Pensacola Opera's MODA

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our Pensacola natives found their way back home and are infusing their big city style into MODA, a Nov. 3 event benefitting the Pensacola Opera. Jarvis Derrell, Jennifer Knisbell, Jenny Noonan and Julia Ussery are pooling their talents – along with the magic of Shannon Pallin of Fiore – to transform Vinyl Music Hall, one of Pensacola’s most cutting-edge venues.

Derrell returns home from touring and performing to sold-out New York City audiences to emcee the event. MODA committee chair Jenny Noonan spent 10 years in the Big Apple fashion scene and another six in Miami before returning home to a revitalized Pensacola. Knisbell, Pensacola Opera’s director of development, is back home after spending 15 years in “culturally rich cities like Orlando, San Francisco and Los Angeles.”

She’s now infusing that energy and experience “to add to the positive momentum already surrounding Pensacola.” And Ussery, formerly a New York City fashion designer, is owner of downtown boutique Scout and will curate the clothes featured at the event.

The opera consistently brings brilliant performances to the stage as well as outreach endeavors throughout the community. Yet ticket sales do not support all of the opera’s work.

“The support we receive from our special events and sponsor/donor funding is how we are able to provide arts education programming and outreach events at little or no cost,” Pensacola Opera marketing and communications director Alex Hilkey said. “While we are a professional opera company, we are truly a community non-profit that relies on the generosity of arts-loving people and businesses to help us keep the music alive.”