James M. Weaver has been named executive director of the Organ Historical Society. Weaver is well known for his performance as a harpsichordist and organist, as a teacher, and especially for the music programs that he initiated and developed as a long-time performance director, administrator, and curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
During his years at the Smithsonian, Weaver managed a collection of more than 5,000 musical instruments. Working with restored instruments in the collection, he pioneered an award-winning performance and recording program, was the founding director of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, and expanded the reach of a broad range of museum programs.
Weaver performed on more than forty recordings, developed national touring and broadcast programs, and founded the Friends of Music at the Smithsonian (with benefactor Constance Mellen) to help carry the programs to a large audience. Weaver’s career has included teaching positions at Cornell University, the University of Maryland, and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Additionally, he held numerous positions as church organist/music director.
Weaver succeeds Daniel Colburn II, who had served as executive director since 2006, and who guided the organization through a recent administrative restructuring program. Colburn will continue with the society in a consulting capacity this fall, heading the scheduled implementation of new management software, a key component of the reorganization.
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