The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music (SPCM) announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Mary E. Larew as the Conservatory’s next Executive Director. Dr. Larew begins her new position on June 21. SPCM’s outgoing Director, Cléa Galhano, who has served in the role for 15 years, announced last year that she would step down at the end of June 2021.
Mary is an accomplished violinist, an award-winning composer, and a seasoned arts administrator. She moved to Saint Paul a year ago with her family, from Connecticut, where her professional experience included serving as a teaching artist, Suzuki Violin instructor, music director, and in multiple administrative roles at community music organizations, including as Executive Director of the Danbury Music Center. Mary holds a degree from Oberlin Conservatory in Music Composition, a Master of Arts degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in Arts Administration, and a Ph.D. in Directing Medieval Music Dramas from the University of York.
According to Board President and Search Committee Chair Michael Adams, “Our Search Committee unanimously recommended Mary from a field of exceptionally talented candidates after an extensive national search process. It was pure serendipity that she is a resident of St. Paul! Mary's track record of success — as a composer, performer, teacher, and arts administrator—makes her the clear choice to successfully lead the SPCM to new heights. We were especially impressed by Mary’s passionate commitment to community outreach programs, such as the SPCM’s Music for All, that brings music lessons into St. Paul Schools.”
“Since moving to Saint Paul, I have had several conversations with people who spontaneously encouraged me to connect with the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music,” Mary recounts, “once they learned that I was a musician. I was inspired to hear these stories about the profoundly positive impact that SPCM has had on families; it is a powerful testament to the culture of this fine music school, that students and parents would want to share their experience with me and my family. I am truly honored to join the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music as its next Executive Director, and excited for our future together. Saint Paul Conservatory of Music is a place of musical excellence, and of extravagant welcome. I look forward to extending that welcome to even more members of our community, and inviting them to begin or to continue on their musical journey here at the Conservatory.”
About Dr. Mary E. Larew
Mary E. Larew is a violinist, singer, composer, and director. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Mary grew up studying violin and piano at the Preucil School of Music as well as voice, bagpipes and Scottish Highland dancing with local teachers. She studied music composition at Oberlin Conservatory before embarking on a Master of Arts in Ensemble Singing and a PhD in Directing Medieval Music Dramas at the University of York, under the aegis of a Marshall Scholarship.
For ten years Dr. Larew lived and worked as a musician and arts administrator throughout the state of Connecticut, also completing a Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Teachers College, Columbia University during that time. Mary’s work has ranged from teaching Suzuki Violin to singing and directing music in churches. Mary led Danbury Music Centre as its Executive Director for four years, seeing the community-based classical music organization through its 80th anniversary and beyond with innovations in programming and organizational practices.
With a calling to serve causes of social justice through music, Mary has assisted, in an administrative capacity, the national organization Project: Music Heals Us and was a Teaching Artist for the Waterbury Symphony’s Bravo! program.
Dr. Larew has received composition commissions in the United States and Europe, with performances by orchestras, choral, and chamber ensembles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Her work was also recognized by the Barbara Thornton Memorial Award, an Oberlin Alumni Grant, and a composition residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.