Who we are
Beaches Fine Arts Series
Mission Statement
To enrich our communities by sharing the transforming
power of music and art, free to all.
Beaches Fine Arts Series
Board of Trustees
Officers
Beginnings
When he arrived from Chicago in 1967 to become the choirmaster and organist at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, BFAS founder Jim Johnson found the beaches had very little in the way of classical music offerings.
Jim was determined to change that, and his belief in the power of great music to prositively affect all people led to the founding of Beaches Fine Arts Series in 1972, which has always been free to all people. With the support of the rector at that time, and the underwriting of costs by the church, Jim’s vision became a reality. Sadly, Jim passed away in 2017. But his legacy continues with the annual James D. Johnson Memorial Organ Concert.
Concert Season
Since 1972, Beaches Fine Arts Series has offered people of North Florida the chance to enjoy world-class music and dance in an annual season of performances, all for free. Programming encompasses an eclectic blend of styles from classical to contemporary, jazz to world music and dance, and traditional to avant-garde.
Through the years, BFAS developed a reputation as an organization known for presenting world acclaimed artists in an outstanding acoustic. As a result, American Public Media began recording BFAS concerts for broadcast on the venerable national and international program, Performance Today, on NPR.
Performance Today features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, as well as in-studio performances and interviews. It is America’s most popular classical music radio program. The show is broadcast on nearly 300 public radio stations across the country, and reaches approximately 1.4 million listeners each week. BFAS is the only series in North Florida to be recorded regularly each season for broadcast on American Public Media’s “Performance Today” on National Public Radio.
TOM DANIELS
PRESIDENT
M. ELAINE HALL
TREASURER
ILEANA FERNANDEZ
VICE-PRESIDENT
MARJORIE PARDUE
SECRETARY
“Beaches Fine Arts Series is a valued partner with Performance Today and a rich source of cultural events for Northeast Florida. As a producer for the public radio program, PerformanceToday, I search for the best classical music performances from across the United States. Our show seeks to demonstrate the vitality of today’s classical music scene through broadcasting one-of-a-kind live concert performances. We aim to present the best classical musicians and represent the geographic breadth of classical music making in our country. I can confidently say that concerts presented by Beaches Fine Arts Series embody that vitality.” Jeff Bina, Producer
BFAS Executive Director, Kathy Wallis, & Performance Today Host, Fred Child
Educational Outreach Programs
Trustees
Artists who perform on our series also perform educational outreach workshops as part of our award-winning outreach programs for thousands of students in North Florida each year, including elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students. We typically target schools whose funding has limited the arts exposure all children should have, but many do not. We pay for bus transportation to and from our outreach concerts, where children are entertained and have an opportunity to ask questions of the artists. Once per year, we host an artist or group for an entire week in an extended residency. Specific and appropriate schools are selected to receive the artists in their classrooms for in-depth study. Activity books and lesson plans are produced for the teachers to relate art and music with core academic subjects.
Art Exhibits
At each reception following our home venue concerts, we present an art exhibit featuring the works of a regional visual artist. All works are available for purchase, and we encourage concert goers to support these exceptionally talented artists.
Volunteers & Fundraisers
Local community organizations donate food for our receptions and assist with ushering at the concerts. These “Community Hosts” include businesses, churches, schools, philanthropic and service organizations, as well as other arts organizations. We also rely on a large corps of wonderful volunteers who serve collectively as our “Concert Crew” at each of our concerts, and who also support us by serving at our fundraisers, including our major annual fundraiser, First Coast Dancing with the Stars. First Coast Dancing with the Stars began in 2013 and is held at WJCT Studio A in downtown Jacksonville. It continues to sell out each year. This successful fundraiser thrives because of our wonderful volunteers.
Funding
In addition to our annual fundraisers, our ability to remain free relies on community financial support, including Corporate Sponsorships, Grants, Foundation Support and Individual Donations. Please see our Donate page and consider a gift to BFAS. As we always say, “We are BFAS, You are BFAS”.
KATHY WALLIS
Executive Director
kathy@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-545-6085
MARTHA GERDING
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
martha@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-466-8664
CLAUDIA
BESHEARS
ARTIE
CLIFTON
DORREEN
DALY
TRACY
MORRIS
JIM
BONNETTE
CHARLOTTE
CROUSE
ALEX
DOWNS
LYNNE
RADCLIFFE
RAMESH
SHAH
LUCY
CHEN
NICK
CURRY
SHAWN
LENOBLE
PABLO
RIVERA
Who we are
Mission Statement
To enrich our communities by sharing
the transforming power of music and art,
free to all.
Beginnings
When he arrived from Chicago in 1967 to become the choirmaster and organist at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, BFAS founder Jim Johnson found the beaches had very little in the way of classical music offerings.
Jim was determined to change that, and his belief in the power of great music to prositively affect all people led to the founding of Beaches Fine Arts Series in 1972, which has always been free to all people. With the support of the rector at that time, and the underwriting of costs by the church, Jim’s vision became a reality. Sadly, Jim passed away in 2017. But his legacy continues with the annual James D. Johnson Memorial Organ Concert.
Concert Season
Since 1972, Beaches Fine Arts Series has offered people of North Florida the chance to enjoy world-class music and dance in an annual season of performances, all for free. Programming encompasses an eclectic blend of styles from classical to contemporary, jazz to world music and dance, and traditional to avant-garde.
Through the years, BFAS developed a reputation as an organization known for presenting world acclaimed artists in an outstanding acoustic. As a result, American Public Media began recording BFAS concerts for broadcast on the venerable national and international program, Performance Today, on NPR.
Performance Today features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, as well as in-studio performances and interviews. It is America’s most popular classical music radio program. The show is broadcast on nearly 300 public radio stations across the country, and reaches approximately 1.4 million listeners each week. BFAS is the only series in North Florida to be recorded regularly each season for broadcast on American Public Media’s “Performance Today” on National Public Radio.
Educational Outreach Programs
Artists who perform on our series also perform educational outreach workshops as part of our award-winning outreach programs for thousands of students in North Florida including elementary, middle school, high school, and college students.
We typically target schools whose funding has limited the arts exposure all children should have, but many do not. We pay for bus transportation to and from our outreach concerts, where children are entertained and have an opportunity to ask questions of the artists.
Once per year, we host an artist or group for an entire week in an extended residency. Specific and appropriate schools are selected to receive the artists in their classrooms for in-depth study. Activity books and lesson plans are produced for the teachers to relate art and music with core academic subjects.
Art Exhibits
At each reception following our home venue concerts, we present an art exhibit featuring the works of a regional visual artist. All works are available for purchase, and we encourage concert goers to support these exceptionally talented artists.
Volunteers & Fundraisers
Local community organizations donate food for our receptions and assist with ushering at the concerts. These “Community Hosts” include businesses, churches, schools, philanthropic and service organizations, as well as other arts organizations.We also rely on a large corps of wonderful volunteers who serve collectively as our “Concert Crew” at each of our concerts, and annual fundraisers, including First Coast Dancing with the Stars. First Coast Dancing with the Stars began in 2013 and is held at WJCT Studio A in downtown Jacksonville. It continues to sell out each year. This successful fundraiser thrives because of our wonderful volunteers.
Funding
In addition to our annual fundraisers, our ability to remain free relies on community financial support, including Corporate Sponsorships, Grants, Foundation Support and Individual Donations.
Beaches Fine Arts Series
Board of Trustees
Staff
Kathy Wallis
Executive Director
kathy@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-545-6085
Martha Gerding
Director of Development
martha@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-466-8664
Who we are
Mission Statement
To enrich our communities by sharing
the transforming power of music and art,
free to all.
Beginnings
When he arrived from Chicago in 1967 to become the choirmaster and organist at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, BFAS founder Jim Johnson found the beaches had very little in the way of classical music offerings.
Jim was determined to change that, and his belief in the power of great music to prositively affect all people led to the founding of Beaches Fine Arts Series in 1972, which has always been free to all people. With the support of the rector at that time, and the underwriting of costs by the church, Jim’s vision became a reality. Sadly, Jim passed away in 2017. But his legacy continues with the annual James D. Johnson Memorial Organ Concert.
Concert Season
Since 1972, Beaches Fine Arts Series has offered people of North Florida the chance to enjoy world-class music and dance in an annual season of performances, all for free. Programming encompasses an eclectic blend of styles from classical to contemporary, jazz to world music and dance, and traditional to avant-garde.
Through the years, BFAS developed a reputation as an organization known for presenting world acclaimed artists in an outstanding acoustic. As a result, American Public Media began recording BFAS concerts for broadcast on the venerable national and international program, Performance Today, on NPR.
Performance Today features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, as well as in-studio performances and interviews. It is America’s most popular classical music radio program. The show is broadcast on nearly 300 public radio stations across the country, and reaches approximately 1.4 million listeners each week. BFAS is the only series in North Florida to be recorded regularly each season for broadcast on American Public Media’s “Performance Today” on National Public Radio.
Educational Outreach Programs
Artists who perform on our series also perform educational outreach workshops as part of our award-winning outreach programs for thousands of students in North Florida including elementary, middle school, high school, and college students.
We typically target schools whose funding has limited the arts exposure all children should have, but many do not. We pay for bus transportation to and from our outreach concerts, where children are entertained and have an opportunity to ask questions of the artists.
Once per year, we host an artist or group for an entire week in an extended residency. Specific and appropriate schools are selected to receive the artists in their classrooms for in-depth study. Activity books and lesson plans are produced for the teachers to relate art and music with core academic subjects.
Art Exhibits
At each reception following our home venue concerts, we present an art exhibit featuring the works of a regional visual artist. All works are available for purchase, and we encourage concert goers to support these exceptionally talented artists.
Volunteers & Fundraisers
Local community organizations donate food for our receptions and assist with ushering at the concerts. These “Community Hosts” include businesses, churches, schools, philanthropic and service organizations, as well as other arts organizations.We also rely on a large corps of wonderful volunteers who serve collectively as our “Concert Crew” at each of our concerts, and annual fundraisers, including First Coast Dancing with the Stars. First Coast Dancing with the Stars began in 2013 and is held at WJCT Studio A in downtown Jacksonville. It continues to sell out each year. This successful fundraiser thrives because of our wonderful volunteers.
Funding
In addition to our annual fundraisers, our ability to remain free relies on community financial support, including Corporate Sponsorships, Grants, Foundation Support and Individual Donations.
Beaches Fine Arts Series
Board of Trustees
Staff
Kathy Wallis
Executive Director
kathy@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-545-6085
Martha Gerding
Director of Development
martha@beachesfinearts.org
Cell: 904-466-8664