Phillip Kydd has been elected to the Festival Ballet Providence Board of Trustees.

Kydd, of Warwick brings years of executive leadership in government, finance, and nonprofit engagement to the company. He has served in leadership roles with Lifespan, HarborOne, Rhode Island Foundation, Coastway Bank Corp., URI Foundation, and Miriam Hospital Foundation, among many enterprises. He has served as Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and as an Executive in Residence for the University of Rhode Island. He is currently the Principal of the Gemini Group.

“We are so pleased to welcome Phillip Kydd to the Board and thrilled with the vision for the future that he brings with him,” said Alan Weiss, the ballet Board President. “His creative leadership and extensive executive experience make him a perfect addition to the growing board.”

 In a statement Kydd said, “I am pleased and honored to join this board knowing the important role that the arts play in our community. I look forward to collaboratively helping Festival Ballet as it continues to grow and serve the community in new and innovative ways.”

 Additionally, Phillip and his sister, Melody Kydd Davis, of Providence, have established a new scholarship program in memory of Melody’s son, Derrick Davis, a former member of the Festival Ballet Providence family, who passed away earlier this year.

Kydd-Davis noted, “As an instructor at FBP School, Derrick always felt at home and worked to engage students in freely expressing themselves through the art of dance."

This scholarship in his name and memory will go towards financially supporting current and future dance students of color pursuing education at the FBP School. “This initiative to expand diversity within the classical and modern dance community would not only be very satisfying to Derrick, but is a most appropriate way to honor the legacy of a dancer so very committed to his craft and culture,” added Kydd.

The first scholarships will be awarded to student applicants later this year and on a yearly basis thereafter. Donations to the Derrick Jerrell Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund and the effort to diversify the Rhode Island dance community are encouraged and welcome. Gifts can be made by visiting: https://festivalballetprovidence.org/support/davis-memorial-scholarship-fund/