Master’s Degree in Music Leadership

Leading a musical arts organization is not a task for the uninspired. Assembling a portfolio of artistic, creative, executive, and business skills often requires prospective leaders to seek them out from many different sources. The University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music has announced the launch of a new master’s degree program to enable the next generation of music leaders to access these skills in one place.

The Master of Arts in Music Leadership is designed for individuals who are musicians at their core, and also seek to lead both traditional and non-traditional musical arts organizations. The Master of Arts in Music Leadership degree builds on the opportunities available through Eastman’s world-class Arts Leadership Program, the first of its kind in the nation. This 14-month degree program uses an integrated approach to develop and hone both artistic and managerial skills for the next generation of music leaders.

Eastman alumni lead many of the country’s most prestigious traditional and non-traditional musical arts organization, including: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, JACK Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, Fifth House Ensemble, American Modern Ensemble, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Eastman School of Music, and many others.

“By providing students with the opportunities to develop a deep, personal understanding of the artistic process, along with high-level skills in business, governance, marketing, finances, entrepreneurial thinking, and advancement, we will nurture articulate and effective leaders of our arts organizations, leaving a legacy that will benefit our entire musical landscape,” states Jim Doser, the director of Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership.

Following Eastman’s history of providing a comprehensive musical education through the intersection of artistry, scholarship and service, the program aims to prepare musical leaders to recognize and capitalize on new organizational modes and behaviors in the quickly evolving marketplace of the music arts.

Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of Eastman stated, “Through its Arts Leadership Program, Eastman has been committed to producing musical artist-leaders who have been committed to making a difference in the world for more than two decades.  The MA in Music Leadership will provide musicians with the opportunity to delve even deeper into the issues that will face the music leaders of the future.”

For more information about the MA in Music Leadership degree, visit the Eastman School of Music website, or contact Jim Doser, Director, Institute for Music Leadership, Eastman School of Music. jdoser@esm.rochester.edu; (585) 274-1470.