OCALA,FL (352today.com) – Pamela Calero Wardell has been the executive director of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and the Reilly Arts Center (the Reilly) for close to 10 years but recently accepted the position of Senior Director of Development with the Jacksonville Symphony starting in February 2024.

In a news release, the Board of Directors at the Reilly says it “stands in full and enthusiastic support of Pamela as she takes this next step in her professional journey.”The directors say that the story of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and subsequently, of the Reilly, is a story of growth, perseverance, transformation, and success. They give credit to Pamela and Matt Wardell’s vision in 2015 to renovate the city auditorium into the arts center which created a new home for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

They boast it is now a world-class arts venue for Ocala and Marion County that currently hosts more than 180 events per year.

In 2020, the Reilly took over management of the historic Marion Theatre, which now has more than 700 film showings a year, monthly music and comedy shows, is used by the community for events, and has become a strong and iconic contributor to the vibrancy of our downtown. “Given Pamela’s extraordinary achievements at the Reilly, it is no surprise to see her join a major tier two orchestra in a senior role,” said R.J. Jenkins, President of the Reilly’s Board of Directors. “This remarkable outcome is only the latest in a series of remarkable outcomes for Pamela: earlier this year, Pamela was not only accepted as one of six participants in the inaugural Anne Parsons Leadership Program, a mentor program designed to grow orchestra executives, but she also graduated from the Essentials of Orchestra Management program through the Juilliard School.”“Pam’s impressive professional rise is, first and foremost, a testament to her excellence,” said Jenkins. “But it is also a testament to the Reilly Arts Center’s commitment to making sure that our talented team has the room, the resources, and our blessing not only to grow, but to aspire. Pam’s aspirational journey is a jewel in the crown of our organization.”“Pamela is a rare leader who not only inspires others to excel individually, but also fosters a contagious culture of being better together.  Through the years, I’ve seen her advance organizations to excellence from the College of Central Florida to the City of Ocala,” said Amy Mangan, Executive Director of the AdventHealth Ocala Foundation. “And I believe her vision for the Reilly Performing Arts Center became the pièce de résistance of her career thus far to create one of the greatest masterpieces our community has received. We are all better because Pamela made it so.”As part of this leadership change, Matt Wardell will be stepping down as CEO but will continue in his role as Music Director and Conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

“While Matt will be stepping down as CEO as part of this transition and the Wardells move to Jacksonville, I am absolutely delighted to announce that he has enthusiastically agreed to stay on in his roles as Music Director and Conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2009,” said Jenkins. “It is hard for me to put into words how profound a calming effect this has had on me as I consider this transition, and I am grateful, both to Matt and to Pamela, for conceiving of an arrangement that affords Pamela the freedom to pursue this opportunity while also ensuring key institutional memory and consistency for our organization, our donors, and our patrons.” The Reilly says it is currently in the late stages of a national search for a new executive director.