Throughout the Fall 2024 semester at the Eastman School of Music, 19 Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement Candidates successfully completed an internship with local and national arts organizations.
- Amelia Abouljoud – Society for Music Theory
- Anastasia Maritsas – Eastman School of Music Communications
- Ashley Schlusselberg – Finger Lakes Opera
- Anne Marie Wnek – Eastman Community Music School
- Cass Lo – Girls Rock Rochester
- Charlotte McIntosh – Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
- Elijah Alexander – Carbon Records
- Floris Van Der Veken – BIODANCE
- Jack Earnhart – University of Rochester Health Services
- Jack Snelling – The Hochstein School
- Jane Vourlekis – fivebyfive
- Julian Stuart-Burns – WXXI Classical
- Lindsay Haukom – Eastman School of Music – Music for All
- Lisa Ling – Hats + Heels Duo
- Mary Jednyak – Institute for Music Leadership
- Meihui An – Gateways Music Festival
- Olly Bangia – ROCMusic
- Pedro Sperb – Pegasus Early Music
- Seth Tupy – Teaching Artists ROC
These students worked with organizations both locally and nationally gaining real-world experience in the professional arts world. These internships are paid positions made possible by the Institute of Music Leadership, where each student is pursuing an Arts Leadership Certificate. This is one of two internships certificate students will complete, along with opportunities such as gaining access to professional development funding, personalized advising sessions, specialized meetings with inspiring guest speakers and professionals in the industry, and more.
When asked about her experience at the Society for Music Theory, masters student Amelia Abouljoud said it was “one of the most positive work experiences I have had in my career thus far.” Amelia assisted in planning and executing the society’s 47th annual conference, including traveling to Jacksonville, FL to attend. “This internship has taught me so much about myself and what I enjoy in administrative positions. It was incredibly fulfilling to see the attendees of the conference benefit from the hard work that Jennifer [supervisor], the board, and I put into the conference.”
Others focused their hands-on efforts locally, like undergraduate student Cass Lo did at Girls Rock! Rochester. “Through my internship, I gained invaluable hands-on experience in event planning, coaching bands, and engaging in nonprofit operations. The program not only allowed me to develop a wide range of skills, including effective communication, logistical organization, and teamwork, but also expanded my understanding of how music can empower diverse communities. Collaborating with a dedicated team and contributing to meaningful events like Rock Roulette provided both professional growth and a deeper appreciation for the transformative power of music in reaching and inspiring the general audience, including non-academically trained musicians.”
On the complete opposite side of the musical spectrum, doctoral candidate Pedro Sperb found a unique, perfectly suited internship for his passion for early music. He worked with Pegasus Music on the inner workings of a nonprofit musical organization, found a new community of early plucked instrument performers, and even gained insight on how to gain potential gigs as a performer in this genre. “The internship was phenomenal. I had the chance to immerse myself in the environment of the nonprofit music market with the privilege of experiencing it in my field: early music,” Sperb says.
The Institute of Music Leadership is proud to help these students become the next generation of leaders in the arts!
To learn more about the Arts Leadership Certificate, please visit https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/degrees-minors-certificates/alp-certificate/. Interested in becoming a certificate candidate? Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year open July 1, 2025.
