Savannah Music Festival (SMF) announced today that Gene Dobbs Bradford, Executive Director, is resigning from his role to care for his family in St. Louis, Mo. His resignation will be effective at the end of the organization’s fiscal year, June 30, 2025. 

"In just three years, Gene has made a lasting impact on Savannah's arts community. Along with leading a world-class music festival, he has been a remarkable advocate, not only for the festival but for Savannah as a whole, locally and nationally," said Mary Armstrong Dugas, Chair of the Savannah Music Festival Board. "On behalf of the entire board, I want to express our gratitude for his leadership and say that he will be greatly missed."

The SMF Board will soon launch a formal, national search for new leadership.

“It breaks my heart to have to leave; I love the Savannah Music Festival and this wonderful community,” Bradford said. “I hope my successor can build on the positive momentum we are generating with many new partnerships in the community, a new office space in the Starland District that we are set to move into this spring, and excellent and growing community impact programs. SMF is positioned to thrive as we build on Savannah’s growth and the evolving and dynamic landscape of the music industry here. I am looking forward to seeing our friends and supporters at the festival next month and celebrating the ways music brings us together.”

Under Bradford’s direction, Savannah Music Festival has expanded its presence outside of the 17-day festival through partnerships with District Live and Victory North, expanded education and community impact programs, and increased contributed revenue by 25 percent. 

Reflecting on his time leading Savannah Music Festival, Bradford said, “Being a part of the Savannah Music Festival family has been a fantastic experience. I am grateful to the Board for giving me this wonderful opportunity, and to the amazing team I have the pleasure of working with. I look forward to coming back to enjoy the Festival as a patron in the future.”  

Bradford joined Savannah Music Festival as Executive Director in February 2022. He previously served as the President and CEO of Jazz St. Louis for 23 years, during which time he led an $8.5 million capital campaign and expanded education and outreach programs that impacted more than 200,000 students.