IAJE Announces Departure of Executive Director Bill McFarlin

                                                            
         
January 28, 2008     
The Board of Directors of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) today announced that Bill McFarlin has stepped down from his position as Executive Director.  Vivian Orndorff, IAJE Associate Executive Director, and Steve Baker, IAJE Executive Producer, will immediately begin management of the day-to-day operations of IAJE.  Details on the search for a new Executive Director will be announced by the end of February. McFarlin has been named Executive Vice President of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, an internationally recognized arts center located in Michigan's Manistee National Forest; www.bluelake.org.

"IAJE has experienced tremendous growth during Bill McFarlin's tenure with the Association," said IAJE Board President Chuck Owen. "His dedicated service since 1984 has guided IAJE's evolution to that of an association widely recognized as a global leader for the field of jazz."  According to Owen, "The organization will begin an extensive search process for a new dynamic Executive Director that can lead IAJE into the future. We envision a proven leader that has a strong understanding of jazz education, the jazz aesthetic, and the jazz industry, as well as a proven track record for fundraising and new business development." Complete information on the search will be made available at www.iaje.org.

With upwards of 10,000 members in 50 countries, IAJE is the primary voice and leading authority for the global jazz community.  IAJE's mission is to assure the growth of jazz through education and outreach and to serve the professional development needs of its members.  For more information on how to become an IAJE member or to support IAJE log on to www.iaje.org. Please join us for our 36th Annual International Convention in Seattle, Washington, January 8 - 11, 2009.

Contact: Don Lucoff | don@jazzpublicity.com