Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director

The Jazz Club of Sarasota has appointed Danielle La Senna as its first director of development. The new position will focus on expanding the Jazz Club’s reach, building partnerships and securing resources to sustain and grow its programs.

“This role is essential to deepening our community connections, fostering meaningful partnerships, and ensuring the support needed to keep jazz thriving for regional audiences of all ages,” said Ed Linehan, president of the Jazz Club, in a statement. 

Photo by Michaela Ristaino

Founded in 1980, Jazz Club of Sarasota produces the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival and presents jazz performances in collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre's Court Cabaret (Monday Night at the Cabaret), Unitarian Universalists of SRQ (Jazz at Two on Fridays) and the Sarasota Art Museum (Jazz Thursdays at SAM) on the second Thursday of the month.

Linehan notes that the appointment of La Senna followed an extensive search.

A vocalist and arts administrator, La Senna earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and a master’s in arts education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

She began her career performing jazz, musical theater and classical music in New York City, and was director of adult education at The Juilliard School for over a decade. 

Since moving to Florida in 2019, La Senna has overseen operations for continuing studies at Ringling College of Art and Design and directed arts education at Sarasota Art Museum. 

Most recently, she was executive director of the Choral Artists of Sarasota, where she focused on marketing and development, and facilitated the group's recent merger with Via Nova Chorale.

“I’m delighted to be working with the Jazz Club in this new role,” said La Senna in a statement. “There’s so much potential to further its mission—bringing jazz to the community and supporting musicians of all ages.”

With La Senna on board to lead fundraising, the Jazz Club is also expanding its physical footprint. By Sept. 1, the organization will move into new headquarters at 2000 Webber St., a first-floor office complex with parking, meeting space and capacity for future growth.