Artist Series Concerts' Annual Fundraiser Announced At Michael's On East

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota's annual fundraiser gala, "With Eyes to the Future," is Thursday, April 11, 6 p.m., at Michael's On East Ballroom, 1212 South East Avenue, Sarasota. The event, produced by Artist Series Concerts FRIENDS, the volunteer arm of Artist Series Concerts, features live music by the Bill Buchman Trio plus center-stage performances by Suncoast Music Scholarship winners Katherine Herbert and Luca Stine.

The evening also includes cocktails, dinner, a live auction, drawings and other activities. Proceeds from the gala, which is chaired by Cyndi Mumm, will benefit Artist Series Concerts' music scholarship awards, educational outreach programs and performance opportunities for promising young musicians. Tickets are $175 and invitations can be requested by calling 941-306-1202, Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4p.m. Reservations must be made by April 4. For more information about Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and its 2018-2019 season, visit www.ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

"Its been an exciting and momentous season for us," says David Chivas, president of Artist Series Concerts FRIENDS. "There's so much to celebrate this year, including more of our trademark performances by a variety of world-class artists, the career and extensive contributions of our managing director John Fischer, who is retiring after 17 years, and a renewed mission designed to move the organization forward with an even further emphasis on supporting outstanding young musicians. It's going to be a festive occasion, with all eyes towards a bright future!"

Two highlights of the evening will certainly be the performances by soprano Katherine "KC" Herbert and trumpeter Luca Stine, area students who were both winners at last April's Suncoast Music Scholarships, an annual collaborative competition funded by Artist Series Concerts and the Sarasota Music Club. Since then, Herbert was accepted into and now studies at the Juilliard School in New York City and Stine's summer included a stint at the renowned Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy and a performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. He's currently finishing high school while also attending classes at State College of Florida and in January he won the jazz trumpet category at the statewide Winter Music Symposium of the Florida College System Activities Association, beating out top music students from 18 Florida colleges.

"Katherine and Luca are the embodiment of our new mission to further support and present the stars of tomorrow," says Chivas. "We're thrilled to have them back with us as part of our annual evening of celebration and fundraising and we look forward to presenting them and other accomplished young artists like them for years to come."

Over the past decade, Artist Series Concerts has awarded over $300,000 to more than 80 gifted young musicians via its scholarship awards programs. Past winners have gone on to study at leading music conservatories and pursued successful music careers. For the past three years, the organization has also co-hosted the Suncoast Music Scholarships, a collaborative competition organized and funded by Artist Series Concerts and the Sarasota Music Club. This initiative awards another $20,000 to young musicians from high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The 2019-2020 season will also feature new collaborations with such prestigious cultivators of young talent as Young Concert Artists International, Juilliard, Curtis Institute and others. They'll play an essential role in identifying exceptional emerging talent for Artist Series Concerts to bring to its performance season.

"Our eyes are on the future," says Chivas. "And this gala is a large part of what makes that future possible."