IAJE Announces Departure of Executive Director Bill McFarlin

Bill McFarlin, the Executive Director of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), has left his post, the organization’s Board of Directors has announced. 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. Complete information on the search will be made available at IAJE.

“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.”

With approximately 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.

Originally Published January 28, 2008