ArtsRock to Appoint Elliott Forrest as New Executive Director

The Board of ArtsRock has announced that Elliott Forrest, Artistic Director of the organization from its inception in 2008 will become the non-profit's first Executive Director starting July 1, 2016. Forrest will remain as Artistic Director in addition to his new role for ArtsRock who served over 2,000 audience members during their 2015-2016 Winter/Spring Season. Offering residents in and around Rockland County access to professional arts and multi-cultural programs all at reasonable ticket prices.

"Forrest has been instrumental in helping build and shape the organization both creatively and logistically from the beginning," said Rod Greenwood, the President of the Board of Directors, ArtsRock. "He has contributed tirelessly, in the past, in a pro-bono capacity. This expanded role reflects the growth and success of the organization and its ability to support an Executive Director. We look forward to producing many more seasons of outstanding programming with Elliott at the helm."

"I am honored", says Forrest, "that the ArtsRock Board has entrusted me with this additional responsibility. I think we have been artistically and financially successful because of the guidance of the board, the dedicated work of Managing Director, Dara Falco, the support of our audience and donors and the talented artists who have graced our stages. I look forward to our 8th season of concerts, conversations and family shows,".

Forrest is a Peabody Award winning broadcaster & producer. He is the Afternoon Drive host on New York's Classical Music Radio Station 105.9FM - WQXR, WQXR.org and heard on occasion on WNYC. He's been on radio in New York City for 30 years. He hosts staged events and conversations around NYC and in The Greene Space, previous interviewees: Harvey Fierstein, Elisabeth Moss, Stephen Sondheim, Mike Nichols, Wynton Marsalis, Sting, Philip Seymour Hoffman & Sir Patrick Stewart. Elliott is the host and producer of the international radio concerts of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Forrest regularly produces and designs large-scale symphony concerts including those with the Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Pasadena Pops and the Little Orchestra Society in a variety of venues, including the Hollywood Bowl, Philadelphia's Mann Center and Lincoln Center. He directs the annual radio drama of A CHRISTMAS CAROL for NY Public Radio, past cast members include: Kathleen Turner, Mark Linn-Baker, F. Murray Abraham, David Hyde Pierce and Tony Roberts. For 12 years he was on the A&E Television Network as host of Breakfast with the Arts & Biography. Featured on the Grammy Award winning comedy album WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio with Peter Schickele and performed with the "good professor" at New York's Town Hall in 2015 in the "PDQ Bach Golden Anniversary Concert". Forrest holds a BA in Theater from the University of Texas.

The mission of ArtsRock is to provide increased access to professional arts and multi-cultural programs for an underserved, diverse audience, in and around Rockland County bringing such stellar productions as: Family Shows including Tom Chapin in our popular "Milk & Cookies Playhouse" and an annual Puppet Festival; Conversations with such notables as Alec Baldwin, Chita Rivera, comedian Robert Klein, TMC's Robert Osborne, David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane from Frasier), Tony Roberts (Annie Hall), Michael McKean (Spinal Tap) and Public Radio's John Hockenberry and Brian Lehrer; Music Concerts, including Grammy winning flutist Sir James Galway, legendary singer Darlene Love, The NY Philharmonic Brass Quintet, Suzanne Vega, The Klezmatics and Eileen Ivers; and Local talent including Jeffrey Friedberg & The Bossy Frog Band, Mario the Magician, the Old No. 7 Band and Martha Mooke, composer/electroacoustic violist.

ArtsRock is a 501 (C)(3) New York Not For-Profit Corporation. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.artsrock.org or call 855-ArtsRock.