MIAMI (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Judy Drucker the long-term president of the Concert Association of Florida, an organization that she founded more than 40 years ago, has been oustered by the group's board of directors. Al Milano, the association's current chief executive has been tapped to replace her.
An article by the Miami Herald laid out the details. "Judy has been at the helm for 40 years, and it's time for fresh leadership that can take it on." board chairman Robert Hudson told the paper.
Drucker has long been a fixture in South Florida's arts circles and her name was synonomous with classical music around Miami. During her tenure, she's brought some of the biggest names in classical music and dance to perform from Pavarotti and Baryshnikov to some of the best known orchestras from around the world.
In recent years, the Association has faced some financial hardships however. A recent move to the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts increased the cost of doing business for them, both in rental and other fees. The Herald reported that the Association has seen a lot of red ink, as much as 2 million dollars worth as of last summer, according to some sources.
Milano had been the lead fundraiser at the Carnival Center and was brought on board with the association last year and a co-management arrangement between Drucker and Milano seemed to be generating friction.
"We didn't want to lose him," Hudson told the Herald, "and we decided to meet his request that he be given a free hand . . . and not have conflicting styles with someone else, i.e. Judy."
Drucker intends to stay on as an "adviser" at least for the present. "I think they felt that two people in charge wouldn't work," Drucker told the Herald "They wanted to take over, and they felt it was time that I thought about retirement." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writer
