Ginger Land-van Buuren and Dr. Spencer Baker transported attendees with a moving performance

Passport to the City

Where Music, Humanity and Philanthropy Converged

By Ann Parenti / Photography by Laura Henkel

At the Chapel of the Holy Family at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, an extraordinary afternoon unfolded where music, philanthropy and humanity converged in a way that felt almost transportive. Presented through United Way of Southern Nevada’s (UWSN) Alexis de Tocqueville Society as part of its Passport to the City series, the intimate opera experience reminded guests that some of life’s most profound moments happen not in grand arenas, but in sacred spaces where every note can be felt deep within the soul.

Through Passport to the City, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society continues to curate thoughtful cultural experiences designed to deepen human connection, celebrate community and create meaningful opportunities for Southern Nevadans to engage with the arts in new and inspiring ways.

Stepping into the chapel, one could have easily forgotten they were in Boulder City. The intimacy of the setting evoked the charm of small European chapels where opera is often experienced at close range, allowing every breath, every crescendo and every emotion to move freely through the audience. Ginger Land-van Buuren, executive director and co-founder of Vegas City Opera, delivered a breathtaking program featuring selections from “La Traviata,” “La Bohème,” “La Rondine,” “Susannah,” “Ave Maria” and Donizetti’s haunting “Il Dolce Suono” from “Lucia di Lammermoor,” recognized by many from “The Fifth Element.”

The music seemed to take hold of every person in attendance. Tears quietly filled eyes as the arias reverberated through the chapel, creating a shared emotional experience that transcended performance alone. Particularly moving was the presence of two young residents from the St. Jude’s Ranch campus, a reminder that the afternoon was not simply about opera, but about connection, healing and hope.

The afternoon reflected the thoughtful collaboration between Laura Henkel, major gifts officer at UWSN and steward of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society; Dr. Christina Vela-Vreeland, CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; and Vegas City Opera, creating a rare intersection of culture, compassion and community within one of Southern Nevada’s most intimate and meaningful settings.

“It was an honor for Vegas City Opera to perform for the Tocqueville Society in the glorious chapel at St. Jude’s,” Land-van Buuren shared. “We are always seeking new and unexpected ways to connect with our community through the arts, and this beautiful symphony of collaboration did exactly that.”

In moments like these, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society reminds us that philanthropy is not simply about giving. It is about creating spaces where humanity, beauty and community can fully come alive.