ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation brings nationally recognized artists to our community through partnerships with local arts and social service organizations.

UPCOMING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Lenora Hammonds

Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds (Lenora Zenzalai Helm) is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, conductor, educator, author, and TEDx speaker whose career spans over four decades. A two-time Fulbright Music Specialist, U.S. Jazz Ambassador, and Dean of the Professional Education Division at Berklee College of Music, she has released eight acclaimed solo albums (with a ninth, The Sistering, arriving in Spring 2026) and performed alongside legends including Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, and Stanley Cowell.

Lenora made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2024 and leads the Tribe Jazz Orchestra, a groundbreaking ensemble featuring iconic women in jazz. She spent nearly two decades at North Carolina Central University as a tenured professor, department chair, and director of graduate programs, earning distinctions such as GRAMMY Music Educator quarterfinalist, Jazz Educator of Distinction, and induction into the Berklee College of Music Gospel Hall of Fame.

As a MacDowell Fellow, Chamber Music America/Doris Duke New Jazz Works awardee, and author of the forthcoming textbook Sing Vocal Jazz, Teach Vocal Jazz (Routledge, 2026), Lenora continues to shape the future of jazz education. Her TEDx talk, What Jazz Improvisation Can Teach You About Communication, reflects her passion for creativity, connection, and mentorship. Through performance, education, and innovation, Lenora continues to inspire and empower the next generation of artists worldwide.

January 2026

About our Artist in Residence Program

The Foundation’s artist-in-residence program started in 2021 with Kennedy Center Citizen Artist, Olmeca. The program brings distinguished artists to the Gulf Coast Region to engage in artistic exploration of a community need. In 2025, Artists in Residence will explore building community while continuing to explore barriers to arts accessibility.

We’re looking forward to welcoming our next Artists in Residence, who will bring new ideas, energy, and creativity to Sarasota. Through performances, workshops, and community collaborations, these artists will help us explore the power of the arts to inspire, heal, and connect.

PAST ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

  • Paige Hernandez | October 2025

    In October 2025, multidisciplinary artist Paige Hernandez brought her signature blend of theater, dance, and hip-hop to Sarasota through an inspiring community residency. She worked with students, families, and local teaching artists to explore creativity, confidence, and cultural expression—culminating in vibrant performances that celebrated movement, storytelling, and connection. With a focus on inclusion and empowerment, Paige’s residency inspired participants of all ages to find their voice through the arts.

  • Dr. Kevin Spencer | April 2025

    In April 2025, award-winning magician and educator Dr. Kevin Spencer made his Sarasota debut through the Foundation’s Artist in Residence program, bringing his internationally recognized Hocus Focus™ workshops to local schools and organizations. With a background in special education and decades of performance experience, Dr. Spencer uses magic to support learning and healing for individuals with disabilities, trauma, and developmental challenges. His programs have earned global recognition for innovation in health, education, and the arts.

  • Adrian Anantawan | January 2025 | March 2024 | January 2023

    Violinist and educator Adrian Anantawan has partnered with Sarasota organizations through multiple residencies, using music to explore accessibility, inclusion, and innovation in the arts. A graduate of Curtis, Yale, and Harvard, he has performed on renowned stages like Carnegie Hall and the White House, and leads programs that create meaningful opportunities for young musicians with disabilities. Adrian continues to perform, teach, and advocate globally for equity in the arts.

  • Urban Bush Women | May 2024

    In May 2024, Urban Bush Women brought their powerful blend of performance, collaboration, and community engagement to Sarasota through an inspiring residency. The ensemble worked alongside local artists and partner organizations to explore themes of connection, equity, and creative expression—culminating in a vibrant, free public event that combined performance and interactive workshops. With a mission to amplify underrepresented voices and transform the dance field, UBW continues to lead through performance, education, and artist development.