Jacob Yarrow Selected as New Executive Director for Green Music Center

SSU NewsCenter


Jacob Yarrow, who for the past eight years has been programming director for Hancher Auditorium -- the main performing arts center at the University of Iowa -- has accepted the position of Executive Director of Sonoma State's Green Music Center.




Yarrow, 45, will succeed Zarin Mehta, the former president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra who has been at the helm of Sonoma State's renowned performing arts venue since 2013; and Stan Nosek, the university's interim vice president for administration and finance who has served as the GMC's co-executive director since last summer.

"Jacob is a talented and versatile arts executive with two decades of experience in programming, fundraising, performance, higher education, marketing and non-profit management," President Sakaki said. "I feel confident this is going to be an excellent fit for him and his family and for the university and community."

Yarrow's appointment followed a comprehensive national search led by the Catherine French Group after Mehta announced his retirement last fall. Yarrow will begin his new position in June.

"The opportunity to play a leadership role at SSU represents an exciting chance to make an impact on the lives of students and faculty while contributing to the vibrant arts community in the North Bay," he said of his move to Sonoma State. "I am particularly impressed by Weill Hall and the current programming as well as ambitious plans to deepen academic connections and to make the GMC that much more central to campus and community life."

President Sakaki has been working to more fully integrate the GMC into everyday campus life since she became Sonoma State's 7th president last July and Yarrow had considerable success achieving that connection with Hancher at Iowa.

As Hancher's programming director, Yarrow led development of all programing and education efforts in a multi-disciplinary season of up to 40 artists a year and more than 100 education ...

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