The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is entering its next chapter with a strengthened leadership team, welcoming new staff members and recognizing the experience and dedication of longtime employees through a series of internal promotions.
The expanded team reflects Savannah Music Festival’s continued growth and organizational stability as the nonprofit builds on its legacy of presenting exceptional music and expanding access to meaningful arts experiences throughout the community. By combining strategic new hires with well-earned promotions from within, SMF is investing in the people who help drive its year-round programming, education initiatives, community engagement and internationally recognized annual festival.
“I could not be more excited about the depth of talent, experience and passion this team brings to SMF. These changes position us to build on everything we have accomplished together while creating even greater opportunities for artists, audiences, students and our entire community. We are energized about what is ahead and thrilled to have this incredible team helping us move the organization forward.” said Sinisa Ciric, executive director of the Savannah Music Festival.
Savannah Music Festival is transforming for its next chapter, strengthening its leadership team through a combination of strategic new hires and well-earned internal promotions that reflect the organization’s commitment to investing in its people and its future,”
Sinisa Ciric, executive director of the Savannah Music Festival
Among the internal promotions are three longtime members of the Savannah Music Festival team whose collective experience spans more than three decades. Kat Clark, a 10-year SMF veteran, has been promoted to director of development; Jenny Woodruff, who has been with SMF for 14 years, has been promoted to director of leadership giving; and Abbey M. Matye, an eight-year SMF veteran, has been promoted to operations manager.
Together, these promotions recognize the institutional knowledge and leadership that longtime SMF staff members bring to the organization while strengthening key areas of the Festival’s operations and fundraising efforts.
SMF has also welcomed several new team members whose professional experience and community connections will support the organization’s continued momentum. Lee Heidel has joined the organization as marketing manager, Lane Huerta as education manager and Jaron McCarr as program director of the SMF Jazz Academy. In addition, Aubrie Dale Racies has been promoted to artist relations and production associate, while Laiken Williams has assumed the role of donor database specialist and executive office assistant.
The growth of the SMF team comes as the organization continues to expand its impact beyond its annual spring festival. In addition to producing one of the world’s most distinctive multi-genre music festivals, SMF presents year-round music education, community engagement and broadcast initiatives that connect artists and audiences across Savannah and beyond.
“Every person joining or stepping into a new role at SMF brings something unique to our organization,” Ciric said. “Whether they are longtime members of our team taking on new leadership responsibilities or new colleagues bringing fresh perspectives and expertise, they are all part of the same vision: to make Savannah Music Festival stronger, more accessible and more impactful for years to come.”
ABOUT THE TEAM
Kat Clark, Director of Development
PROMOTION
Kat Clark has spent nearly a decade helping advance the mission of Savannah Music Festival, growing from an entry-level development role to Director of Development. A lifelong lover of music and the arts, she graduated with honors from Clemson University with degrees in English and Vocal Performance. Her career in the arts has also included work with Spoleto Festival USA, Playhouse Square, and Cleveland Play House. Kat is a member of the Junior League of Savannah and the Chatham Commerce Club and was selected for the 2026 class of Leadership Savannah. She is passionate about connecting people with the arts and her community.
Jenny Woodruff, Director of Leadership Giving
PROMOTION
Dr. Jenny Woodruff previously served as Senior Director of Community Impact at Savannah Music Festival, where she expanded year-round education and community programs, including Musical Explorers, SMF Jazz Academy, Explorer Pass and Encounters. She holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from Duke University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Converse College, and previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Bates College. Her research on music, children and community has received national recognition from the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and the American Association of University Women. An active performer, Dr. Woodruff regularly appears with Savannah’s Front Porch Improv.
Abbey M. Matye, Operations Manager
PROMOTION
Abbey M. Matye is a passionate Arts Administrator & Events Specialist who blends creativity, leadership, and boundless enthusiasm. After completing her education at Kent State University (BA, Theatre Management) and Savannah College of Art and Design (MA, Business Design & Arts Leadership), she began working for Savannah Music Festival, where she has grown over the last 8 years from an unpaid intern to Festival Operations Manager. She also serves as a board member for Georgians for the Arts, is a 2024 graduate of the APAP Emerging Leadership Institute, and is a founding member of the South Georgia Reproductive Justice Coalition. Abbey is deeply dedicated to mission-driven work fostering the arts and arts education, as well as nurturing emerging talents.
Lee Heidel, Marketing Manager
NEW HIRE
Lee Heidel has been a resident of Savannah for 25 years and has strong ties with the local arts and business communities. A graduate of the University of Georgia and a Bulldog 100 honoree, Lee has spent the last two decades building the web development and branding consultancy Heideldesign, of which the Savannah Music Festival was a longtime client. His firm’s portfolio also includes the iconic rock band TOTO, NBCUniversal, FUJIFILM Business Innovations and numerous Savannah businesses, charities and institutions.
Lane Huerta, Education Manager
NEW HIRE
Lane Huerta is a Savannah resident of more than 20 years, educator, entrepreneur and longtime arts advocate. As the founder of Lovelane, she built a successful handmade children’s imaginative playwear business while spending more than a decade developing curriculum and teaching art and sewing camps for children. She also founded The Rainbow House, a creative community space that offered classes, workshops and events celebrating the arts. Through her work, Lane has inspired thousands of children and families to explore creativity, build confidence and connect through hands-on learning. She is passionate about expanding access to meaningful arts experiences throughout the Savannah community.
Jaron McCarr, Program Director, SMF Jazz Academy
NEW HIRE
A native of Savannah, GA, trombonist, educator and composer/arranger Jaron McCarr is known for his versatility and rich sound. He holds degrees from Valdosta State University (BM) and Northern Illinois University (MM), where he was named a Graduate Assistant. Jaron has performed at the Savannah Jazz Festival and the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, as well as with the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra, Savannah Jazz Orchestra and SCAD. Passionate about arts education, Jaron has served on the faculty of the Savannah Trombone Workshop and has given masterclasses and clinics across the Southeast.
Aubrie Dale Racies, Artist Relations and Production Associate
NEW HIRE
Aubrie Dale Racies is a dynamic A/V and live event specialist with a strong passion for live music, arts and community engagement. With a background in audio production from Daytona State College, she brings both technical expertise and relationship-building skills to every project. Through her roles with the Savannah Music Festival, Dog Days Fest and other regional acts, she has led and supported several live sound production projects and community programs, helping to expand student participation and enhance audience engagement. Aubrie is passionate about expanding local opportunities for female sound professionals and creating more technical training and jobs for youth interested in the music industry.
Laiken Williams, Donor Database Specialist and Executive Office Assistant
NEW HIRE
Laiken Williams is the frontwoman of Laiken Love & The Fellowship of Love. Her performances include Savannah Food & Wine Festival, Savannah Music Festival Musical Explorers and Visit Savannah’s award-winning “Surprisingly Savannah” Immersive Mobile Tour. Since moving to Savannah in 2004 for college, she has remained active in the city’s arts and nonprofit communities.