Meet Seattle JazzED's New Executive Director
/For the last year, the staff and board have been working with Clover Search Works to find our next Executive Director. We were looking for a leader responsible for driving strategic initiatives that enhance our programs, build inclusive and effective staff, and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders. The search is officially over.
On January 6, we welcomed our new Executive Director, Liz Riggs Meder, to the team!
To learn more about Liz and her journey to Seattle JazzED, we had the chance to sit down with her for a conversation.
A Little Bit About Liz
Liz is an educator and nonprofit leader with a background in guiding organizations through growth and change to expand their reach and impact. She is passionate about creating access for diverse audiences and has done that for programs ranging from science curriculum for youth to outdoor risk management for adults. Profoundly shaped by her music education experience through her school years, she is eager to return to the music world and to use her change management skills to support making rich music education more accessible to all students.
Can you share a little about your journey and what led you to Seattle JazzED and this role?
Photograph by Chris Meder
I’ve always been an educator, but I started my career as an engineer, which gave me a problem-solving approach and design sensibility that’s shaped much of what I do. Later, I worked professionally outdoors as a mountain guide and ski patroller, which led me into nonprofit work supporting outdoor professionals. Education has been a unifying thread through all of it.
I took on a leadership role in my last job, gaining expertise in change management and guiding teams through periods of transformation. When I found Seattle JazzED and this role, it felt serendipitous. All my past experiences seemed to align in a way that made this opportunity feel meant to be.
What made me really feel warm and excited about this job is that I had such positive experiences in band during high school and college. As a parent of a musician in Seattle Public Schools, I see that you can’t take for granted that everyone will have access to those opportunities and experiences. I realize how important it is to create opportunities for music education and that’s what makes Seattle JazzED’s mission so compelling.
What excites you most about stepping in as Executive Director?
What excites me is the opportunity to build on what Seattle JazzED has already accomplished. There are a lot of similarities in the structure and educational mission between JazzED and my last organization. I’m eager to apply the lessons I’ve learned supporting their organizational transformation to my work leading Seattle JazzED.
The organization and staff are really committed to each other and our students and families. There’s hopefulness in this team that’s ready to go. All of the components are there, they just need someone to pull it all together to be successful.
What are you listening to these days?
I’m very omnivorous when it comes to most things, especially music. I love everything from classical to the Beastie Boys. Right now, I’ve been listening to Kishi Bashi’s ‘It All Began With A Burst’ on repeat.
What’s a fun fact about yourself that might surprise people?
I have a lot of hobbies. I love to sew and knit. I’ve even made some of my own clothes. Also, because I have worked from home for so long, I’ve become a pro at what I call ‘Iron Chef-ing' lunch. I just turn random leftovers in my fridge into something surprisingly good, at least to me, for lunch.
What message do you want to share with the community as you begin as Executive Director?
Each day, I’m struck by how deeply interconnected Seattle JazzED is with Seattle’s jazz history and its community of educators, musicians, students, and families. It’s a rich tapestry, and I’m honored to be woven into it. My goal is to build on JazzED’s strong foundation and continue the real community feel and connections with the music community in Seattle and the families we serve.
We look forward to the future under Liz’s leadership and can’t wait for you to meet her in person at our Soundtrack for the Future Gala on March 6!
