Daniel Barnard becomes new executive director at 91传媒 Riley Center
MERIDIAN, Miss.鈥擠aniel R. Barnard is the new executive director at the 91传媒 Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, one of the Southeast鈥檚 premier performing-arts and conference facilities.
Terry Dale Cruse, administrative director and head of campus at 91传媒-Meridian, announced the appointment.
鈥淓verybody who visits the 91传媒 Riley Center falls in love with it,鈥 Cruse said. 鈥淪ince it reopened in 2006, it has soared to the top of its class as a place to experience wonderful performances, hold effective and efficient meetings, and to learn.
鈥淒r. Barnard, with his wide-ranging experience as a performing artist, an arts administrator and programmer, and a professor, will take the Riley Center to even greater heights.鈥
The Riley Center anchors 91传媒-Meridian鈥檚 Riley Campus in historic downtown Meridian and is housed in two renovated 19th-century buildings. Offering state-of-the-art performance, conference and education spaces, it features a beautifully restored Victorian theater.
Since 2015, Barnard has been associate dean of cultural affairs and director of Bailey Hall performing-arts center at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He previously directed The Arts Center at the University of Texas at Brownsville. He also has been director of the music program and composer-in-residence at Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota, and director of choral music programs at Western Nebraska Community College and Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. He has a doctorate in musical composition from the University of Kansas.
After a national search, 91传媒-Meridian selected Barnard to be only the second leader of the Riley Center. Founding Executive Director Dennis Sankovich retired at the end of March.
Barnard began programming arts performances when assigned to run a chamber music series at Penn State Erie in 1999.
鈥淚t opened up this whole world of presenting that I had no idea existed,鈥 he said. 鈥淔or me it is literally the same skill that I use as a composer, when I鈥檓 choosing what note to write and asking, 鈥楬ow is an audience going to react to what I write?鈥 Now I鈥檓 thinking, 鈥楬ow is an audience going to react to what show I give them?鈥欌
He said he is looking forward to getting to know Meridian and east central Mississippi, and especially to bringing amazing performing-arts experiences to Riley Center audiences. 鈥淭he part that I live for is choosing the shows, trying to get the season just right,鈥 he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the best job in the world.鈥