2/10/2009 10:00:00 PM MacElwee is Centrum executive director
John MacElwee has been hired as Centrum's executive director. He begins his new position in April.
Kathie Meyer of The Leader
A California man with an extensive background as both a music performer and arts executive is the new executive director of Centrum.
John MacElwee of Santa Rosa, Calif., accepted the position late Tuesday, Feb. 10.
"He's an excellent choice. We had four outstanding finalists, and he was a perfect match for Centrum. We're thrilled with his extensive marketing and fundraising experience," said Centrum Board President Libby Reid.
MacElwee begins his new position in April. "I'm extremely excited. I'm thrilled," he said. "When you look at Fort Worden and all of its possibilities ... it's just an incredible opportunity, whether you're a student, amateur or professional musician, writer or artist. It serves a very important purpose."
Presently, MacElwee is an independent development and arts consultant. Prior to that, he was executive director of the Arts Council of Sonoma County in California. Under MacElwee, the council helped launch the City of Santa Rosa's art district to finance public art. It also started the First Friday art walks in downtown Santa Rosa.
Working with Community Foundation Sonoma County, the council also organized Performance Sonoma, a countywide collaboration by a dozen local arts groups.
MacElwee has also served in various marketing positions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Houston and Pacific (Orange County, Calif.) symphonies and the Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Philharmonic. His first full-time position in the arts was with the Napa Valley Symphony, where he served as the orchestra's first director of development and marketing as well as performed in the bass section.
In addition, he has performed with the Santa Rosa Symphony and has played as a professional bassist in the jazz ensemble The Gypsy Strings of Detroit. With that group, he said, he learned how to bow melodies and improvise. Now he's begun to study bluegrass bass.
Will he play here in Port Townsend?
"I hope so," he said.
McElwee said he's looking forward to being a part of the Port Townsend community and all that it entails, such as attending community theater, going to the Rose and The Upstage. As a sailor, he'll bring his Laser sailboat along with him too.
MacElwee was chosen from among 45 applicants and gave two rounds of interviews with Centrum staff, board, donors and search committee. In his cover letter, he described Centrum as a "modern day Chautauqua."
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