Meadowmount hires Mark Hayman as New Executive Director

By Laurie Niles: The Meadowmount School of Music has appointed Mark Hayman as its new Executive Director. Hayman replaces Meadowmount's previous Director, Eric Larsen, who has retired. Larsen's role has been divided into two positions, the Executive Director, who will handle development, and also a partial-time Music Director position, which has yet to be filled, according to Administrative Director Mary McGowan. Founded in 1944 by master violin teacher Ivan Galamian, Meadowmount School of Music offers a seven-week summer program in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York for young violinists, violists and cellists ages 13- 30, who are training for professional careers in music. Some of its more famous alumni include Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Kyung-Wha Chung, Lynn Harrell, Joshua Bell, Jaime Laredo, and Ani and Ida Kavafian. Hayman is former Executive Director of the non-profit artist management group Young Concert Artists, where he worked for more than 30 years. He was also Artistic Director of Salvi Harps, Director of the Victor Salvi Foundation and the Museo dell’Arpa Victor Salvi in Italy; as well as Director of Lyon & Healy Hall in Chicago. He was the founding Executive Director of the Cartagena International Music Festival in Colombia. "We are absolutely thrilled that Mark is coming to Meadowmount. He is a dynamic and creative leader with deep experience in the development of young artists," said Meadowmount Board President Earl Carlyss, former violinist in The Juilliard String Quartet and one-time teaching assistant to Ivan Galamian. "He is uniquely positioned to lead Meadowmount as we continue to be a center of intensive string study and development at the highest level." "Mark will build on the legacy of the Galamians and the strong foundation established over the last 77 years," said board member violinist James Ehnes. "We are excited to partner with him to create and realize a strategic vision for Meadowmount’s future." Hayman is a graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) with degrees in Music and Russian/Soviet Studies. Concentrating in piano performance along with extensive choral studies, he spent summers training at Chautauqua Institution. An avid choral singer, Hayman was a founding Board member of the French-language opera company L'Opera Français de New York. "I am so excited to join this amazing musical institution and help lead it into the future," Hayman said. "It is an honor to carry on the Galamians’ tremendous legacy and I look forward to working with the Board, devoted faculty and staff, and the many wonderful alumni to continue the school’s mission of developing the best string players in the world. Meadowmount is a truly special place and we want to maintain its unique qualities while introducing new innovative ideas and practices that will enhance the student experience." Current Meadowmount faculty members include I-Hao Lee, Gerardo Ribeiro, Ann Setzer, Ivan Ženatý, Patricia McCarty, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Julia Lichten, Kikuei Ikeda and Steven Rochen. Guest artists for 2021 include Daniel Avshalomov, David Geber, Alexander Kerr, Todd Phillips, and Alexander Technique specialist Robyn Avalon.