The online Performing Arts Leadership & Management (4+1) accelerated program is available for current Shenandoah Conservatory undergraduate students.
The online Performing Arts Leadership & Management (4+1) accelerated program 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 & Management in just one year. Online courses in the PALM program are designed as asynchronous learning, giving you the opportunity to learn at your own pace.
Students may apply in their sophomore year and once accepted, take PALM required courses during their undergraduate studies, participate in the annual Summer Arts Leadership Institute in Athens, Greece (GEL course) and register for an internship course during the summer between senior year and their one year of graduate study.
The graduate PALM program is now fully online so students do not need to stay in Winchester for their one year of graduate study. Students who do decide to stay on campus to continue with studio classes, perform in ensembles and productions, and take advantage of campus life, will form a “study group” with other resident students.
The Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & 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
PALM program’s graduates have found management positions with
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
- Arena Stage
- Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts
- Pittsburgh Ballet
- Shakespeare Theater
- Gulf Coast Symphony
- Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
- Yale School of Music
- 92nd Street Y
- YouTube
- Omaha Symphony
- Woodruff Arts Center
- Dance Institute of Washington
- Asolo Repertory Theatre
- Boyer College of Music and Dance
- Signature Theatre
- Dallas Summer Musicals
- Washington Conservatory of Music
- Sarasota Ballet
- Opera San Jose
- Americans for the Arts
- The Washington Ballet
- Cleveland Institute of Music
I am the Foundation Relations and Grants Manager at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Jordan Allen ’15 | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Dance Institute of Washington.
Ashanté Green ’15 | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Executive Director for Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Andrew D. Herring ’19 | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Development Director at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
Benjamin Luczak ’15 | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Director of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Michael Mendillo ’14 | Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am 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 & Management
Classes
Transition Courses for the PALM 4+1 Program
Students who are accepted into the accelerated PALM must take MATH 207 Statistics at anytime during their undergraduate years. In Junior or Senior year, students take PALM 509 and PALM 512. These are both online courses, so they will not interfere with your busy undergraduate class and performance schedules.
Performing Arts Leadership & Management Courses
Courses integrate readings, media, assignments and projects using the latest research and experiences from the field to create a rich and immersive learning environment. Unlike some large online programs in other disciplines, recorded lectures are not used in the PALM program.
Students work both independently and collaboratively with other students and utilize their local arts community or national arts organizations as a laboratory, with internships and participation in professional arts activities, events, and advocacy as an integral part of learning. Regular, one-on-one teleconference “check-ins” with your instructor are a hallmark of online learning in the PALM program.
View Full Performing Arts Leadership & Management Curriculum
Performance Opportunities and Ensembles
Continue Performing at Shenandoah through your online, graduate studies
Students who live local to Winchester may still be involved in the Shenandoah Conservatory environment, performances, and ensembles while completing their online coursework.
Conservatory Performances
Shenandoah Conservatory produces more than 400 performances each year. Enroll in a dynamic curriculum and start preparing for a meaningful career in the arts. You will practice your craft in front of audiences and develop a plan for your professional launch into the industry that focuses on your personal desires and aspirations.
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 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 to their teaching personal perspectives gained from years of arts management practice and experience.
Application Information
Conservatory students with a 3.0 GPA can apply for the program in their sophomore or junior years. All applicants must interview with the PALM program director at the time of application.
Download the PALM 4+1 Application Form
For more information, contact Professor David Edelman, PALM Program Director, at dedelman@su.edu.
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 policy leaders and visiting a wide range of arts and culture organizations. Participation provides students with 2 credits of graduate coursework.
