Mason Named As President To Music In The Mountains Board Of Directors

Durango, CO, August 25, 2009 – Music in the Mountains has elected Florence “Foxie” Mason as the President to its Board of Directors succeeding past President, Tom Jones. 

Ms. Mason is one of the founding members of the Music in the Mountains summer festival started over 23 years ago in Durango, Colorado.  She chaired the national search committee that selected the Festival’s Music Director and Conductor, Guillermo Figueroa.  And she also established the Henn Conductor’s Endowment in memory of her parents.  Ms. Mason earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Skidmore College, a master’s degree in library science from Simmons College, and a doctoral degree from the University  of Southern California. She established F. Mason and Associates in 1990 where she consults on building, management and planning issues for public and academic libraries and has developed building and master plans for academic and public libraries, state libraries and private corporations in 40 states.  She is also a part-time faculty member at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX where she teaches courses on Emerging Technology and Change and the Economics of Information.

She was the co-chair of the Durango Public Library Fundraising Committee. While living in Texas she served on boards supporting the visual arts and Texas historical preservation. During this past year’s Festival, Ms. Mason’s leadership was evident and she is focused and determined to “take Music in the Mountains from the best kept secret, to one of the premier music festivals of the southwest.”  She resides in Durango and is married to Richard Mason.

Music in the Mountains is a fully integrated festival of orchestra, chamber music and a concurrent Conservatory programs along with a year-round schools program called Music in the Mountains Goes to School.  Southwest Colorado’s three-week Festival of classical music, featuring world renowned musicians, is preparing for its 24th season.