Each semester, the Institute of Music Leadership sends multiple Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement students out into the world to complete an internship and gain hands-on experience in the music industry. The certificate is designed to complement a student’s primary area of study and provide professional development training to support the student’s career goals. Those in the program gain knowledge of the music industry and the skills to become a leader in the field. This semester is no different, with students working here on campus, in the Rochester community, and beyond.
DMA student Connor Higley is going beyond the typical music industry positions and interning with University Health Services (UHS) in their Eastman department. “Eastman is the only major school of music with dedicated physical therapy for musicians, which makes it really special,” he says. Higley took an interest in UHS and their work based on his own experience struggling with performance injuries as a brass player and all of the frustrations that came with it. He is currently collaborating with Jack Earnhart, ESM and Certificate alumnus, on a project to design and build a more ergonomic tuba stand, receiving additional instruction in study design and statistics. The two are presenting their research and results at the Performing Arts Medicine Conference in New York City in July 2026.
“This internship has given me the opportunity to go beyond the basic requirements and serve as a big launching point for new things – I’m doing so much hands-on work and learning so much through this process.” The position has inspired Higley to change his major from Tuba Performance to Music Teaching and Learning (MTL). “I’m much more excited about my career path now and none of it would have been possible without the Arts Leadership Certificate. MTL connects performance with education and research, it’s very interdisciplinary. As someone who already did two performance degrees, I’m excited to branch out and create a more robust career that includes even more of my interests. It’s been a very rewarding experience.”
Kaylynn Li, an undergraduate violinist, is focusing her internship efforts on chamber music with the bassoon and harp duo Hats + Heels. This chamber duo featuring IML’s own Blaire Koerner, bassoon and Rosanna Moore, harp, focuses on storytelling and education through innovative and theatrical performances. Li sought out this internship as a way to learn more about an independently run chamber group and is gaining skills she can take to her own chamber ensembles in the future beyond a university setting. “The biggest skill I’ve developed in this internship is learning how to advocate for myself, which I’ve been able to use throughout my classes and ensembles here at Eastman,” Li says.
Part of the storytelling aspect of Hats + Heel’s mission comes through their online series Tuneful Tales, a video production blending a new arrangement which has been paired with a legend, narrative, chronicle, poem, or even a piece of trivia from a variety of cultures. One project Li is looking forward to before the end of the semester is creating her own Tuneful Tales video. “Lots of the videos are about Irish heritage, since Rosanna lives there. They’ve encouraged me to dive into my own creativity and explore my heritage, so I’m making my video about Cantonese dim sum. The support I’m getting from them to explore my own voice in my work feels unique to this organization.”
Master’s student Nicole Khouzami is bringing her efforts to the Gateways Festival Orchestra as their Digital Communications and Productions Intern. The Gateways Festival Orchestra is an ensemble of the Gateways Music Festival, a New York-based non-profit organization whose mission is to connect and support professional classical musicians of African descent and enlighten and inspire communities through the power of performance. “As a vocalist, I wanted to experience what it’s like to work with an orchestra and learn about the inner workings of an organization like Gateways. Additionally, as an underrepresented person in classical music, I really relate to and support their unique mission.” Khouzami has been able to observe the flexibility required of an employee in the nonprofit arts space and develop communication and time management skills, all from a remote position.
Khouzami also currently holds a part time position as the Operations Manager for Stratagem Artists after winning an IML Special Opportunity Grant to intern with the organization last summer. “It was really interesting to explore the management side of the industry, something I was less familiar with. It was a life-changing experience that has led to some amazing opportunities, including my current position. They were very open to me taking on responsibility, which is where growth as a professional happens,” she says. “We have so many skills that we learn from music other than just how to play – collaboration, discipline, time-management – they all can be applied to so many other disciplines. It’s made me feel more empowered to embrace these skills beyond just onstage and in the practice room.”
Interested in becoming a Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement Candidate? Applications for the next cohort open July 1, 2026.
