The Journey

Let's start from the beginning

This is how it all started

  • “(Judy) Drucker virtually created the vibrant performing arts cultural scene in South Florida over which she reigns as supreme and indispensable diva.”

    SUNPOST

  • “When the history is written of South Florida’s dramatic climb out of its Cultural Wasteland status during the last quarter of the 20th century, the name Judy Drucker will feature prominently.”

    SUN SENTINEL

  • “(Judy) Drucker is the musical Moses that liberated South Florida from artistic darkness.”

    Jerry Levine, story teller and filmmaker, 21 Sep. 2009

  • “Call her the Queen of Arts. Judy Drucker, impresario extraordinaire, has introduced the giants of the music world to Dade County audiences since 1967.”

    Cindy Ycaza, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 1990

  • “I first met Judy in 1965 and I still love her.”

    Luciano Pavarotti, world-renowned Italian operatic tenor. Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2002

  • “When Luciano Pavarotti made his American debut in Miami in 1965, one of the voices in the Greater Miami Opera chorus behind him was that of a soprano named Judy Drucker. When Pavarotti is here next August on his Silver Jubilee tour, marking 25 years since his Italian debut in Modena, the program will be produced by Drucker. It just shows you’d better be nice to the girls in the chorus.”

    Fred Tasker. Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 1986

  • “It goes back to 1965 when I made my debut in the States. I think we are very good friends, which is the most important thing in the business of opera. Me as a singer and [Judy] as a producer, we have stayed together, really, for life. She’s a great lady. I’m very proud to be friends with her.”

    Luciano Pavarotti, world-renowned operatic tenor, on his friendships with Judy - Sun-Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2002

  • “Judith Drucker: The impresario of the Concert Association of Greater Miami who put Miami on the arts map.”

    Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 1993

  • “Judy Drucker, A Woman of Valor whose Dedication and Inspiration touched our lives with the greatest gift – Humanity Through the Arts. – With Love, Brandeis University National Women’s Committee.”

    (Judy was named Woman of the Year for the Miami Beach Community by the Beach Chapter of the Brandeis University National Women's Committee for her work to enhance Miami's performing arts reputation.1990)

  • “Judy Drucker’s role in the cultural scene of South Florida has been compared to that of Beverly Sills when she headed the Lincoln Center in New York City. Judy quite literally created that scene through her decades of entrepreneurial management of the Concert Association of South Florida.”

    The Opera Society 2009

Dance Troupes that Judy Drucker Presented

– Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
– American Ballet Theatre
– Ballet Concerto Miami
– Ballet Folklórico de México
– Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
– Bolshoi Ballet
– Dance Theater of Harlem Company
– Feld Ballets New York
– The Georgian State Dance Company of the U.S.S.R.
– Feld Ballets New York
– The Joffrey Ballet Theatre
– Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
– Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
– Limón Dance Company
– Miami City Ballet
– Miami Dance Futures
– The Moiseyev Dance Company of the Soviet Union
– Paul Taylor Dance Company
– The Royal Ballet of Covent Garden
– Sadler’s Wells Theatre
– White Oak Dance Project

– Academy of Ancient Music
– Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
– Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
– Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
– Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
– Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
– BBC Concert Orchestra
– Boca Raton Symphony Orchestra
– Boston Pops
– Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
– Budapest Festival Orchestra
– Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
– Chicago Symphony Orchestra
– Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
– Cleveland Orchestra
– Dresden Philharmonic
– Florida Philharmonic Orchestra
– Houston Symphony
– Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
– Israel Philharmonic
– Jacksonville Symphony
– Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
– Kirov Orchestra
– Leningrad State Symphony
– Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
– London Philharmonic Orchestra
– London Symphony Orchestra
– Master Chorale of South Florida
– Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
– Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
– Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
– Miami Beach New World Symphony
– Miami Chamber Symphony
– Miami Symphony Orchestra
– Minnesota Orchestra
– Montreal Symphony Orchestra
– Moscow Chamber Orchestra
– Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
– Moscow Virtuosi
– National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa
– National Symphony Orchestra
– New York Philharmonic
– New York Pops
– Orchestre de Paris
– Orchestre National de France
– Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
– Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
– Palm Beach Symphony
– Philadelphia Orchestra
– Prague Symphony Orchestra
– Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra
– Rotterdam Philharmonic
– Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
– Russian National Orchestra
– Russian State Symphony Orchestra
– Russia’s Red Army Choir
– Seattle Pops
– Seattle Symphony
– Scottish Chamber Orchestra
– Sinfonia Varsovia
– Spanish Harlem Orchestra
– Spanish National Orchestra
– South Florida Symphony Orchestra
– Staatskapelle Berlin
– State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia
– St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
– Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra
– Toronto Symphony Orchestra
– Ulster Orchestra
– Vienna Chamber Orchestra
– Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

Awards and recognition

Things that we are proud of

Year Award
2016 Amaranthine Florida Women of Achievement Award
2016 Judy Drucker celebrates her 50 year anniversary of bringing culture to South Florida with her dear friends, Romero Britto, Mark Bryn, Irene Marie and many other friends, at Romero Britto’s Lincoln Road Fine Art Gallery during the unveiling of a new painting by Romero Britto dedicated to Judy’s half century in the arts
2015 Florida Jewish History Month – Judy Drucker
2014 Miso Golden Baton Recognition Award
2013 A “Celebration of Judy” tribute concert was held for Judy at Miami Beach’s New World Center featuring her friend and operatic baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky
2012 Judy Drucker Boulevard
2011 Champion of the Arts Awards Honoree
2011 Citizens Interested in the Arts, Inc., (CIA) held their Annual membership luncheon at Fontainebleau Hotel
2011 Judy recognized as one of the Ten Jewish Leaders in the Arts who have contributed to the development of the arts in Florida in the “The Arts and Florida’s Jewish Community” by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Division of Social Sciences and Life Skills
2010 Phoenix Survival Award Presented to Judy “I’m Back” Drucker
2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for locally-based Arts luminary presented by Miami Beach Arts Gala
2009 Governor’s Award for the Arts at the Diva Impresario Awards
2008 Joseph Handleman Light of Philanthropy Award
2008 Miami Today Gold Medal Award
2007 New World School of the Arts Award
2004 Judy Drucker’s Concert Association of Florida is awarded a $100,000 grant by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida to help support acclaimed orchestras, classical soloists and dance companies in South Florida
2003 Judy receives the Moretti Award for Artistic Achievement from the Cultural Foundation of Broward County
2001 Judy receives the Hearts of the Arts Award presented by the New World School of the Arts
2001 Temple Beth Sholom honors Judith Drucker as an Honorary Trustee for her continuous devotion and commitment to the congregation
2000 Women’s Division of the Greater Miami State of Israel Bonds’ Living Arts of Israel Award
2000 City of Miami Beach Commission on the Status of Women honors the achievements of Judith Nelson Drucker with a Women Worth Knowing Award
1999 Individual Award for arts Administration (Major Cultural Organizations) presented by the Dade Cultural Alliance
1999 Northern Trust Cultural Award at the Spectrum Awards for Women
1999 Inducted to the Miami Beach Senior High School Wall of Fame
1998 Judy honored by the Sanford L. Ziff Jewish Museum of Florida at the “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” Awards
1998 Celebration of Women Award from Na’Amat USA for her lifetime of leadership for music, the arts, her community, the Jewish people and the State of Israel
1998 Temple Emanu-El’s Sisterhood for the Arts
1997 “Judy Drucker Day” proclaimed by Lawton Chiles, the Governor of Florida
1996 Women of Vision Award by the Women and Science Committee of the South Florida Region of the American Committee
1996 Miami Centennial 1996 Women’s Hall of Fame
1995 Honorary Doctorate in Music from Florida International University
1995 Judy created “The World of Dance” Sunday afternoon dance series at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach
1994 Judy founded Dance Alive!, a dance performance series
1993 Judy’s Concert Association first performance presentation in Palm Beach County
1993 Judy founded the NAYA Performance Series, which booked contemporary live performances by innovative dance, music and theater artists from around the world
1991 Prix de Martell for enriching the world of classical music in South Florida
1990 Member of South Florida Business Leaders for Culture
1990 Judy was named Woman of the Year for the Miami Beach Community by the Beach Chapter of the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee for her work to enhance Miami’s performing arts reputation
1990 Judy co-hosted a weekly program with Alvis Sherouse on WTMI called “Crescendo,” introducing classical music stars that she presented through her Concert Association of Florida
1988 Judy received the Woman of the Year award from the Greater Miami Israel Bonds Organization
1988 Movado Ovation Award
1987 Louis B. Mayer Award
1987 Judy Drucker Wins First Classic Citizen Award presented by WTMI (FM 93.1)
1986 First National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts “Distinguished Service in the Arts” award presented to Judy by Florida Governor Bob Graham
1986 University of Miami School of Music Distinguished Alumna Award presented to Judith Nelson Drucker in recognition of her contributions to the cultural life of Southeast Florida
1986 Judy was a judge at the Second International Palm Beach Invitational Competition, an international piano competition, presented by The Greater Palm Beach Symphony
1985 Judy sang The Star-Spangled Banner before a Miami Dolphins game
1985 Judy is named Woman of the Year by the Miami Beach Jaycees
1984 Nominated to the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame by History Miami
1984 Third Annual Community Dedication Award by the Theater Arts League
1982 State of Florida Executive Department Governor’s Award for the Arts presented to Judy Drucker for exemplifying the highest caliber of service rendered to the State of Florida in promoting, stimulating, and furthering cultural activities for the benefit of all of Florida’s citizens
1979 The Advisory Council of the Institute for Women FIU for Outstanding Community Service in Humanities
1979 Concert Impresaria, Judith Drucker, received the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts presented by the South Florida Critics Association for the foundation of the Concert Association of Florida as a cultural showcase for the world’s premiere artists
1971 Judy presented a young 26 year-old violin virtuoso, Itzhak Perlman, at one of his first performances at Temple Beth Sholom

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