Syracuse Sun

Sara Villagio ’04, Carnegie Hall’s chief marketing officer, has been selected as the convocation speaker for Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) on May 11. The ceremony will take place at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Villagio, who oversees marketing strategy, creative efforts, and customer service at Carnegie Hall, has made significant contributions since joining the institution in 2017. She introduced customer-curated subscription packages, led branding updates, and played a key role in the Hall's reopening post-pandemic. Additionally, Villagio developed a strategy for Carnegie Hall+.

Prior to her role at Carnegie Hall, Villagio spent 12 successful years at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) as the director of marketing. During her time there, she focused on marketing for performance venues, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and educational programs. Villagio's dedication to working closely with artists and sharing their creative visions with audiences remains a central passion for her.

An alumna of VPA’s music industry program, Villagio also holds a graduate certificate from the Arts Leadership Institute in Executive Education. She is described as an individual who not only appreciates arts and culture but also enjoys sharing her passion for strength training as a certified kettlebell coach.

Villagio's diverse background and dedication to the arts make her a fitting choice to inspire and address the graduating class of VPA at Syracuse University's upcoming Convocation ceremony.