Meet the Artists: Sarasota’s Creative Vanguards

Behind Sarasota's cultural vibrancy are the inspiring artists, curators, musicians and performers who make it all happen. Whether they were born here or drawn here, this community is filled with virtuosos working in every medium imaginable. From impressionist painters and theater actors to orchestra directors and lyrical dancers, peek into the immense talent shaping Sarasota's art scene and cultural identity.

Giancarlo Guerrero

Music Director, Sarasota Orchestra

Having recently relocated from Nashville, TN, where he held the position of Music Director Laureate with the Nashville Symphony for 16 years, the Sarasota performing arts community is extremely excited to welcome the six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor, where he looks to build his new artistic home with the Sarasota Orchestra. 

In recent seasons, Guerrero has been seen with prominent North American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Boston Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra and many more. Internationally, he has worked all over the world—from Spain and France to New Zealand and Australia—so fans of the orchestra, both local and visiting audiences, look forward to his debut 2025-2026 season right here in Sarasota. It is said that Guerrero's soul and contagious enthusiasm can be felt at the podium, as he is known to conduct and guide a concert's overall sound to excellence—effortlessly cueing musicians on tempo, dynamics, phrasing and expression. 

“Sarasota embraces the arts with extraordinary enthusiasm. I have had the great fortune to conduct orchestras all over the United States and around the world—and when I first walked onstage with Sarasota Orchestra, I can tell you, I immediately knew I was in a truly special place for making music. I felt this great sense of welcome, and I could see the audience took great pride in their orchestra. And I could feel the energy in the orchestra responding to that—the musicians were ready to give their all and do their best for their audience. I remember thinking, 'Wow, this place really celebrates what we do as musicians and all that we put into our art.' I feel incredibly excited to be here." – Guerrero

The Sarasota Orchestra currently performs across six area venues during its season, including the historic Sarasota Opera House, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Ed Smith Stadium.

Website: sarasotaorchestra.org and giancarlo-guerrero.com 
Instagram: @sarasotaorchestra
 

Melissa Rummel

Company Member, Choreographer & Studio Coordinator, Sarasota Contemporary Dance

Rummel in the studio, photo by Sorcha Augustine

As she enters her 10th season with Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD), Sarasota's first professional contemporary dance company, Melissa Rummel continues to evolve as a mentor, performer and choreographer for young dancers—thanks to the nurturing and bold spirit of this celebrated local company. 

"This community has truly become a family to me. Every year has brought new growth—not just in my dancing and performing, but also in my choreography and creative voice. I feel so blessed by Leymis (Founder & Artistic Director) and the SCD dancers for continuing to challenge and stretch me in ways I never imagined. I can’t wait to take the stage for another powerful season.” – Rummel

And while Rummel is celebrating her 10th year, SCD is celebrating its 20th as a company. This 2025-2026 season, catch special performances and collaborations featuring live music accompaniment to celebrate. Productions are primarily performed at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, located at The Ringling Museum of Art.

Website: sarasotacontemporarydance.org
Instagram: @sarasotacontemporarydance

Tim Jaeger 

Director & Chief Curator of Galleries and Exhibitions, Ringling College of Art and Design; Artist and Co-owner, 502 Gallery

Jaeger's leadership at the Ringling College of Art and Design, and he and his wife Cassia's own 502 Gallery in downtown Sarasota's Historic Burns Court, champion local and Southwest Florida artists at every level of their journey. The dynamic duo have a hand in everything from contemporary curation to mentorship in their vibrant, new gallery space, which features a rotating collection of artwork with deep historical and cultural significance, as well as high-energy pop-up exhibitions that keep the space fresh and engaging. 

Tim Jaeger is also an award-winning artist himself, continually transforming subjects—from canvas to plateware to surfboards—into dynamic, material expressions. His art invites viewers into a world of gestural and textural exploration whether it be wild horses, shoaling fish, striking portraits or busy beach landscapes filled with colorful umbrellas.

Jaeger painting on canvas, exploring abstraction and observation in his Sarasota studio

"Sarasota has shaped who I am as an artist. The people, the light, the water—it all finds its way into my work. This community shows up for its creatives, and that kind of support gives you the freedom to take risks and keep evolving." - Jaeger

Websites: 502.gallery and timjaegerpainter.com
Instagram: @502.gallery and @timjaegerpainter

Tihda Vongkoth

Percussionist & Founder, Modern Marimba

Vongkoth at an educational performance for the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning, photo by Chris Green

A lyrical visionary, Tihda Vongkoth’s mission with Modern Marimba is to create performances that feel like quiet awakenings—elegant, exploratory and deeply immersive. Its musical programs have quickly become a beacon for those seeking transcendent artistry in intimate settings, where audiences are welcomed into a world of sonic beauty and thoughtful storytelling.

“At Modern Marimba, we offer a curated journey for the muse within—an elegant dialogue between the auras of past and present. Through performances where stories and music converge, this dialogue unfolds without end, awakening quiet revelation. 

Set within the tapestry of Sarasota’s distinguished arts landscape, our work beckons the refined traveler to a sanctuary where creativity unfolds with poise, grace and timeless allure.” – Vongkoth

Website: modernmarimba.org
Instagram: @modernmarimba

Marianne Chapel

Founder & Artist, SPAACES Gallery

Artist, educator and community catalyst, Marianne Chapel returned to Sarasota with a renewed sense of purpose—and founded SPAACES gallery in the artsy Limelight District to create a collaborative hub where artists grow their careers and make meaningful impact.

“My artistic practice has always centered around transformation, power and storytelling—my paintings explore these themes through figuration and symbolic storytelling, using bold color and layered imagery. I earned my MFA in Painting from Indiana University and have taught at the college level since graduate school, including positions at Ringling College of Art and Design, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and the University of Tampa.

After years of teaching and exhibiting, my family and I moved away from Sarasota, thinking the grass might be greener elsewhere. But we missed our home—returning to Sarasota brought a deep sense of clarity and purpose. It became undeniably clear that this was where we truly belonged. With that renewed perspective, I became a lifelong champion of this community—stepping more fully into my role as a leader and becoming a force for supporting and nurturing artists in Sarasota. 

I founded SPAACES to create the kind of professional, collaborative environment I needed as an artist—one where creatives work side by side, grow their careers and use art as a force for change. Sarasota is a uniquely special place for creatives—collaborative, supportive and full of people who truly value art and artists. Every day, I’m grateful to contribute to its vibrant and growing art scene.” – Chapel

Websites: mariannechapel.com and spaaces.art
Instagram: @mariannechapel and @spaaces.art

Sierra Abelardo

Junior Principal, The Sarasota Ballet

Abelardo in Sir Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet, presented at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Sierra Abelardo grew up in Cincinnati, OH, where she trained at a small studio before moving to New York to continue her dance studies. She first heard about The Sarasota Ballet from friends who danced here, and was immediately drawn to its unique and diverse repertoire and wide range of ballets each season. Abelardo officially joined the Sarasota Ballet in 2022 as Corps de Ballet, and has been continually promoted each year to her current role as Junior Principal in 2025. Her featured roles include: A Wedding Bouquet, Romeo and Juliet, The Spider’s Feast, The Sleeping Beauty Act III Blue Bird Pas de Deux, Wright's Giselle, La Sylphide and many more. 

"I think art in general plays a vital role in Sarasota. There’s a strong, supportive community here that truly values the arts. Our audiences have a genuine appreciation for what we do, and that support is something we feel both on and off stage. There’s a personal connection with the community here that’s often missing in larger cities, and that makes all the difference.

Ballet, in particular, can sometimes feel like a fading art form, increasingly leaning toward the athletic rather than the artistic. What I really admire about The Sarasota Ballet is how it preserves the artistic integrity that is so essential to the discipline. For me, keeping that expressive and creative aspect alive is crucial—not just for ballet, but for all art forms."  – Abelardo

The Sarasota Ballet performs at multiple venues each season, with their primary home being the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 

Website: sarasotaballet.org
Instagram: @sarasotaballet

Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, MA

Founder & Artistic Director, Mosaic Movements

Tangled Roots, presented at the Historic Asolo Theater, photo by Rod Millington

An interdisciplinary artist, activist and visionary, Yoleidy leads Mosaic Movements, a Sarasota-based arts organization advocating for justice through transformative art, championing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists through storytelling and cultural resistance.

“My work sits at the crossroads of memory, identity and ritual—driven by a radical commitment to cultural work that confronts erasure and moves through spiritual liminality. 

Through Mosaic Movements, we support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists through work rooted in interdisciplinary arts and community practice—creating, disrupting and building spaces for collective transformation. The connections I’ve built with artists in Sarasota nourish this vision—a creative ecosystem that keeps liberatory futures within reach." – Yoleidy

Website: mosaicmovements.org 
Instagram: @mosaicmovements

Suzanne Grodner

Actress & Performer, Asolo Repertory Theatre

Suzanne Grodner & Zachary Prince in Asolo Rep's production of Grand Horizons, photo by Cliff Roles

With an impressive resume spanning on-screen work (Ray Donovan, Law & Order) and Broadway (Beautiful, Bye Bye Birdie, The Rose Tattoo), plus over 80 regional productions across 45+ theaters, Grodner brings both grace and gravitas to the stage. She’s known as a powerhouse in her roles, and brings heart and humor to every performance. Although she's based in New York City, she remains a beloved regular each Sarasota arts season at Asolo Repertory Theatre, where her credits include Silent Sky, Grand Horizons, and Nunsense.  

“Actors are a unique breed. We spend our lives pursuing the dream of telling meaningful stories, of creating characters that move, thrill and transform an audience, and finding artistic homes throughout the country that nurture, encourage and support the creative spirit.

Asolo Rep has always been one of the most essential creative homes for actors and directors around the country—and a personal favorite of mine for many years. I have performed 18 shows in 10 seasons with the Rep company and Conservatory company. My 19th show will be this season's 'The Mirror Crack'd', directed by the one and only Michael Edwards, with whom I've worked many times, and remains a valued friend, mentor and Director Supreme.

Grodner and Willa Carpenter in Asolo's production of Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, photo by Cliff Roles

Sarasota audiences are so fortunate to have this Theatre in their community. Peter Rothstein, Asolo's newest Artistic Director, has chosen an exciting and diverse season of musicals, dramas, comedies and thrillers, guaranteed to delight all theatre goers. I look forward to tread the boards of the beautiful Mertz Theatre again, and share our Agatha Christie thriller with you all. See you soon!" – Grodner

Website: asolorep.org 
Instagram: @asolorep

Catch the Artists in Action

Find upcoming exhibitions, events, performances and concerts on the calendar at: sarasotaarts.org/event. 

Thank you to the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County for their collaboration on this piece.