Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Announces Retirement of President and CEO Terrence D. Jones in 2012

VIENNA, Va., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced today that President and CEO Terrence D. Jones will retire at the end of 2012 following 17 years of service leading the not for profit arts and education organization. Jones joined Wolf Trap in 1996 and during his tenure, has positioned the organization as a premier center for the integration of performing arts, education, technology, and environmental sustainability. Under Jones' leadership Wolf Trap has continued in the legacy of its founder, Catherine Filene Shouse, and has achieved numerous milestones and gained recognition as a top performing arts center.

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Jones' 40-plus-year career in the performing arts—combined with his business acumen—has enabled the Foundation to achieve increased operational effectiveness and financial strength to thrive and grow under his leadership. In the past 16 years Wolf Trap has achieved its highest grossing Filene Center seasons, exceeded a $1 million fundraising record through the annual Wolf Trap Ball in 2011 in support of Wolf Trap's education programs, and in 2003 opened the doors to the national Center for Education at Wolf Trap, a state of the art facility that is home to the Foundation's internationally renowned education programs and the GRAMMY-nominated Wolf Trap Opera Company.

"Terre's extraordinary dedication and leadership has benefitted the Foundation, and the millions of people whose lives are enriched by Wolf Trap's performances and education programs," said Gary Tabach, Chairman of the Wolf Trap Foundation Board of Directors. "He has been a critical force in driving stability, growth, and success of the Foundation."

A central focus for Jones during his time at Wolf Trap has been his commitment to fostering new works, resulting in 72 new commissions since he joined the Foundation. Under his leadership the Foundation has made a strategic priority of annual commissions from some of the world's finest performing artists, including jazz greats Don Byron and Max Roach; composer Philip Glass; and choreographers Ann Reinking, Elizabeth Streb, Paul Taylor, and Doug Varone, among others.  In 2000 Jones launched the original performance series Face of America designed to showcase fellow National Parks through the performing arts. The innovative series garnered international acclaim with a 90-minute special produced by and premiered on WNET New York's Great Performances: Dance in America series on PBS in 2008.

Education and the environment are primary focus areas where Jones made a significant impact at Wolf Trap. In 2007 Jones launched the Foundation's "Go Green" program to make Wolf Trap carbon neutral. Today the organization has decreased its carbon footprint by more than 20% and cut its landfill waste in half, all while saving money and serving as a leader for other organizations around the world in sustainable business practices. Education programs for people of all ages expanded at Wolf Trap under Jones' leadership, with the most recent milestone a four-year, $1.15 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination program to launch Wolf Trap's Early Childhood STEM Learning Through the Arts program in 2010.

"I will leave Wolf Trap with a great sense of pride for what we have been able to achieve together, and with sincere appreciation to an extraordinary staff, an exemplary board, our generous contributors, and the millions of people whose loyal patronage has helped to sustain the magic of the unique Wolf Trap Experience," said Terrence D. Jones. "Wolf Trap has long been an arts and education leader, and I am grateful to have had this unparalleled opportunity to play a role in enhancing our programs to serve even more people of all ages locally, nationally, and around the world. I will forever value my many years of service at this amazing national treasure, and remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition so that it will continue to flourish in the years to come."

Wolf Trap and Jones have received numerous distinctions and awards in the past 16 years. In 2006 Jones was named Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine and in 2005 he received the Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award, a national award for a career of exemplary service to the field of professional presenting from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. Also in 2005 Wolf Trap received an honorable mention in the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management and was included in Washingtonian's "Great Places to Work." More recently, in 2009 Wolf Trap was named among Bloomberg BusinessWeek's "Best Places to Intern." In 2010 the Center for Education at Wolf Trap was Energy Star certified and the organization received the inaugural Venue of Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers.

Jones will serve as a consultant to the Foundation on special projects, including the Face of America series, through 2014. In addition, Road Trip: A Photographer's Journey to America's National Parks, Jones' first book featuring his photography and personal reflections on national parks, will be released in March 2012.

About The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded by Catherine Filene Shouse (1896-1994), produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington area, as well as nationally and internationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues, the outdoor Filene Center and Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, both located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and the Barns at Wolf Trap, located down the road from the park and adjacent to the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. In partnership with the National Park Service, The 7,028-seat Filene Center annually showcases an extensive list of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk, and blues to classical music, dance, and theater, as well as multimedia presentations, from May through September.  The Barns operates year round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera Company, one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. Wolf Trap's education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, a diverse array of arts education classes, scholarships, and a nationally recognized internship program that was included in Bloomberg BusinessWeek's 2009 List of "Best Places to Intern." As part of its ongoing commitment to protect and preserve the environment, Wolf Trap offers metro access and is a founding member of the Green Music Group.

SOURCE Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts