Coastal Concerts appoints new executive director

Coastal Concerts, a nonprofit organization in Lewes that promotes classical music appreciation through live concerts, community outreach and educational programs, announced the appointment of Carol Dennis as its new executive director. 

Dennis has more than 25 years experience leading the human resources and organizational development function in the healthcare arena in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. She has been a guest lecturer at academic and industry functions and seminars and holds numerous professional certifications. Dennis holds a master’s degree in business from Johns Hopkins University and a certificate in executive leadership from Georgetown University.

To move to Lewes in 2006, Dennis partially retired from Asbury Communities, a nonprofit organization of nine continuing care retirement communities and home care services for older adults.

“I am honored to be part of Coastal Concerts and to be working with an amazing board and outstanding group of volunteers. I am very excited about our upcoming 20th season of excellence, which includes a return visit from David Russell, a guitarist who wowed our audience in years past,” said Dennis.

“Getting involved in our outreach programs is quite exciting to me and one of the things that attracted me to Coastal Concerts, particularly our music scholarship program for middle and high school students. I hope we can encourage more students to apply for scholarships this year and we want to continue to reach out to people of all ages educating and encouraging attendance at our concerts,” she said.

Dennis loves classical music, plays the piano and enjoys spending time with her family, which includes three grandsons who live close by. She succeeds Edna Ellett, who served the organization for the past nine years. The board of directors honored Ellett at a retirement luncheon April 30.

During her tenure with Coastal Concerts, the organization made great strides in attendance and outreach, adding the wildcard concert which expanded the organization’s appeal to a younger audience; building the partnership with Dogfish Head Brewing Company to become its first concert sponsor for the wildcard concert this year; and obtaining the Longwood Gardens grant, which made it possible to bring up-and-coming artists to the community.

“Building a ‘musical perspectives’ component to our offerings is one of the things that I am most proud of, because it allows the organization to offer a series of free music lectures, designed to enhance music appreciation and musical listening skills. I will miss Coastal Concerts, but plan to stay involved through volunteer work,” said Ellett.

For more information, go to www.coastalconcerts.org.