Derek Kwan, the executive director of the Lied Center who has been on the job since January, says the success of the center depends on how good of a job he can do in partnering with the community.

“The key for performing arts venues is to weave itself into the fabric of the community,” Kwan said.

That also means becoming more relevant to KU students, he said.

“This coming season is the first time the Lied Center has programmed world class artists with student ensembles,” he said.

For example, on Sept. 30, the KU Symphony Orchestra will perform with cellist Joshua Roman.

“We are really making an effort to build bridges with the student population,” Kwan said.

The Lied Center will also begin webcasting live student performances. This will make the Lied Center accessible to the entire state and world.

Kwan replaced Tim Van Leer, who retired after the leading the Lied Center for 12 years.

Prior to arriving at KU, Kwan was vice president at Jazz at Lincoln Center since 2012.

Prior to that, Kwan had been executive director of programming at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Mich., from 2007 to 2012. From 2000 to 2005, Kwan had been an associate director at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Kwan grew up in Los Angeles and played the saxophone and flute. His musical tastes ranged from Mozart to Earth, Wind and Fire.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, where he majored in music and political science. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin.

He was a freelance record producer, producing more than 60 albums. While an MBA student, he won a Grammy Award as associate producer of “Bebo de Cuba” by Bebo Valdes.

His wife, Clare, plays flute and piano, and was an acoustician working with architects to design concert venues and museums. She is now pursuing a second career as a math teacher.

He said the job offer in Lawrence represented an opportunity that “was too good to pass up.”

Lawrence is one of the best college towns in the nation and the Lied Center was internationally known, he said.

He said he and his wife love Lawrence.

“I’m looking forward to learning more about Lawrence and all the cultural sensibilities. I am always open to suggested genres,” he said, encouraging people to email him at kwan@ku.edu.