Thanks to the efforts of some amazing traditional music supporters in Seattle, Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival favorite Lauren Sheehan is in the Library of Congress.

Northwest News Network reporter Tom Banse recently interviewed Lauren about her work, and the work of Dyann and Rick Arthur - the couple that have been working hard to boost the representation of women in the traditional music scene through their "MusicBox Project."

Lauren's reaction to being in the Library Of Congress:

"It's unbelievable ... I am only a little drop in the bucket of oral tradition, but I am a drop in the bucket and wonderful players have passed stuff on to me who have now died. All this being in the Library of Congress is so cool because other people can hear that."

Listen to/download the story below, or read a transcript of the story.

-->Lauren Sheehan/MusicBox Project (.mp3)

Centrum, Washington’s home for creative arts and education, has appointed Mary Hilts (pictured) to the position of Program Manager for the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival. Working with Artistic Director Daryl Davis and Centrum management staff, Hilts will support and manage artist faculty, and support planning and development for both the Festival workshop schedule and the Festival's mainstage and club performance schedules. Hilts replaces longtime Program Manager Peter McCracken, who founded the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival in 1992, and is stepping down to concentrate on program management for Centrum’s Voice Works and The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

Hilts is currently the Development Manager for Centrum, and has been responsible for organizing Centrum’s annual Gala fundraiser since 2004. In addition, she has managed the box office and coordinated sponsorship and scholarships, as well as handling some grant writing and donor relations responsibilities.

“We are very grateful for Peter’s vision and hard work in creating the Blues Festival,” said John MacElwee, Centrum Executive Director, “and we are excited to welcome Mary to this new role.  Her nearly ten years of experience with Centrum, her experience in managing a touring artist, and her own musical knowledge combined with her passion for the program made her the very best candidate for the position.”

A graduate of Washington State University, Hilts also completed Jazz Studies at Shoreline Community College, and holds a degree in Music Performance from Los Angeles Harbor College. Prior to working at Centrum, she was in artist relations and management, coordinated booking and promotions, as well as contract negotiation, public relations, and tour management.

“I have had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in the Blues Festival, and watch it grow over the years,” said Hilts, “and I am honored to lend my passion and experience toward helping preserve and protect the great history of the blues at Centrum and beyond.”

The Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival celebrates the tradition of acoustic blues and the masters who create and preserve those traditions - through workshops, jam sessions, and public performances in and around Port Townsend, WA.  For more information, visit the home of the blues at Centrum at www.centrum.org/blues.

October 12, 2011

Dear Centrum Blues community:

I am writing to let you know that Daryl Davis will be the new Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival and Workshop.  Please visit our media page for a press release detailing the announcement.  We are grateful for Corey’s leadership over the past three years, and the fresh perspective he brought to the program - and we are pleased to welcome Daryl, who has had a long and popular history with the workshop.

In addition, Program Manager Peter McCracken, who managed the Blues, Fiddle Tunes and Voice Works programs over the past two seasons, will focus solely on the latter two. Managing three large programs is simply too much for one individual and Peter would like to further develop Voice Works, a program of his own creation that we are now offering annually.

As many of you know, Peter founded the Blues workshop twenty years ago. Over that time, thousands of participants have had the chance to learn and be inspired by many great country blues artists, in addition to tens of thousands of blues fans who enjoyed concerts at McCurdy Pavilion and in informal settings in clubs throughout Port Townsend.  The Centrum Blues workshop is one among only a handful of workshops of this genre, and it offers a unique cultural experience that can be found nowhere else.  I am grateful for Peter’s vision in creating this program, and his work in implementing that vision over the last two decades.  He will continue to be an important advisor to the program

We are seeking a program manager for the workshop, and have posted the job description on our website.  Please forward this announcement to anyone you believe is qualified and interested.

Over the next few months, you can expect to hear from Daryl about his ideas for next year, and I know that he would welcome your thoughts as well.

Thank you to Peter, Corey, and Daryl, and to all of you for your participation and support of the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival and workshop. 

John MacElwee

Executive Director, Centrum