David Roche

David Roche has been hired as executive director of the Western Folklife Center.

Roche replaces Charlie Seeman, who retired.

Roche, who has 35 years experience in the nonprofit arts sector, most recently was executive director of the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco. He also was director of the Office of Arts Education for the Chicago Public Schools, where executive producer of the Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. Roche has also served multiple terms as a Governor for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in Chicago and San Francisco and has been an associate producer for Chris Strachwitz’s Arhoolie Records, as well as a DJ for “Worldmusicmobile” on Berkeley, California’s KPFA-FM for seven years.

Roche earned a Ph.D. in music with a concentration in ethnomusicology from the University of California, Berkeley, and masters’ degrees in ethnomusicology and music education from Wesleyan University and Holy Names College.