Paul Gravett To Lead Recital Society

Paul Gravett named Executive Director of Vancouver Recital Society

Stephen Fitterman, President of the Vancouver Recital Society (VRS) Board of Directors, today announced the appointment of Paul Gravett as Executive Director of the Vancouver Recital Society, effective July 4, 2011. 

As one of the few recital series in North America dedicated to presenting internationally acclaimed artists, both emerging and established, the VRS has built a reputation around the world for innovation and excellence in programming, garnering prestigious awards in New York and Toronto.

"The Board is very pleased and excited about Paul taking up the position of Executive Director of the VRS,” commented Stephen Fitterman.  “We have tremendous confidence in his ability to bring vision and strategic direction to the management of the Society, building on its successful thirty-one year history and harnessing new means of communication and engagement to meet the expectations of and to grow our audience."

Paul Gravett has many years of management experience within the performing arts, most recently as Executive Director at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver. 

“It will be an honour to work alongside Leila and the VRS staff as it enters its thirty-second Season”, says Paul. “I have known the VRS for twenty years and it occupies a special place for me just as it does on the local and international classical music scene. I very much look forward to building on its strong traditions and successes.”

As Executive Director, Paul will be responsible for the executive leadership of the organization. Leila Getz, founder of the Vancouver Recital Society, will continue in her role as artistic director of the organization.

Paul Gravett studied piano in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, receiving a degree in piano performance from the University of Manitoba, and later worked as a free-lance accompanist and vocal coach in Toronto. 

He spent seven years as a Manager/Agent at Hart/Murdoch Artists Management, one of the leading management firms for classical musicians. He moved to Western Canada and became a facility manager and concert presenter, first at ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island and at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver.

Paul sits on the boards of the BC Touring Council as Chair, and the Alliance for Arts and Culture as vice-chair. Paul was honoured to receive two awards in 2008: the Business Citizen of the Year Award by the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and the Unity in Diversity award from the West Vancouver Bahá'í community.