Exhibitions and Programs will Celebrate the Intersection of Performing Arts and Nature
July 13, 2026- Sarasota, FL. – Selby Gardens is proud to announce a landmark collaboration with Maestro Victor DeRenzi for its upcoming Spring 2027 season.
DeRenzi, who is internationally recognized for his extraordinary contributions to opera and Italian culture, brings decades of artistic excellence, visionary leadership, and an enduring cultural legacy to this exciting partnership. Serving as Selby Gardens’ Honorary Curator, he will lend his artistic vision to create a dynamic and inspiring seasonal experience at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus.
Together, Selby Gardens and DeRenzi will celebrate the intersection of music, nature, and the arts through innovative programming designed to inspire, educate, and engage visitors of all ages. Guests will experience a unique journey that highlights the ways botanical environments have influenced generations of artists and musicians while celebrating the creativity that flourishes when disciplines come together.
“This collaboration represents an extraordinary opportunity to bring together two powerful sources of inspiration,” said Victor DeRenzi. “Music and gardens both invite us to slow down, observe, and experience beauty in profound ways. I am honored to work with Selby Gardens to create programs that celebrate these shared qualities.”
This alliance reinforces Selby Gardens’ Living Museum® model, which integrates horticulture, botanical research, education, and the arts to offer immersive experiences for visitors. Through its partnership with DeRenzi, Selby Gardens continues to advance its mission of connecting people with nature while enriching the cultural life of the community through exceptional cultural programming.
“Victor DeRenzi’s artistic vision has enriched our community for decades,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens. “We are honored to have Maestro as the driving artistic force behind this special interdisciplinary program, which reflects our shared commitment to education, creativity, and meaningful cultural experiences. His remarkable legacy and insight will help create an inspiring spring 2027 season that highlights and celebrates the relationship among music, art, and nature.”
Additional information about Selby Gardens’ spring 2027 season will be released at a later date.
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About Victor DeRenzi:
Victor DeRenzi is an acclaimed American and Italian conductor widely regarded for his influential work in opera and classical music. He has built a distinguished reputation as an artistic leader known for musical excellence, educational advocacy, and a strong dedication to broadening access to the performing arts.
He is best known as the long serving Artistic and Music Director of Sarasota Opera, serving in that role for 44 years. During his remarkable tenure, he transformed the company into one of the nation’s leading opera institutions through his visionary leadership and acclaimed interpretations of the operatic repertoire. Conducting hundreds of performances and championing artistic excellence, he played a pivotal role in establishing Sarasota as a premier cultural destination.
About Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. Established by forward-thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus features the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex, generating more energy than it consumes. The Historic Spanish Point campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. One of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants and active archaeology that is interpreted for and open to the public, it celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Selby Gardens was selected for Time magazine’s annual list of the “World’s Greatest Places 2024.” For more information visit www.selby.org.