ANN ARBOR, Michigan (December 21, 2007)—Marianne James, Executive Director-Elect of The Ark, has named Anya Siglin as Program Director for The Ark effective March 10, 2008. Current Program Director Dave Siglin will be retiring in March after 40 years with the organization. Anya Siglin has been with The Ark since 1994 and currently serves as Assistant Program Director.

The Ark is Ann Arbor’s internationally acclaimed non-profit music venue. Since its establishment in 1965 it has grown into one of the most renowned listening rooms for folk, roots and ethnic music in North America.

James says the organization conducted a rigorous national search and received over 40 applications, with the final field narrowed to five candidates. A search committee consisting of several members of The Ark’s Board of Directors plus representatives from the local community assisted in the search.

“I was looking for a candidate who valued The Ark’s history and tradition but was also able to help chart our path for future programming,” said James. “Because Anya is Dave’s daughter, people may assume this hire is simply a continuation of the Siglin legacy. In fact, the family tie didn’t factor into the decision-making process. We were fortunate to have an exciting field of applicants, and any one of the final candidates could have stepped into this role and done great things. What ultimately set Anya apart was her direct experience with our current programming, her ongoing commitment to our mission, and her interest in stretching the musical boundaries of that mission as we move forward.”

James, who will assume the position of Executive Director on March 10, said she and Anya Siglin will work closely together to shape The Ark’s artistic vision going forward. “We’re also excited about tapping into various people and resources in the community who can help point us toward great music that we might currently be missing.”

The Ark plans to host a series of concerts in-the-round to celebrate Dave Siglin and his many contributions March 6 through 9, featuring many longtime friends of The Ark and some of Dave’s favorite performers. Details will be announced in the New Year, so watch The Ark’s website at www.theark.org for more information.