Marcia White
Encyclopedia
Marcia White is the President
and Executive Director
of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
, a famous concert venue at Saratoga Spa State Park
in Saratoga Springs, NY. She has been credited for revitalizing SPAC, which attracts many notable performers to the "Spa City" in Upstate New York
. Before her current venture, she was a top aid for with the New York State Senator
Joe Bruno.
and University at Albany. She also received a bachelor's degree from the College of Saint Rose in 2000, and currently serves on its board of directors
. She was a registered nurse
until getting involved with civic affairs, such as boards of directors of charities
. While an aide to New York Senator Joe Bruno, White worked on health care
issues and served as his press secretary
.
While working for Senator Bruno, White helped initiated the Generating Employment through New York Science (Gen-NY-sis, or Genysis) program.
and the Freihofer's Jazz Festival in business, both of which had declining attendance through 2005, at SPAC.
Focusing on improving public relations
, White created a new logo and web site for SPAC. She was interviewed on the Albany, New York
Time Warner
television news affiliate when she announced those changes and the 2006 season at SPAC, whose roster included the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra
.
During her tenure as executive director, white served on a transition team for newly-elected Governor
Eliot Spitzer
in late 2006.
When SPAC re-opened in May 2007 after a significant reconstruction, White spoke of the Center's revitalization and the efforts that went into improving it.
After the 2007 season at SPAC, the Albany Times Union lauded White's efforts thus far, but also called for further improvements to SPAC, especially with the New York City Ballet
. White responded to the comments in a letter to the editor
a few weeks later, writing in part, that "SPAC's board and management are very aware of the current challenges facing SPAC and other classical venues in building new audiences for their programming...."
at SPAC, often introducing performers such as pianist Yuja Wang
and guests such as RPI
president Shirley Ann Jackson
.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...
, a famous concert venue at Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park is a state park located in Saratoga County, New York in the USA. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs, near US 9 and NY 50.-History:...
in Saratoga Springs, NY. She has been credited for revitalizing SPAC, which attracts many notable performers to the "Spa City" in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Before her current venture, she was a top aid for with the New York State Senator
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
Joe Bruno.
Education and early career
White is a graduate of Hudson Valley Community CollegeHudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College, a SUNY associated two-year college, is located in Troy in Rensselaer County, New York. Although about eighty percent of the students are from the local area, the remainder are from other parts of New York, other states and from some 30 countries around the...
and University at Albany. She also received a bachelor's degree from the College of Saint Rose in 2000, and currently serves on its board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. She was a registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
until getting involved with civic affairs, such as boards of directors of charities
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. While an aide to New York Senator Joe Bruno, White worked on health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
issues and served as his press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
.
While working for Senator Bruno, White helped initiated the Generating Employment through New York Science (Gen-NY-sis, or Genysis) program.
Executive Director of SPAC
White was appointed Executive Director of SPAC in January 2005 and started office in March of that year. In August 2006, she secured $2.1 million in New York State funds to rehabilitate the venue. Her twin goals were to raise money, but also to increase SPAC's public profile as a significant cultural and concert venue. She was given credit by the local press for keeping the New York City BalletNew York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
and the Freihofer's Jazz Festival in business, both of which had declining attendance through 2005, at SPAC.
Focusing on improving public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
, White created a new logo and web site for SPAC. She was interviewed on the Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
television news affiliate when she announced those changes and the 2006 season at SPAC, whose roster included the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
.
During her tenure as executive director, white served on a transition team for newly-elected Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
in late 2006.
When SPAC re-opened in May 2007 after a significant reconstruction, White spoke of the Center's revitalization and the efforts that went into improving it.
After the 2007 season at SPAC, the Albany Times Union lauded White's efforts thus far, but also called for further improvements to SPAC, especially with the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
. White responded to the comments in a letter to the editor
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
a few weeks later, writing in part, that "SPAC's board and management are very aware of the current challenges facing SPAC and other classical venues in building new audiences for their programming...."
Recent work at SPAC
In 2008, White worked to keep the Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
at SPAC, often introducing performers such as pianist Yuja Wang
Yuja Wang
Yuja Wang is a Chinese classical pianist. She was born in Beijing, began studying piano there at age six, and went on to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.-Early life:...
and guests such as RPI
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
president Shirley Ann Jackson
Shirley Jackson (physicist)
Shirley Ann Jackson is an American physicist, and the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She received her Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973, becoming the first African American woman to earn a doctorate from MIT.-Early life and...
.
See also
- Joe Bruno
- Saratoga Performing Arts CenterSaratoga Performing Arts CenterThe Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...
(SPAC) - Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...