The Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement (ALP) is an experiential program designed to complement student’s primary area of study and provide professional development training to support student’s career goals. Students personalize their experience through course selection, internship choices, and advising by industry professionals. Those in the program gain knowledge of the music industry and the skills to become a leader in the field. Applications open in July and are due mid-September.

Who is the Certificate of Achievement For?

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Any Eastman student who wishes to be a leader and change-agent in the community and the world. Accepted students are curious about career opportunities, balance performance skills with transferrable skills, are advocates for the arts, and are adaptable in an ever-changing world. 

Undergraduates apply during at the start of their junior year, masters during their first semester, and doctorates during first or third semester.

What Do You Receive?

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  • Two paid, for-credit internships in the U.S & around the world 
  • Access to special funding to support professional development (including 2 years after graduation) 
  • Pre-registration for Arts Leadership (ALC) courses 
  • Personalized advising sessions and support during school and after graduation 
  • Specialized meetings with inspiring guest speakers and professionals 
  • A cohort of like-minded individuals that will offer support and guidance 
  • Alumni access to retreats, networking, and career resources 

What are the Requirements of the ALP Certificate of Achievement?

During this 2-year program, you are asked to complete:

  • 4 credits of ALC courses with a grade of a B or above
  • 2 semesters of internships at a minimum of 85 hours of work
  • 3-4 group or individual advising sessions or meetings per semester
  • 1 special event of your choosing (at Eastman, UR or virtually!) per semester

 For more information, please review our Catherine Filene Shouse ALP Certificate of Achievement Requirements.

What Do Alumni Do?

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A little bit of everything! Explore our Alumni Journey database to see the projects, roles, performances, and engagements are graduates are involved in!  

Click the button below to view the database.

How Do I Join?

Every year, applications for the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement open in July and are due mid-September. Applications will be reviewed and finalized by the end of September. Learn more about the application and timeline here!

Prior Internship Hosts

During the academic year, we try to support local organizations. Over the summer, students can choose to travel nationally or internationally for their internships. Example host organizations we have successfully placed Catherine Filene Shouse Fellows include:

  • Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Eastman Community Music School
  • ROCMusic Collaborative
  • Joseph Avenue Arts Alliance
  • Gateways Music Festival
  • WXXI Classical Radio
  • fivebyfive
  • Pegasus Early Music
  • US Army Band Pershing’s Own
  • Sarasota Opera
  • UR Health Services
  • Boston Lyric Opera
  • Third Coast Percussion
  • Eighth Blackbird
  • and more!

For a full listing of over 170+ organizations we have partnered with, check out our:

About Catherine Filene Shouse

The Eastman School is grateful for the generous support and endowment of the Arts Leadership Certificate Program provided by The Catherine Filene Shouse Foundation. One of the most influential women of the 20th century, Mrs. Shouse was an adviser to 15 presidents, a visionary and dynamic advocate for humanitarian causes, and a generous benefactor of the arts. She was the first woman to receive a master of education degree from Harvard University, the first woman appointed to the National Democratic Committee, and the only woman in the 20th century to have been named Dame Commander of the British Empire and awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian awards in both Great Britain and the United States. Her book, Careers for Women, was first published in 1920, and she actively promoted career training and career opportunities throughout her life. When providing the endowment to the Eastman School of Music, Alice F. Emerson, President of the Shouse Foundation acknowledged that “to meet the needs of today’s complex world, our nation’s arts organizations need the talents of creative young people who understand the practical realities of the arts. Eastman’s Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program prepares students for the challenges they’ll face.”

Current ALP Fellows, Faculty and Host Organizations. For those currently engaged with the Catherine Filene Shouse ALP Certificate of Achievement, you can find further information, details, and forms on Intranet. Please login here to access.