May 29, 2014
Donna Fisk • 941-306-1202 § [email protected]
Su Byron § [email protected]
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Welcomes
Dr. Joseph Holt as Artistic Director for Special Projects
and Kristina Kelly as Development Director
(Sarasota, Florida) John Fischer, executive director of the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota (ASCS), announced today that the organization has named Dr. Joseph Holt as the organization’s artistic director for special projects. Fischer says that the ASCS board also appointed Kristina Kelly as its director of development.
As the Artist Series Concert’s artistic director for special projects, Dr. Joseph Holt will oversee three new programs planned for the North Port Performing Arts Center. Holt will also participate in ASCS’s December holiday program, its Edvard Grieg Festival in January, and a special program dedicated to the music of Gilbert and Sullivan in May. Holt enjoys a wide-ranging career as conductor, pianist, chamber music performer, arts administrator, educator and arranger. He is the artistic director for Gloria Musicae, Sarasota’s professional choral ensemble, and serves as director of music at Faith Lutheran Church. With June LeBell, Holt is a co-host for the “Musical Mondays” series of the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning and also sits on the board of the Sarasota Music Archive. Holt served more than 20 years as principal pianist with the U.S. Army Chorus in Washington, DC, performing for United States presidents, military officials, and dignitaries from around the world.
Kristina Kelly is known in the non-profit community for her leadership roles in several of the region’s top organizations. She served as director of development for Florida West Coast Symphony (now Sarasota Orchestra) for which she developed the organization’s strategic plan for development, planned and executed biannual annual fund appeals, and managed grant, planned giving, endowment and campaign initiatives. As director of marketing and public relations for the Sarasota Opera, Kelly was responsible for promoting increased audience and donor awareness through advertising campaigns, cultivating alliances with other arts and education groups, and conducting ongoing presentations to heighten public awareness of the organization. Kelly also served as associate director and acting executive director of the Manatee Community College Foundation (now State College of Florida).
In her new role with ASCS, Kelly will be responsible for the development and implementation of all aspects of the organization’s fundraising campaigns and initiatives, including giving campaigns, donor cultivation strategies, and fundraising events.
“This is an exciting time to be joining forces with Artist Series Concerts,” says Kelly. “Everyone I connect with here is filled with passion and fresh ideas. The leadership team, headed by John Fischer and Lee Dougherty Ross, embraces creativity and progressive thinking. Its board members, staff and patrons all share a vibrant and collaborative artistic spirit. Over the past 18 years, they’ve worked diligently to bring Artists Series Concerts to a beloved status in our community. I’m looking forward to being a part of taking it to the next level.”
“We feel privileged to add these two outstanding talents to our team,” says Fischer. “Each brings a wealth of experience and top-flight expertise that will propel Artist Series Concerts to an even more prominent standing in our cultural community.”
For more information about the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, visit www.artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota was formed in 1996 as the Artist Series of Sarasota. The group is a non-profit corporation based in Sarasota, FL, that prides itself on presenting several major national and international varieties of concert, opera, orchestral, Broadway and film performances throughout their season. The majority of the performances are staged at the restored Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling.
