The Future of the Lexi Awards

"Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else." 

-- Fred Rogers

New executive director Angelee with David & Bill.

Wow....its been a great 11 years so far, and open ballot for the 12th Lexi Music Awards is just days away as I write this.

When I started this project, I never dreamed we'd start at the beautiful Lyric Theatre, and until we were there, I never dreamed we'd be at the gorgeous Singletary Center on UK's campus.

But I did dream other things.....

Elsewhere on this blog, I wrote about WHY WE DO IT as well as HOW WE DO IT, but right I'd like to talk about WHO is doing it.

For 11 years I've been the executive director and producer of the Lexi Music Awards, a job I couldn't have done without dozens of other talented people, from Angelee Feltner, who has variously handled stage management, merchandise, front end, & more, to Ange Canessa securing the presenters and their organization, to fashion icon Edd MacKey & his models making us look like the Real Thing, to Bill Meck sailing the ship with class and style every single year, to every member of the crews (sound, lights, house, etc.) and every sponsor we've ever had the pleasure to partner with, and many, many more.....NO ONE pulls off this sort of thing alone, and I am eternally grateful for every single one of you.

WHO:

That said, it is time to hand the torch over to someone who has the skills and drive and intelligence to take this ride to the next level. Don't get me wrong - I'm proud of what I managed to accomplish. But it is obvious I've taken things as far as my abilities can take it, and Angelee is the obvious choice to take the wheel.

Forthwith, let it be known that David M. McLean is stepping down as executive director of producer of the Lexington Music Awards, and that, effective immediately, Angelee Feltner is the new executive director and producer of the Lexington Music Awards.

WHY:

I will remain as co-producer for a time (primarily focusing on the performers and such) but plan to transition to Lexi Music Awards' Ambassador-at-Large, so to speak, as I work on ancillary and adjacent projects - most to be discussed in the future, but the one closest to my heart and stated in the "Why We Do It (item 7)". To wit: I hope to properly develop the educational scholarship for musical excellence discussed on this blog and elsewhere.

The new logo!

In a nutshell, I hope to get a long-term dedicated sponsor for an annual cash donation to a different school each year (and perhaps another for an under 18 music student each year). 

HOW:

We've had positives & negatives with the way we've managed things so far (especially the voting process) and have tried to tweak to process for fairness and access. Angelee has had MANY great ideas on how to improve the process and those changes are well under way.

She'll be speaking about those as we go. 

Give her your feedback - good or ill - but be sure to give her your full support. This is largely a game of experimentation in real time and in the public eye. Victories will be achieved AND mistakes will be made. Angelee is both smarter and more capable in this arena than me - she'll build on what goes right and she'll fix what goes wrong. So lend a hand or at least a kind word!

And with that, I'll wrap this up.

More on everything (including my other dream projects) later. Right now, a celebration is in order! Grab a glass, pour a beverage, and a hearty CHEERS to Angelee!

Take the wheel, Angelee!!