Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Welcomes New Executive Director

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota is pleased to welcome Marcy Miller as the organization’s new executive director. Miller has spent the past 11 years working in the non-profit sector in a variety of capacities. She served most recently as executive director of the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia. While there she steered the museum successfully through a major economic recession, procured major grants and gifts, increased visitation and raised the museum’s profile in the community via collaborations with the town and other area arts organizations. In her new role with Artist Series Concerts, Miller will be responsible for overseeing its administration, programs, policies and strategic planning. She’ll also be the face and the voice of the organization, coordinating fundraising, development and community relations campaigns. Former managing director John Fischer announced his retirement in December of last year, after 17 years with the organization. A retirement luncheon will be held for Fischer on June 4, 11:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East. Tickets for the luncheon are $50/person and include lunch, a champagne toast and live entertainment. Patron tickets are $100/person and include a $50 donation to Artist Series Concerts. Tickets for the luncheon can be purchased online at www.ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or by calling 941-306-1202, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

          “Marcy first impressed us with her grace, poise, intelligence, and enthusiasm,” says Artist Series Concerts board president Jane Hunder. “Combined with her extensive fundraising and strategic planning experience and her outstanding leadership abilities, she was the perfect choice to guide our organization forward into the coming years.”

          The position is a perfect fit for Miller as well: “My husband and I chose to live in Sarasota for its rich array of cultural amenities and it hasn’t disappointed. I was attracted to this organization and particularly to its revised mission to further encourage and promote young talent. I am honored to now be part of Artist Series Concerts and I look forward to supporting emerging young artists, further growing this fine institution, and of course to experiencing, producing and promoting more of the world-class music that has become its hallmark over the past 23 years.”

          Miller and her husband Brian settled in Sarasota two years ago after having lived in multiple cities across the U.S. Prior to taking on the role of executive director at the William King Museum, Miller served as a director of development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and as associate director of development at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center. Before “falling into” fundraising and development, Miller was a public school teacher in Connecticut and Colorado. She holds degrees from Yale, Sacred Heart and Columbia Universities.

          Fans and supporters of Artist Series Concerts will be pleased to know too that there’s also a musical side to Miller – she’s a singer and in fact performed years ago in school productions of “Guys and Dolls” (as Sarah Brown), and “Fiddler on the Roof.” She also sang with Yale University’s all-women’s a capella group, the New Blue. And, perhaps inspired by Sarasota and its arts scene, she’s taking voice lessons once again.

          Marcy Miller started her new position on May 1. She can be contacted at M.Miller@ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.