Program Overview

Performing Arts Leadership & Management

Program Overview

The online Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & Management is designed to provide future performing arts executive and artistic leaders with the industry skills required in the 21st century.

Program Details

• The program is intended for students who hold a baccalaureate degree in music, theatre, dance or related fields, emerging leaders who hold an entry-level arts position and are seeking to advance their career, and those seeking to change career to arts leadership and management.
• The 36-credit program can be completed in as little as two years, taking 9 credits per semester or may be completed at a slower pace.
• Experiential learning opportunities are embedded in the program, including arts management internships and optional enrollment in the annual 10-day Arts Leadership Institute in Athens, Greece.

PALM 4+1 Program For Current Shenandoah Students

• Shenandoah Conservatory students may apply for the PALM 4+1 accelerated program in their sophomore year and once accepted, take PALM required courses during their undergraduate studies, participate in the annual 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.
• Online courses in the PALM program are designed as asynchronous learning, giving students the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

Recent Graduates

• PALM program’s graduates have found management positions with various organizations, including:
  • 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

Classes

• Transition Courses for the PALM 4+1 Program:
  • MATH 207 Statistics
  • BA 211 Accounting
  • PALM 509
  • PALM 512
• General Information About PALM Courses:
  • Online courses in the PALM program are designed as asynchronous learning, giving students the opportunity to learn at their own pace.
  • Courses integrate readings, media, assignments and projects using the latest research and experiences from the field to create a rich and immersive learning environment.
  • 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.

PALM Student-in-Residence Option

• PALM students who are local to the Winchester area, or wish to relocate to Winchester, can supplement their online coursework by taking advantage of all that Shenandoah Conservatory has to offer:
  • Perform in ensembles, concerts and productions
  • Attend hundreds of Conservatory performances free of charge
  • Experience and take part in the only ShenCoLAB in this hemisphere
  • Explore our superb campus facilities and activities

Meet the 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.

Application Information

• 4+1 Accelerated PALM Program:
  • 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.
• 2-Year PALM Program:
  • Admission to Shenandoah Conservatory graduate programs is highly competitive and the Performing Arts Leadership and Management program only accepts a small number of students each year.
  • Applicants must complete a teleconference interview with the program director.
  • Fall admissions only. 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 policy leaders and visiting a wide range of arts and culture organizations.
  • Participation provides students with 2 credits of graduate coursework.