Sarasota Opera executive director Richard Russell recently announced the appointment of Stephen Baker as the opera's director of marketing. Baker was most recently the director of marketing and audience development for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. He has an extensive background promoting classical music and the performing arts, creating and implementing dynamic branding, marketing, and audience development campaigns.

Prior to moving to Sarasota, Baker served as associate marketing director of Carnegie Hall in New York, vice-president of marketing and audience services at Minnesota Orchestra, associate executive director of Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and vice-president of marketing and communications at the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.