The National Endowment for the Arts has appointed ANN MEIER BAKER as it new director of music and opera, effective January 12, 2015. She replaces Wayne Brown, who stepped down from the NEA in January 2014. Baker comes to the NEA from the national service organization Chorus America, where has served as president and CEO since 2000. In her new role, Baker will lead NEA grantmaking in music and opera grants as well as the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, and represent the agency to the field. Prior to serving at Chorus America, Baker was founding director of the National School Boards Association Foundation and worked for the League of American Orchestras and the National Association for Music Education. She began her career as a professional singer with the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, and is the author of several books on music organization governance. In announcing the appointment, NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “Ann’s experience leading national music and education organizations makes her ideally suited to connect with our partners in the music and opera community.”
Posted October 22, 2014
