2021 FAR-West Board of Directors Election Slate
Important note for the 2021 Board elections: Ballots for the FAR-West board elections will be sent from Folk Alliance International to current members of FAI in our region. If your membership in FAI has expired or been suspended, you will not receive a ballot.
If you live in the FAR-West Region and would like to join Folk Alliance or renew your membership, click here: https://folk.org/join/
INCUMBENTS
Susie Glaze (Vice President)
Bio: Award-winning recording artist, Broadway singer, journalist, educator and critically-acclaimed powerhouse vocalist, Susie Glaze has been called “one of the most beautiful voices in bluegrass and folk music today” by Roz Larman of KPFK’s Folk Scene. LA Weekly voted her ensemble Best New Folk in their Best of LA Weekly for 2019, calling Susie “an incomparable vocalist.” “A flat out superb vocalist… Glaze delivers warm, amber-toned vocals that explore the psychic depth of a lyric with deft acuity and technical perfection.” Susie is a specialist in performance and historian of the work of American folk music icon, Jean Ritchie.
Why I Want to Serve on the FAR-West Board: My work with FAR-West over the years of Board membership has illuminated my experience as an artist in powerful ways. I’ve been gratified to have worked alongside many wonderful producers, artists and organizers, and I look forward to continuing creative innovation as we meet our current challenges in the industry.
Julie Zipperer (Member at Large)
Bio: Julie’s passion for fashion brought her From retail, to high-end fashion design, known as the “Pajama Girl” creating three different multi-million -dollar brands from the ground up. For FAR-West, she helped curate our FAI Showcase in New Orleans last year, as well as our first virtual Conference, in October 2020. Since joining the board in 2020 Julie has been head of on-line programming, introducing the weekly “Lockdown Lemonade” blog, the “Campfire Song Circle”, “FAR-West Teaches”, and “Best of the West & Beyond” debuting this month with Far-West honoree Chris Hillman. She has built a successful house concert series, Julie’s Joint.
Why I Want to Serve on the FAR-West Board: Why am I running again? Simply, to continue what we’ve started this year, transitioning FAR-West from an annual in person conference, to an all year-round musical platform. It is my hope to be able to continue to provide a supportive resource for artists, venues, and all of the FAR-West community.
NEW CANDIDATES
Arielle Silver
Bio: Singer-songwriter Arielle Silver writes with the heart of Laurel Canyon and the soul of the Chelsea Hotel. The east coast transplant to Los Angeles took a decade hiatus, but returned to the stage in 2019, and (despite COVID) in 2020 played over 80 shows, including livestreams from her backyard shed, where she released her fourth singer-songwriter album.
Arielle is a classically trained woodwind player, as well as an essayist. Her literary work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets Anthology. She teaches creative writing at Antioch University Los Angeles and is co-founder of Bhavana Flow Yoga.
Why I Want to Serve on the FAR-West Board: Songs and stories, the cornerstone of the work and advocacy of Folk Alliance, are made whole by a listening audience. As a musician and storyteller, I believe that at least half of my best contribution to the community is done by listening and working to amplify the voices of others.
Karen Sullivan
Bio: Karen is happily retired after 35 years as a Manager for a large insurance company. As a child her dad was a square dance caller so bluegrass, roots, and country music is in her blood. Since 1995 she has been a singer and board member of a local 100-person chorus performing music of all genres. While singing a “Bluegrass Mass” in 2012 she got hooked again on folk music, and is now a regular at local performances, house concerts and festivals. She got involved with Far-West conferences and events several years ago. Her other passions include dogs and birdwatching.
Why I Want to Serve on the FAR-West Board: I’d like to join the FAR-West board to be a part of the exciting directions I see the organization moving. My experience on another board an help. I enjoy working with new technology to bring this wonderful music to many people around the world.
Voting will open on March 23rd (FAI will execute elections on the region’s behalf) and continue until April 20th. Election results will be announced on May 1.
FAR-West Board Guidelines: https://far-west.org/far-west-board-criteria/
If you are not currently a member in good standing with FAI, you will not receive a ballot. If you wish to vote in this election you must be a member in good standing. On March 23rd, ballots will be distributed and you will not receive a ballot if you are not a member at that time. You may visit this website to renew your membership: https://folk.org/join/