Neill McNeill's Blog

You may not recognize his name. But I guarantee you’ve experienced his work. After nearly 25 years working in television news, I thought I had seen and heard just about everything and everyone.  That is, until only recently, when I met John Mauceri.

This spring, Mauceri ( pronounced “mao-CHERRY”) will celebrate his first anniversary as Chancellor of the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. I may be going out on a limb here, but I feel I can accurately say no one currently living and working in the Piedmont-Triad has worked with more of the world’s top artists than he.

He also has the longest curriculum vitae (Latin term meaning “course of life”) or “resume” I’ve ever seen. It’s 8 pages. It lists his more than 70 recordings, his Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Awards, his collaboration and friendship with the great Leonard Bernstein, his founding the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra which—under his leadership—performed with just about everyone from Roger Daltry to Michael Bouble to Carol Channing, and his work with Madonna in recording the soundtrack for “Evita.”

He’s also conducted most of the world’s top orchestras and opera companies. He’s kept and developed an early childhood interest in motion picture music to the point many consider him today’s world authority on music for film.  He’s taught, lectured, and performed in just about every medium. (He was even the voice of Claude Maginot in the video game, “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.”)

Before he took this job, one of the few positions his resume didn’t list was “college or university administrator.” But here we have one of the largest and most unique schools of its type in the world, but also one that has—over the years--- struggled with financial and image challenges. In many ways, it’s kept itself hidden as almost an exclusive type of community in south Winston-Salem. Obviously UNC System President Erskine Bowles felt the NCSA needed a different type of leader. So he hired one.

Mauceri stresses he’s a “performing chancellor.” In other words, he’s still conducting orchestras and opera companies worldwide while—at the same time---leading the NCSA. He feels it’s important for the students to learn from “working artists.” He also uses his own performances to publicize the school. And he occasionally will step in to teach a class or two.

He compares leading the NCSA’s five schools (dance, drama, design and production, filmmaking, and music—plus high school and undergraduate academic programs) to conducting an orchestra—respecting their individual contributions while making sure they communicate with each other and promote teamwork.

But you know what impressed me the most? John Mauceri is a down-to-earth nice guy. He’s someone you enjoy being around—whether you’re a musician, a factory worker, or a tv news anchor. Not long ago, he gave me about three-and-a-half hours of his time to lead me on a tour of what could be his greatest and most important career challenge---The North Carolina School of the Arts.

You can see part of this tour and get to know Mauceri in this Wednesday's “Newsmakers” segment in the Fox 8 10:00 News. You can also learn more about his philosophy and why he feels now is the most important time ever to support the arts in the “Web Extra” that will accompany this story on myfoxwghp.com.

Teacher, musician, conductor, composer, arranger, recording artist, author, and recently-installed administrator—Mauceri’s all those things. But—as he likes to say---the title “chancellor” is the Latin word for “gatekeeper.” And as far as the North Carolina School of the Arts is concerned, the gate is open.