Photo by Chris Lee
Emmanuel Morlet has been named first artistic director of the Green Music Center, a position filled until now by Robert Cole as a consultant.
Morlet, a native of France — as is Bruno Ferrandis, who is music director of the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Center's main tenant — will be in charge of programming and "artistic vision," in partnership with newly appointed Executive Director Larry Furukawa-Schlereth.
Morlet is currently director of the music office for the cultural services of the French Embassy and a program officer of the French-American Cultural Exchange Foundation in New York. Morlet, who will take office on April 1, says:
During my visits to Sonoma State, I was extraordinarily impressed with the University’s deep commitment to making the arts a vibrant part of college education. Weill Hall is one of the most beautiful concert halls I’ve ever seen and is truly an amazing resource not only to the campus, but the local community as well.To join a new performing arts center at this inaugural moment is a real honor and I look forward to working together to bring Sonoma County the very best that the performing arts have to offer.
Among the many projects he coordinated in conjunction with universities, festivals, and international venues, Morlet has led "Sounds French," a month-long festival of contemporary music, and he is co-founder of the annual "GlobalFest" world music festival. He holds dual U.S.-French citizenship.