April 16, 1997 EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, contact Anne Dhu McLucas, School of Music dean, (541) 346-5661; George Evano, Oregon Bach Festival communications director, (541) 346-5667; or the Office of Communications, (541) 346-3134. EUGENE--Neill Archer Roan, Oregon Bach Festival executive director, has submitted his resignation to Anne Dhu McLucas, dean of the University of Oregon School of Music, and to the festival's board of directors. Roan's resignation, citing personal reasons, was effective April 15. "We reluctantly accepted Neill's resignation," said Tom Wildish, president of the board which met Tuesday night (April 15). "He has initiated several important new projects and has positioned the festival internationally." Oregon Bach Festival co-founder Royce Saltzman, a music professor emeritus who has been acting executive director since Roan began a medical leave in January, will continue in his interim leadership role. McLucas, who also praised Roan's leadership of the world-renowned festival since he took the helm in 1994, says a search to fill the executive director's post will be announced soon. Co-founder Helmuth Rilling will return as artistic director and conductor of the 28th Oregon Bach Festival, which has as its theme "Bach and the Romantics." Set June 27-July 12 at the School of Music and Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, it also will offer selected concerts in Bend, Corvallis, Florence, Redmond and Sunriver. -30- #O-4074/A&E/jrc