Don Roth, immediate past president of the Aspen Music Festival and former San Francisco Symphony general manager, became executive director of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on June 1.

In his new post, Roth is responsible for setting and implementing an artistic, educational and operational vision that places the Mondavi Center at the forefront of university performance spaces.

"Don is widely regarded as a consummate arts professional, with a remarkable breadth of artistic interest and a strong record of innovative programming, robust community partnerships and extraordinarily successful fundraising initiatives," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "We're quite fortunate to have attracted him. Mondavi Center is sure to further flourish under his leadership."

A symphony executive for more than 20 years, Roth served as president of the Aspen Music Festival and School from 2001 to 2006, enlarging the festival's programming scope, recruiting outstanding faculty, and garnering record-setting grant and philanthropic support.

His previous orchestra posts include president and executive director of the Saint Louis Symphony, 1998-2001; president of the Oregon Symphony, 1990-98; general manager of the San Francisco Symphony, 1986-90; executive director of the Syracuse Symphony, 1983-86; and executive director of the Hartford, Conn., and Austin, Texas, symphonies, 1977-83. He has taught high school history, humanities and urban studies, and served as a Vista volunteer.

Roth has been the chair or a member of numerous panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and serves as a member of the board of directors of the American Symphony Orchestra League. A native of New York City, he holds a bachelor's degree in Chinese history from Brown University, a master's degree in American history from Yale and a doctorate in African-American history from the University of Texas at Austin.

"It is a great honor to have the opportunity to come to UC Davis' Mondavi Center, which in just four seasons has established itself as a leader locally, regionally and nationally," Roth said. "The arts are powerful agents in creating individual and community lives with meaning. I believe the Mondavi Center, with its research-university foundation, its excellent facilities, and its location in a vibrant and growing region, can bring that power to a broad constituency on campus and throughout the region."

Search committee members said they are eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Peggy Shannon, artistic director for the Sacramento Theatre Company and member of the UC Davis theatre and dance faculty. said, "Our entire region will benefit from Don's enthusiasm for the arts, his commitment to team building and collaboration, and his reputation for producing excellent artistic product. UC Davis is lucky to have him, and I look forward to working closely with him."

Garry Maisel, chair of the Mondavi Center Board, added, "The board is excited at the prospect of working with Don to enhance the center's arts education and presenting programs. I know we'll find him to be an active and accomplished partner in our efforts to generate additional enthusiasm and support for the Mondavi Center."

Steven Baissa, chair of the campus's Arts and Lectures Administrative Advisory Committee and director of the Cross Cultural Center, said, "I'm confident that Don will serve the campus community well, particularly reaching out to our students to more fully engage them in Mondavi Center's programs and providing avenues for open feedback from faculty, staff and students. As well, I anticipate that he will provide the diverse and innovative programming that will foster a culturally sensitive and welcoming community."

Roth succeeds interim director Barbara Sellers-Young, a professor of theatre and dance at UC Davis. Sellers-Young assumed overall leadership of Mondavi Center in spring 2005 when former director Brian McCurdy stepped back from that role to focus on the center's artistic programming. McCurdy departed the campus last summer to become director of the currently under-construction Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, the fourth such hall he will open during his career.

"I'm grateful to Barbara for her inspired leadership these past 13 months and to Brian for helping us to so successfully launch Mondavi Center," Vanderhoef said. "They leave Don a very strong foundation upon which to build even greater success."

As Mondavi Center executive director, Roth will earn an annual salary of $165,000.