Chris Joslin leaves the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

Chris Joslin, who has served as Executive Director of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, KY for the past nine years, has announced his imminent retirement from that position. He will return to the Nashville area to direct development and fundraising for Mission Lazarus, a Christian charitable organization with operations in Haiti and Honduras.

When Chris looks back on his time at the helm, he says…

“When I moved to Owensboro in 2015 for this opportunity, I was excited by the potential of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. However, the opportunities presented to me far exceeded my expectations! Helping to grow this organization in an entrepreneurial way has been very stimulating to say the least, and I am deeply grateful to our talented staff, the leadership of the Board of Trustees, and the support and advocacy of so many businesses and individuals here in Owensboro and Daviess County.”

Under his leadership, Hall took over the print magazine, Bluegrass Unlimitedstart a TV program on RFD-TV called My Bluegrass Storyand restarted the Kentucky State Fiddle Championship at the museum. Joslin and the Hall of Fame were also instrumental in the founding of the Kentucky Guitar Works at the Center for Lutherie in Owensboro and supported the Owensboro Community and Technical College’s efforts to start a bluegrass and traditional music program.

Chairman Chris Love has high praise for the outgoing director.

“Chris led our organization through a pivotal era, and under his leadership, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum has become a magnet for bluegrass fans from around the world. And we will be eternally grateful for his leadership and friendship. While we will certainly miss Chris, I wish him the best in his future role. I know he will do great things.”

He will do most of his work with Mission Lazarus at their headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, but he plans to take some trips with donors to visit their mission work in Central America and the orphanage they run in Honduras.

“As a born-again Christian, this is a great opportunity for me to be more directly involved in the work that is helping people in developing countries live better lives today while sharing the love of Christ.”

Good luck to Chris Joslin in his new endeavor!

The Board of Trustees expects to begin the search for the next Executive Director later this month. We will share the news as soon as it is announced.