Executive director of Artist Series Concerts announces retirement

Artist Series Concerts has announced that its executive director, Marcy Miller, will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Miller has been in the position since 2019, when she was hired as the successor to John Fischer, who served as the cultural group's managing director for 17 years.

Prior to joining Artist Series Concerts, Miller served as executive director of the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia. During her time there, she helped the museum weather the Great Recession, obtain major grants and gifts and increase visitation.

The organization that is today known as Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota was conceived in 1996 by co-founders Jerold Ross and Lee Dougherty Ross. Dedicated to promoting excellence in live musical performance, Artist Series Concerts presents about 25 concert programs a year.

During her tenure with Artist Series Concerts, Miller moved the group's concerts from indoors to outdoors as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The al fresco format was so well-received that the group added two outdoor events to its schedule each year. 

Miller is credited with obtaining a $50,000 grant from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation to create an artist residency program, which allows it to reach more students in the community. 

The group's 2024-25 season is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Exchange, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and Sarasota County tourist development tax revenues.

Miller also helped recruit Sarasota Orchestra Concert Master Daniel Jordan as director of artistic planning at Artist Series Concerts. "His expertise and passion have been instrumental in bringing remarkable performers to Sarasota, and his work continues to elevate the quality of the performances we present to our community," she said.

Miller told patrons and donors in an email that her job at Artist Series Concerts has been "more than an occupation — it has been a calling."

She added, "I am deeply committed to our mission of supporting the next generation of musical talent, from launching the careers of rising young stars to nurturing music education and competition opportunities for students in our community. This mission will always hold a special place in my heart."

Commenting on programming, Jordan said, "In addition to presenting young talent, we also look to balance our offerings with some of the top performers in the  world today, who help us nurture students in our own community through outreach into local schools."

Following her retirement, Miller said she plans to travel with her husband and spend time with their children and grandchildren. She will remain involved with Artist Series Concerts both as a board member and a volunteer. 

Miller's love of live performance predates her arrival in Sarasota. When she was hired, Artist Series Concerts noted that Miller is a singer who performed in school productions of “Guys and Dolls” and “Fiddler on the Roof” growing up. As a college student, she also sang with Yale University’s all-women’s a cappella group, the New Blue.

Artist Series Concerts’ board of directors has formed a search committee to find Miller's successor. For more information about the executive director position and to apply, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org. The application period closes on Jan. 31, with a start date in early May.