Alex Gartner, Executive and Artistic Director of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus (PCC), has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Louis Botto Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Chorus America. This distinction makes Gartner the first youth choir director to receive this honor in the award’s 27-year history.
- Background: The Louis Botto Award, named for the founder of one of the world’s leading choirs, Chanticleer, recognizes mid-career conductors who demonstrate exceptional artistry, innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership in advancing their choral organizations. Gartner’s selection acknowledges his transformative impact on both PCC and the broader choral field.
Community Integration and Programming Innovation
Since assuming leadership in 2016, Gartner, Inweekly Rising Star Class of 2017, has expanded PCC from a single ensemble to 14 distinct choral groups serving Northwest Florida and Southwest Alabama. His innovative “Triple-A Commitment” provides Affordable and Accessible Arts through a sliding-scale tuition model, removing financial barriers to participation.
- Under Gartner’s direction, PCC has achieved national recognition through performances at Carnegie Hall, with another scheduled for 2026. The organization maintains an active community presence with over 25 annual appearances at schools, retirement communities, and local events.
Gartner’s programming philosophy integrates traditional choral repertoire with contemporary and cross-genre works, culminating in large-scale choral theater productions. This approach has fostered ongoing collaborations with major regional arts organizations, including the Pensacola Opera, Symphony Orchestra, and Ballet Pensacola.
- Strategic partnerships with the Escambia Children’s Trust and City of Pensacola have enabled the creation of “Sing to Succeed” and “Pensacola Sings”—programs providing tuition-free opportunities for underserved youth populations.
Professional Recognition and Impact
“Alex Gartner is a remarkable musician, mentor, colleague, arts advocate and leader who has transformed the Pensacola Children’s Chorus into a highly impactful organization,” said Dr. Sheila Dunn, PCC Board President and award nominator. “He works tirelessly to ensure that every child in our community has access to affordable arts.”
- The award will be presented at the 2025 Chorus America Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, June 5-7. Gartner’s achievement reflects the growing recognition of youth choral programs as vital components of comprehensive music education and community cultural development.