The National Society of Arts and Letters Florida Chapter is proud to announce that Joanna & Jeff Kaye will be honored at the 2025 Star Maker Awards Dinner with the Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding contributions to the cultural landscape of South Florida. The glittering fundraiser, held at the breathtaking Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton on April 6, 2025, will be a night to remember. Witness the future of the arts unfold as talented NSAL scholarship recipients and competition winners grace the stage with electrifying performances. Dedicated NSAL board member Judi Asselta will serve as event Chair, with Kim Champion and Bruce Spizler lending their esteemed presence as Honorary Chairs. Individual tickets are $375 until Feb 18, 2025 and $380 after, in addition the website features a variety of sponsorship levels. Learn more at www.nsalflorida.org.
“Joanna and Jeff Kaye are exceptional individuals with remarkable accomplishments, and their combined impact on the arts community is truly extraordinary,” said Kirsten Stephenson, NSAL Florida President. “Together, they have leveraged their decades of experience in music performance, promotion, and management to create a legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich South Florida for generations to come,”
Joanna and Jeff will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the spectacular Star Maker Awards Dinner, where NSAL showcases the incredible young artists they discover, mentor and financially support. Witness the next generation of artistic brilliance unfold as scholarship winners from esteemed institutions like the Lynn Conservatory of Music, the New World School of the Arts, Frost School of Music, Boca Ballet Theatre, and Florida Atlantic University take center stage. And the magic doesn’t stop there! The evening will also showcase national competition and scholarship winners in voice, music, visual art, and ballet.
“Our Star Maker Awards Dinner is our signature fundraiser and one of the most beloved events of the local artistic community,” said Judi Asselta, Event Chair. “”This spectacular evening introduces our extraordinary young artists to the community, while simultaneously honoring community pillars who have impacted the arts. Adding Joanna and Jeff Kaye to our illustrious list of Lifetime Achievement Award recipients fills us with immense pride!”
Joanna Marie Kaye is a passionate advocate for the arts. As Executive Director of Festival of the Arts Boca, she has brought world-class performances to thousands of attendees. With a background in music and radio, she has dedicated her career to promoting the arts in South Florida. Her work as a radio host and her contributions to JK Productions, a company she co-founded with her husband, have solidified her reputation as a tireless champion of the arts community. Kaye’s commitment to bringing music to healthcare settings through the Healing Arts Project further demonstrates her dedication to enriching lives through the arts.
Jeff Kaye is an internationally renowned trumpeter and educator. With degrees from the University of Hartford and the Manhattan School of Music, he has performed with prestigious ensembles like the Florida Philharmonic and Santa Fe Opera. As a founding member of The Symphonia, Boca Raton, he has served in various leadership roles and is also the Artistic Director of Healing Sounds of Music, a non-profit providing free music programs to assisted living facilities. Kaye has dedicated his career to promoting music’s healing power, founding the Healing Arts Project to bring music to healthcare settings. His exceptional talent and commitment have earned him critical acclaim and a lasting legacy in the music world.
To learn how you can help foster the dreams of young artists, please visit www.nsalflorida.org.
About NSAL:
NSAL aims to discover talented young people at the beginning of their careers and provides scholarships and competitions in art, dance, drama, literature, music and musical theatre, and works to advance their careers and support creative opportunities. Excelling at the chapter level allows competitors to progress to national competitions and where many stars have been discovered. Among these are Shirley MacLaine, actress/dancer/writer; Jessye Norman, opera singer; Megan Hilty, Broadway and television star; Awadagin Pratt, pianist; and Amanda McKerrow, prima ballerina, and opera star Nadine Sierra who was discovered through the Florida Chapter.
For more information about NSAL scholarships, competitions and how to become a supporter, please visit www.NSALFlorida.org
