the Curtain season-opening program artwork featuring Maestro Bill Doherty

Raise the Curtain!

A season-opening celebration of opera, operetta, Broadway, and familiar favorites.

Mischief, Magic and Mayhem October program artwork featuring Maestro Bill Doherty

Mischief, Magic & Mayhem

Witches, villains, comic rogues, and supernatural selections for October.

Dynamic Duets program artwork featuring Maestro Bill Doherty

Dynamic Duets

Memorable partnerships, romances, rivalries, and comic pairings from opera and musical theater.

Sax in the Spotlight featuring Ryan Thurgaland and Maestro Bill Doherty program artwork

Sax in the Spotlight: Ryan Thurgaland

A solo instrumental program featuring saxophonist Ryan Thurgaland.

Backstage Romance program artwork featuring Maestro Bill Doherty

Backstage Romance

Love songs and duets from opera, operetta, and Broadway.

From Vienna to Broadway program artwork featuring Maestro Bill Doherty

From Vienna to Broadway

A journey from classic operetta to the Broadway tradition it helped inspire.

Rising Stars, the Harold S. Schwartz Winners’ Showcase featuring the current scholarship winners and Maestro Bill Doherty

Rising Stars

The Harold S. Schwartz Winners’ Showcase

Featuring the current Harold S. Schwartz scholarship winners.

Alumni in Concert program artwork celebrating past winners of the Harold S. Schwartz Scholarship with Maestro Bill Doherty

Alumni in Concert

An inspiring evening celebrating past winners of the Harold S. Schwartz Scholarship as they return to share where their journeys have taken them.

A musical legacy

Opening doors for young musicians.

Scholarships support graduating seniors from Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties as they continue their music education.

2026 Harold S. Schwartz scholarship recipients
Meet the recipientsHarold S. Schwartz Music Scholarships

Keep the music growing

Your support becomes opportunity.

Help the Opera Club continue presenting live music and investing in the next generation of performers.

Donate online

Board of Directors

Maestro Bill Doherty

President

Maestro Bill Doherty has been performing as a concert pianist since the age of four and continues to delight audiences all over the world with his virtuosity at the keyboard. His musical studies included intensive training in piano, conducting, musical composition and voice, studying with such well-known teachers as Albert Bowen (Tanglewood), Barbara Marchesani, Pasquale Caputo (Mohawk Valley Opera), Solomon Mikowski and Sonia Vargas (Manhattan School of Music), Abraham Kaplan (Juilliard School of Music), Carmen Savoca and Peyton Hibbitt (Tri-Cities Opera, NY), and Rita Shane (Metropolitan Opera, Vienna StaatsOper). As an operatic tenor, he sang with the Mohawk Valley Opera and the Tri-Cities Opera, and was later mentored by the legendary soprano Licia Albanese (Metropolitan Opera, La Scala).

As a composer, conductor, pianist and singer, Mr. Doherty has performed in some of the world's finest performance halls and cathedrals, including the Vatican, Lincoln Center (New York), St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York), the Prudential Center (Boston), the Villa Faccanoni–Lake Iseo (Italy), and on tour throughout Italy and Asia. He received international critical acclaim for his performances in Kyoto and Osaka, Japan, with operatic soprano Takako Yamamoto and tenor Oscar Feliu. In 2012, he conducted members of the Central Florida Lyric Opera and the St. Timothy Choir in a special Mass of Thanksgiving at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI and in concerts in and around Rome, Italy. His original composition “Requiem” received its world premiere in Jerusalem, Israel, in 2014 under the auspices of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music (Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra), and in 2016 was presented in Rome, Italy, where he and his choir also sang for the “Closing of the Holy Doors” at the Vatican for Pope Francis. In August 2022, he conducted the world premiere of another original composition, “Requiem for World Peace,” at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, and in October 2022 was inducted into his high school alma mater's Hall of Distinction in Clinton, New York. He has conducted and accompanied extensively in opera for over 35 years, collaborating with some of the world's greatest operatic stars, including the legendary Licia Albanese and Galina Vishnevskaya, and serving as accompanist to world-renowned Metropolitan Opera sopranos Deborah Voigt, Susan Neves and Grammy Award-winning operatic soprano Molly Fillmore, among many others.

Mr. Doherty is also one of the nation's leading voice coaches and operates teaching studios in Florida and New York City. His students have drawn international attention in principal roles with opera companies throughout the world, on and off Broadway, and by winning top awards in national and international vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera Competition in New York City. His student Fernando Varela (FORTE) was among the finalists in the world-renowned talent competition America's Got Talent. An internationally recognized teacher and workshop clinician, Bill Doherty has conducted master classes in opera and voice at universities and conservatories throughout the world, including Marymount Manhattan College in New York City and the Conservatoire Léo Delibes in Clichy-la-Garenne, France, as well as throughout Italy. His interviews and performances have been broadcast on PBS, CBS and NBC. He has also appeared on various talk shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman.

Year after year, Mr. Doherty has served as an adjudicator for the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation's International Vocal Competition in New York City and has performed as an accompanist for the Foundation's gala concert several times at Lincoln Center. He is also an adjudicator for the prestigious Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition and the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition in New York City.

He is Founder and General Director of the Central Florida Lyric Opera, Inc. and Director of Music at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in The Villages, Florida. He is President of the Opera Club of The Villages and a board member for SigPro, Inc. His work with the International Opera Center of America, Central Florida Lyric Opera's International Exchange Program, has been recognized and commended by both Florida Governor Charlie Crist and United States President George W. Bush. Among his many honors and awards, Mr. Doherty is the recipient of the New York State Council on the Arts Humanities Award, and his signature has been immortalized on the Muro di Alassio in Alassio, Italy.

Board of Directors

Ann Forrester

Vice President

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Bob Cruickshank

Treasurer

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Cindee Miller

Recording Secretary

Cindee Nilson Miller is an accomplished singer, actress, songwriter, recording artist, and business professional whose remarkable career spans more than four decades. With a lifelong passion for music and the performing arts, Cindee has enjoyed a diverse career encompassing Broadway musicals, jazz, country music, contemporary Christian music, songwriting, and professional recording. Her extensive musical training, theatrical experience, and dedication to sharing her talents have shaped a life rich in artistic achievement, professional excellence, faith, and community service.

Early Life and Musical Education

Born into a musical family, Cindee grew up on Long Island, New York, where her love of music was nurtured from an early age. As the daughter of a professional musician, she began performing with her father's band while still a young girl, developing a natural stage presence and a deep appreciation for a wide variety of musical styles.

A graduate of Smithtown High School East, Cindee pursued formal musical training under the guidance of Nancy Pinto, who became not only her voice and music theory instructor but also an influential mentor. Nancy encouraged Cindee to follow her dreams and instilled in her a lifelong commitment to musical excellence.

Cindee was accepted into the prestigious Boston Conservatory of Music, where she studied drama, musical theater, and voice under Mary Saunders. She further expanded her musical education at the Berklee College of Music, studying jazz improvisation with Maggie Scott.

Continuing her education at Western Connecticut State University, Cindee majored in Vocal Performance, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984. During her studies, she received classical vocal training from Don Craig and specialized instruction in jazz and gospel music from James Furman.

As the lead vocalist of the university's jazz ensemble, Cindee distinguished herself as a versatile performer with the ability to interpret a broad range of musical genres.

A Distinguished Career in the Performing Arts

Throughout her entertainment career, Cindee has performed in numerous musical theater productions, including Godspell, The Music Man, Cabaret, and Broadway Tomorrow, among others.

Her strong theatrical foundation, combined with her classical and jazz training, has allowed her to move comfortably between the worlds of musical theater, jazz, gospel, country, and contemporary Christian music.

Among her notable jazz performance experiences are appearances with the legendary Billy Taylor Trio, renowned jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, and the West Point Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to her accomplishments on stage, Cindee worked as a model for L'Oréal hair products in New York during her youth and was featured in Hair Magazine.

Songwriting and Recording Career

An accomplished and passionate songwriter, Cindee has developed an extensive catalog of original compositions inspired by her life experiences, personal relationships, faith, and the people she has encountered throughout her journey.

Her ability to tell meaningful stories through music has become one of the defining characteristics of her songwriting.

Metropolitan Nashville, Inc. released her debut album, Cindee, on the Platinum Plus Records label. The album showcased her talents as both a vocalist and songwriter and introduced audiences to her distinctive blend of country and inspirational music.

Two original compositions from the album, "Be My Guide" and "New York Country Girl," received Top Ten recognition in the Christian and Country categories of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, sponsored by the Songwriters' Association of Washington and BMI.

Although Cindee's musical foundation is deeply rooted in jazz and Broadway, she discovered a special connection with country music because of its tradition of storytelling and its ability to reflect the experiences of everyday life.

Her Christian faith has also been a powerful influence on her artistic journey. Through her music, Cindee seeks to inspire, encourage, and share messages of hope, love, and faith, embracing her calling as an ambassador for the Kingdom of God.

Continuing her creative journey, Cindee is currently developing two new recording projects: a Contemporary Christian album and a Jazz album, both anticipated for release in 2027.

Radio Broadcasting and Nilson Music Company

In 2000, Cindee entered the radio broadcasting industry, beginning a successful 15-year career that combined her business expertise with her passion for music and communications.

During this time, she gained extensive experience in radio business management, advertising, and the needs of commercial broadcasters and their clients.

In 2011, she founded Nilson Music Company, an entertainment and music services business offering commercial jingle writing, professional voiceovers, singing telegrams, vocal instruction, and live entertainment.

Through Nilson Music Company, Cindee continues to combine her artistic talents with her entrepreneurial experience, providing personalized musical services and entertainment for a variety of audiences and occasions.

Professional Career in Accounting and Business Management

In addition to her distinguished career in entertainment, Cindee has enjoyed an equally accomplished professional career in accounting, payroll administration, government contracting, and business management.

With 40 years of experience in accounting, she has worked with organizations ranging from small businesses and nonprofit organizations to major corporations and government contractors.

Her professional background includes 18 years specializing in government contracting, with particular emphasis on government cost accounting and payroll administration.

Throughout her career, Cindee has held positions with organizations including Mega Communications, the Washington Redskins Radio Network, Morrison Knudsen and Harbert International, Brown & Root Services Corporation, DJ Wachter and Associates, and A Solution, Inc.

Since June 2012, Cindee has served as a Payroll Accountant with Ashton-Group Services, LLC (AGS), where she manages payroll processing, payroll tax administration, federal and state compliance, employee benefit funding and reconciliation, workers' compensation audits, and retirement plan compliance for multiple clients.

Cindee earned her Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation in October 2016 and her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in 2021.

She is an active member of PayrollOrg and the Human Resources Certification Institute and remains committed to continuing professional education and excellence in her field.

Her educational pursuits have also included specialized studies in government contracting through The George Washington University's contracting program.

Cindee's unique combination of artistic creativity, financial expertise, leadership, and organizational skills has enabled her to make meaningful contributions in both the entertainment and business communities.

Faith, Community Service, and The Villages

Today, Cindee resides in The Villages, Florida, where she remains actively involved in music, church ministry, charitable organizations, and community leadership.

She serves as a choir member and cantor with St. Timothy's Catholic Church, sharing her vocal talents in worship and liturgical celebrations.

Cindee is also a member of the Sunshine Harmony Chorus, continuing her lifelong love of ensemble singing and musical performance.

Her commitment to the performing arts extends to her service as Recording Secretary of The Opera Club of The Villages, Inc., an organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting opera, musical excellence, and appreciation for the vocal arts.

In addition to her musical activities, Cindee serves as Regent of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Our Lady of Czestochowa #2407, where she provides leadership in faith-based service, charitable outreach, and community fellowship.

She also serves as Treasurer of A Center for Living Hope, a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding organization offering programs at Grand Oaks.

Through these many roles, Cindee continues to demonstrate her belief that talents and professional abilities are gifts meant to be shared in service to others.

A Life Dedicated to Music, Faith, and Service

Whether performing on stage, composing an original song, managing complex financial responsibilities, or volunteering her time to support the community, Cindee Nilson Miller approaches every endeavor with passion, dedication, and a genuine desire to make a difference.

Her journey from a young singer performing with her father's band on Long Island to an accomplished recording artist, respected business professional, and active member of The Villages' performing arts community reflects a lifetime of perseverance, versatility, and commitment to excellence.

For Cindee, music is far more than entertainment. It is a means of storytelling, a celebration of life, an expression of faith, and a wonderful opportunity to bring people together.

To learn more about Cindee Nilson Miller and her music, visit www.nilsonmusiccompany.com.

Board of Directors

Barbara Morse

Corresponding Secretary

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Rosalie Locke

Membership / Hospitality

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Pearl Kosa

Scholarship

Pearl Kosa, Scholarship Chair of the Opera Club, has reached out to the students of the surrounding counties for the past four years with the exciting news of the Harold S. Schwartz Scholarship Program. Her experience tutoring children helped her develop the communication skills to interact with young adults. As an Executive Assistant to the President of a company under the umbrella of American International Group, she was responsible for extremely detailed notes and maximum productivity.

She has successfully managed the entertainment department for a prominent local temple, which resulted in a substantial profit for the temple. She also spent several years on the Borscht Belt Club Board of Directors and brought in performers for their entertainment programs.

Pearl's love of music and dance, especially hula, which she has performed for 12 years, is a big part of her life. Her talent in dance brought her to perform at Disney.

Board of Directors

Joanne Baldasarra

Ticket Sales / Publicity

After a long career in banking and finance, Joanne, along with her husband David, retired to The Villages in 2015.

In The Villages, Joanne joined several clubs and is currently a board member and treasurer of The Villages Mustang Club. She volunteered for several years with Our Moment Café, an organization for caregivers and their loved ones with early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia. Joanne is currently a volunteer with Operation Shoebox, whose mission is to provide support to our troops. She is also working on the Box of Joy campaign with the Council of Catholic Women at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Joanne joined the Opera Club of The Villages in 2016, where she fell in love with opera. She became a board member ten years later and is honored to serve with Maestro Bill Doherty and so many others who have brought their diverse talents to continue the mission of the Opera Club in bringing outstanding music to the community and in supporting the Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program.

Board of Directors

William Peck

Webmaster

William Peck has been involved with the Opera Club for the past six years and currently serves as its Webmaster, combining a lifelong love of music with more than 35 years of professional experience in information technology.

Music has been part of Bill’s life from an early age. His mother attended The Juilliard School of Music, but Bill chose a somewhat different musical path, learning primarily by ear and gravitating toward jazz. He later studied privately at Berklee College of Music in Boston with Dean Earle and, over the years, enjoyed playing piano at various informal and impromptu engagements throughout the Boston area.

Bill became involved with the Opera Club at the invitation of its former president, the late Gerri Piscatelli. What began with that invitation developed into six years of involvement with the Club and ultimately his role as Webmaster, where his musical interests and technology background found a natural home together.

Before relocating to The Villages, Bill spent more than 35 years as an independent information technology consultant, working on major database implementations for organizations throughout the United States and internationally. Following his move to Florida, he began a second career in real estate and is currently a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty. He is also a published author of a practical guide for homeowners considering whether to sell their home independently or with the assistance of a real estate professional.

Bill particularly enjoys being part of an organization that brings talented performers and appreciative audiences together while helping keep the enjoyment of opera and vocal music alive and thriving in The Villages.

Board of Directors

David Gehring

Website Designer / Maintenance

David Gehring is a lyric baritone originally from Hudson, Wisconsin, who has been studying and performing opera for over 10 years. After moving to The Villages, he discovered the acclaimed “Singing Servers” program led by Maestro Bill Doherty. After a kind invitation to audition, David performed with the group for a single day before the pandemic shut performances down, yet that brief beginning grew into an extraordinary mentorship—one for which he remains deeply grateful to Maestro Doherty for his belief, guidance, and unwavering support.

David has appeared in numerous Central Florida Lyric Opera productions, including Hooray for Hollywood, Change the World, The Best of Broadway, and a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, and he frequently cantors and sings in the choir at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church. He has had the honor of performing Schaunard in La Bohème.

Outside of music, David holds a degree in physics and works full-time as a software engineer, an uncommon path that gives him a unique appreciation for opera’s fusion of structure, emotion, and storytelling. He is grateful for the inspiring community he has found through Central Florida Lyric Opera and looks forward to sharing his love for this timeless art with audiences throughout The Villages and beyond.

Board of Directors

Dina Nizza

Fundraising

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Paula Salamida

Newsletter

This board member’s biography will be added soon.

Board of Directors

Enille Everett

Club Communications

This board member’s biography will be added soon.