The Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management is designed to provide future performing arts executive and artistic leaders with the industry skills required in the 21st century.
Two-Year Program
The two-year program provides classroom, community-based, and internship training that prepares students to find a meaningful professional career in the arts. The program is intended for students who hold a baccalaureate degree in music, theatre, dance or related fields.
Accelerated PALM Program
The accelerated program in Performing Arts Leadership and Management is available for current Shenandoah Conservatory undergraduates who, upon completion of their undergraduate degree, wish to obtain a Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management in just one year. Students who are accepted into the accelerated program will begin to take arts leadership and management courses during their undergraduate studies and register for internship during the summer between senior year and their final year of graduate study.
The Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management curriculum prepared me to be a leader in this field. I was positioned for success through experience-based instruction that challenged me as a professional and encouraged critical thinking. The internships I secured as a part of the program provided both high-level connections and the necessary experience to enter the workforce. Even prior to graduation, I found myself in high demand in the field, equipped with all of the skills I would need to excel.”
Colleen Cook ’13 | Performing Arts Leadership and Management
Director of Operations at Vinyl Marketing, Mansfield, OH
Recent Graduates
Our program’s graduates have found management positions with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Arena Stage, Pittsburgh Ballet, Gulf Coast Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and many other distinguished organizations.
Michael Mendillo here, messaging you from sunny South Florida! I graduated in August 2015 and currently serve as Executive Director of the Slow Burn Theatre Company in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.”
Michael Mendillo ’15 | Performing Arts Leadership and Management
I am the Director of Individual Giving at Dallas Summer Musicals.”
Benjamin Luczak ’15 | Performing Arts Leadership and Management
I’m currently the Assistant Director of Marketing and Business Development at 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City.”
Serena Robbins ’09 | Performing Arts Leadership and Management
Classes
With a faculty drawn from the professional world, the Performing Art Leadership and Management curriculum includes foundational coursework, internships with leading professional arts organizations throughout the country, and a capstone project that mirrors projects undertaken by professional arts organizations.
View Full Performing Arts Leadership and Management Curriculum
Performance Opportunities and Ensembles
Shenandoah Conservatory produces more than 400 performances each year. Enroll in a dynamic curriculum and start preparing for a meaningful career in the arts. Students enrolled in the graduate Performing Arts Leadership and Management program can audition for all of our music ensembles as well as theatre and dance productions.
Embrace extensive performance opportunities with top-tier facilities from theatres, concert halls and dance studios. Unite with fellow artists and join an alumni family that takes center stage from Broadway to the concert halls of Europe.
Shenandoah Conservatory Performances
Ensembles
Shenandoah Conservatory is home to more than 20 instrumental, vocal and dance ensembles that present numerous performances every year. These performances take place throughout Shenandoah University’s vibrant campus on its various stages, including a concert hall, recital hall, proscenium stage, black box studio, outdoor amphitheater and more, to venues and performance spaces in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and around the world. Ensembles constantly engage with Shenandoah’s dynamic faculty and an array of distinguished guest artists through residencies, workshops and unique performance opportunities.
Faculty
Shenandoah Conservatory’s prestigious faculty is dynamic, creative, and passionately committed to the highest levels of artistic excellence. A deeply caring community, they mentor students with a wealth of professional expertise, balancing rigorous expectations with compassion and wisdom. At Shenandoah, you will study with leaders from the arts management field who are recognized for their professional accomplishments and research. Each faculty member brings personal perspectives gained from years of arts management practice and experience to the classroom.
Application and Audition Information
Admission to Shenandoah Conservatory graduate programs is highly competitive and the Performing Arts Leadership and Management program accepts a small number of students each year. Applicants must complete an in-person or Skype interview with the program director. No auditions are required.
Study Abroad
Summer Arts Leadership Institute
Each May, eligible Performing Arts Leadership and Management graduate students will participate in a 10-day leadership institute in a European capital exploring the city and its arts, meeting with distinguished cultural leaders and visiting a wide range of arts organization and facilities. Participation provides students with 1 credit of graduate coursework.