The International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville has announced the hiring of a new Events Director, Maggie Carruth O’Connor, following a search that began earlier this year.
In this role Maggie will oversee planning and execution of IBMA’s signature events, primarily centered around their annual World of Bluegrass convention and its affiliated events, such as the IBMA Bluegrass Awards, and IBMA Bluegrass Live! These important occasions take place in Chattanooga, TN, where she currently lives.
Prior to accepting this position, she has been actively involved in the cultural and arts scene in Chattanooga as an event producer, including work with TEDxChattanooga, the Sessions concert series, Porchfests in Highland Park, Red Bank, and Southside, and the monthly musical residency series Side B. A background in community-driven music programming and live event creation surely helped her rise to the top of the IBMA’s search committee.
O’Connor says that this seems like a sensible next step for her, career-wise.
“I moved to Chattanooga from Atlanta in 2019 with my husband and dog, and immediately felt at home. The sense of community here, especially in the music world, is undeniable. My work over the past five years has focused on building more equitable, sustainable opportunities for local artists, including founding Highland Park Porchfest, a free festival now in its fifth year that features local bands performing on neighborhood porches.
Joining IBMA as Events Director feels like a natural extension of that work. I am excited to support the IBMA team and help bring people together around bluegrass music.”
Members, sponsors, and exhibitors will surely enjoy working with Maggie O’Connor in her new role with IBMA this year.
