Shenandoah Conservatory announces the appointment of award-winning songwriter, performer and educator Jesse Terry, B.M., as interim director of contemporary musicianship & entrepreneur development (CMED) and visiting assistant professor and music beginning this month.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Terry has built a distinguished career as a touring and recording artist, releasing 12 albums and EPs and performing more than 2,000 concerts across the United States and internationally. His music has been featured on television shows including “Virgin River” (Netflix) and “Hart of Dixie” (The CW), and he has appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, AmericanaFest, Musikfest, the 30A Songwriters Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

“Music has taken me around the world, and now teaching at Shenandoah Conservatory feels like coming home,” said Terry. “I’m eager to share what I’ve learned on the road and in the studio, and to help students chart their own unique and fulfilling artistic journeys. Accepting this role is the honor of a lifetime, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to mentor and support these incredible artists.”

A recipient of top honors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the CMT/NSAI Song Contest and the International Songwriting Competition, Terry brings a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom. He has fan-funded many of his albums and creative projects through platforms such as Kickstarter and Patreon, experiences that inform his teaching on artist entrepreneurship and building sustainable careers in today’s evolving industry. His expertise spans songwriting, music production, performance, music business and entrepreneurship.

“We are excited to have Jesse Terry join the conservatory faculty,” said Director and Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Golder O’Neill ’92, M.M.E. “He brings more than 20 years of professional experience in commercial and popular music. Jesse’s career experience as an independent artist and industry professional is impressive and he is excited to share his knowledge and experience with our students.”

In addition to his career as an independent artist, Terry has written professionally as a Nashville staff songwriter, shared his expertise at songwriting retreats and festivals, and published his first children’s book, “If I Were the Moon” (Schiffer Publishing, 2022). When he’s not teaching or writing a song, he can be found exploring his new home of Winchester with his wife and their two young children, who remain at the heart of his life and inspiration. Looking ahead, he is eager to help shape the next generation of artists and songwriters while continuing to hone his own craft in the studio and on the stage.