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.
The Performing Arts Leadership & Management (PALM) program provides online classroom training in arts leadership, marketing, fundraising, financial management, entrepreneurship and governance, and program/project planning that prepares students to find a meaningful professional career in the field of performing arts management, artistic leadership and arts entrepreneurship.
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 careers 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.
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
President at Vinyl Marketing, Mansfield, OH
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.
The 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.
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 Creative Director for the Dance Institute of Washington.
Ashanté Green ’15 | M.S. in Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Chief Executive Officer of Westmoreland Cultural Trust.
Benjamin Luczak ’09, ’15 | B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, M.S. in Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am the Director at Patron Insights and Engagement.
Serena Robbins ’09 | M.S. in Performing Arts Leadership & Management
I am currently the Production Administrator at The Shed in Hudson Yards, New York City.
Kate Gibson Holland ’00, ’22 | B.M. in Music (Voice), M.S. in 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 and BA 211 Accounting at any time during their undergraduate years. In the junior or senior year, students take PALM 509 and PALM 512. These are both online courses, so they will not interfere with busy undergraduate class and performance schedules.
General Information About PALM Courses
Online courses in the PALM program are designed as asynchronous learning, giving you the opportunity to learn at your own pace. Unlike some large online programs in other disciplines, recorded lectures are not used in the PALM program.
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. 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
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
In addition, PALM students in residence will form study groups to further enhance learning, engagement, and a sense of community.
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
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.
Download the PALM 4+1 Application Form
2-Year PALM Program
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.
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.
Conservatory Graduate Application Information
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.
