Florida Grand Opera's Development Team Announces Promotion and New Hire

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) has announced the promotion of María Dolores Ordóñez and welcome new hire Max Kellogg, both serving as Individual Giving Officers effective immediately. As Individual Giving Officers, they will focus on developing new and enhanced connections with individual and corporate partners that actively support FGO's mission and vision.

"This is such a pivotal and exciting time at Florida Grand Opera and I am tremendously pleased that Maria and Max will be helping us engage the community. We have an exciting story to tell and their roles in outreach will be crucial, said" Amy Funk, FGO's Director of Development.

María Dolores Ordóñez joined Florida Grand Opera in 2009 as Donor Relations Manager. As the primary liaison to many donors, she has worked tirelessly to build and strengthen relationships with high profile patrons as well as the local community of benefactors and arts organizations.

Prior to FGO, this gifted historian, artist, and illustrator worked with different cultural entities in both Miami and Ecuador. Most recently, she served as curator for the Jewish Museum of Florida. While working as a Director of Historic Research at the Museo de la Ciudad in Quito, Ecuador, she managed exhibitions and was part of an interdisciplinary team in charge of promoting the revival of the city's colonial quarters. Ordóñez studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador to become a historian and lives with her husband and four children in Weston, Florida.

FGO also extends a warm welcome to its newest member, Max Kellogg, who recently served as an Individual Giving Officer and key strategist in donor cultivation and stewardship for Sarasota Opera. His main responsibilities included the execution of annual giving programs, overseeing donor lounges, and acting as a liaison to both the Sarasota Opera Guild and Bradenton Opera Guild.

"With the leadership that has been put into place, it is a very exciting time for Florida Grand Opera and the Miami arts community in general. I couldn't be more honored or thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work with this team," said Kellogg.

Kellogg also worked with the Crane Opera Ensemble as an Education and Outreach Coordinator, organizing lectures for groups throughout upstate New York as well as designing opera workshops and educational materials for young audiences. Originally from the small city of Auburn, New York, Kellogg's passion for opera started in high school. Later, while studying voice in college, he discovered his passion for arts administration, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam. He currently resides in Brickell Key, Florida.

Florida Grand Opera (FGO), the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida, celebrates its 72nd year of continuously producing grand opera during the 2012-2013 season, which features: Puccini's La bohème, Nov. 17 through Dec. 8; Mozart's The Magic Flute, Jan. 29 through Feb. 23; Bellini's La sonnambula, Feb. 9 through Feb. 17; and Verdi's La traviata, Apr. 20 through May 5. Subscriptions for all four operas of the season start at $36 and single tickets start as low as $11. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (800) 741-1010 or online at www.FGO.org.

Founded in 1941 as Greater Miami Opera and later merging with The Opera Guild Inc. in 1994, FGO presents a mixture of standard repertoire and contemporary works as well as commissions new productions - all featuring projected translations in English and Spanish. FGO, recognized for funding by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding is also provided, in part, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. Program support is provided by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council. Florida Grand Opera is a Resident Company of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and a member company of OPERA America. American Airlines is the Official Airline, Intercontinental Miami is the Official Hotel and Steinway & Sons is the Official Piano of Florida Grand Opera.

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