KC-based Folk Alliance International announces new executive director

Folk Alliance International, which moved its headquarters to Kansas City in August, announced Wednesday that its board of directors has chosen Aengus Finnan to become its new executive director. He will take over reins of the 3,100-member group on July 1, replacing Louis Meyers, its executive director since 2005.

Finnan, 42, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised near Grafton, Ontario, about 80 miles east of Toronto. Since 2010, he has worked with the Ontario Arts Council. He is a singer, songwriter and recording artist and has released three albums, including “Once Upon a Time,” issued in 2013. He is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his work in arts and culture in Canada.

In February, the Folk Alliance held its annual five-day conference at the Westin Crown Center hotel. The organization also runs the Folk Store at 509 Delaware St. in the River Market.

This story was originally published April 9, 2014 at 2:34 PM with the headline "KC-based Folk Alliance International announces new executive director."