Sarasota Opera Names the New Director of Marketing

Sarasota, FL, October 22, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Greg Parry as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Sarasota Opera effective Monday, October 10, 2011. Mr. Parry previously held the position of Director of Marketing with Sarasota Opera from 2000-2004 during which time he guided the organization in achieving overall opera ticket sales of 100.01% in 2004 which included a 5% growth in subscriptions. Most recently, Mr. Parry founded and served as CEO of Parry Arts Consulting in Paris, France incorporating North American style marketing, fundraising and management techniques to the European context.

“It is a great opportunity to return to Sarasota Opera and I am very pleased to be working with Susan and the rest of the Opera team,” expressed Mr. Parry when asked about his return to Sarasota. “There have been so many positive changes in the last seven years. It will be a real treat for me to experience performances in the renovated opera house and to discover the new dynamic of the Opera and of the Sarasota community. To be part of the continued success of Sarasota Opera is truly an honor. It’s great to be back!”

“It is difficult to express how thrilled I am to welcome Greg back to Sarasota Opera,” says Susan Danis, Executive Director. “When Greg left Sarasota in 2004, we were selling at over 100%. Sales have not been quite that stellar over that past few years. However, this season, we are seeing a significant increase in ticket sales and the re-growth in our subscriber base. It is our good fortune that Greg has the breadth of experience and proven skills to accelerate this trend.”

For the first time in several years, Sarasota Opera is seeing an increase in subscriptions which includes 272 new subscriber households. The 2011-2012 Season is selling beyond expectation already showing a $300,000 increase in sales from this point last year.

Mr. Parry has enjoyed a career spanning over 20 years as the Director of Marketing for some of the more prestigious arts organizations in both the United States and Canada. From 1990 – 2000, Mr. Parry designed, directed and implemented marketing campaigns related to international theater arts events and programs including the 1996 Banff Arts Festival for the Banff Centre for the Arts.

Following his departure from Sarasota Opera, Mr. Parry was Director of Marketing for the San Diego Symphony from 2004 through 2009 where he lead a staff of over 20 and was responsible for all marketing and PR programs. He served as a key member of the senior management team which successfully doubled the size of the organization’s budget and lead the orchestra to being recognized as a Tier 1 organization by the League of American Symphony Orchestras. As Director of Marketing, the organization saw an increase in revenue of over 20% in both subscriptions and single tickets in the 07/08 Season and an increase of 5% during the 08/09 Season despite the suffering economic conditions.

About Sarasota Opera
Based in Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Sarasota Opera just finished its 52nd season. In 1960 the company began presenting chamber-sized repertoire in the historic 320-seat Asolo Theater on the grounds of Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art.

Recognizing the need for a theater more conducive to opera, the company purchased the former A.B. Edwards Theater in downtown Sarasota in 1979 and first performing in it in 1984 as the Sarasota Opera House. The theater has just undergone a $20-million renovation and rehabilitation enhancing audience amenities, while updating the technical facilities including increasing the size of the orchestra pit. The theater, which reopened in March 2008, has been called “one of America’s finest venues for opera” by Musical America.

Since 1983 the company has been under the artistic leadership of Victor DeRenzi. Since then the company has garnered international attention with its Masterwork Revivals Series, which presents neglected works of artistic merit, as well as the Verdi Cycle producing the complete works of Giuseppe Verdi. Recognizing the importance of training, Maestro DeRenzi founded the Apprentice Artist and Studio Artist programs. Sarasota Opera also maintains a commitment to education through its Invitation to Opera performances for local schools and the unique Sarasota Youth Opera program.

The 2011-2012 season will feature Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in the fall. The 2012 Winter Festival will include Bizet’s Carmen (opéra-comique version with spoken dialogue), Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi’s Otello, and Barber’s Vanessa. Subscriptions are on sale by calling (941) 328-1300 or visiting the Sarasota Opera Box Office. Single tickets went on sale August 1st online (www.sarasotaopera.org) and September 1st in the Box Office.

Sarasota Opera is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Programs are supported in part by an award the Tourist Development Tax through the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sarasota County Arts Council. Additional funding is provided by the City of Sarasota and the County of Sarasota.

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