She is doing so as the Apollo completes a full-scale renovation of the building, raising $63 million of the $70 million Capital Campaign to support upgrades and restoration, and a trove of successes. “It has been an honor to lead this organization through two decades of outstanding performances, transformative educational programs, and civic advocacy,” she said in a press release.
“For nearly nine decades,” she continued, “the Apollo has been a welcoming home for artists of color, a tireless advocate for Black culture and creativity, and a galvanizing force for the performing arts in New York and across the U.S. It has been an honor to lead this organization through two decades of outstanding performances, transformative educational programs, and civic advocacy.
“The Apollo has long been a home for artistic innovation, a convener for public discourse, and a centerpiece of the Harlem community,” said Charles E. Phillips, chair of the Apollo’s Board. “Jonelle’s extraordinary vision and stewardship over the past 20 years has expanded the organization’s role as one of the nation’s greatest cultural institutions.
Having taken the historic theater to the place she wanted it to be, Procope will continue to spearhead the Apollo Rising 2.0 campaign, the completion of the Apollo’s Victoria Theater, and the Apollo’s fall 2022 and spring 2023 seasons. In this capacity, she will work with the Apollo Board of Directors and senior leadership team to ensure a smooth transition to the next president. The Board of Directors and its search committee will begin a national search to find her successor.