In the news: Lecolion Washington

Community Music Center of Boston has appointed Lecolion Washington as executive director after a national search process. Washington begins at the Music Center in September 2017 and is currently executive director of the PRIZM Ensemble and director of In-Schools Programs for the Memphis Music Initiative. He succeeds David Lapin, who has been the Music Center’s executive director for 34 years.

“I am extremely honored that the board of Community Music Center of Boston has selected me as the incoming executive director”, Washington said. “After meeting with the board and spending time with the senior staff, I feel like I was born to be part of the work that the Music Center is doing in Boston. I’m very excited about the future.”

Washington was the co-founder and executive director of the PRIZM Ensemble, an organization whose mission is to build a diverse community through chamber music education, youth development and performance. Under his leadership, PRIZM created community engagement and youth development programs such as the OMusic Project, the PRIZM in the Schools Program and the PRIZM International Chamber Music Festival. Washington was invited to serve as the Director of In-School Programs for the Memphis Music Initiative after having served for several months on an advisory council and as a consultant for the MMI. He led a team that created and implemented a teaching artist program, led teacher/principal professional developments and fostered partnerships between schools and local music nonprofits — much like the Music Center has done in its historic partnership with Boston’s public schools. In 2015, he was named by the Memphis Business Journal as one of the Top 40 under 40.

As a performer, Washington served on the faculty of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa from 2006-2013. At this festival, he was a featured soloist on multiple occasions. In addition to his performances he coached chamber music and taught masterclasses along with distinguished faculty from all over the world. His CD entitled “Legacy: Music for Bassoon by African-American Composers” was released on the Albany Records label to much acclaim. Washington studied at the University of Texas at Austin, the Manhattan School of Music and Southern Methodist University.