To commemorate a quarter-century of remarkable achievements, the Institute for Music Leadership (IML) proudly presents this retrospective report that documents the vision, journey, and accomplishments of its first 25 years. The Institute has shaped the educational landscape in music through harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit that lies at the core of musical excellence. Founded on the bedrock of George Eastman’s visionary ideals, the IML—and the Eastman School of Music—has flourished into a nurturing haven for aspiring musicians, equipping them with the mindsets, tools, and curiosity to transform their passions into dynamic examples of impressive leadership on and off the stage.
The Story Continues
Below are some of the events, recognitions and initiatives that have occurred following the publication of the Institute for Music Leadership: A 25-Year Retrospective report. Check back periodically to see how the IML continues to evolve!
Timeline
Billboard recognizes MA in Music Leadership, Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media, Electroacoustic Music Studios @ Eastman (EMuSE), and student-run Ensemble OSSIA as resources that prepare the next generation to lead an increasingly complex industry.
The IML helped to present the inaugural George T. Walker’s Center for Equity and Inclusion in Music Conference.
Launched the annual one-day retreat in Rochester for local high school aged musicians to hone leadership and community engagement skills.
In the summer of 2023, the Create.Inspire.Lead
podcast was rebranded to Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians and includes student-developed artwork and music.
The IML was part of team awarded a 3-year $1.8M NSF grant to explore the Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier, specifically how musician leverage AI powered tools in the creation, performance and dissemination of their work.
Eastman Leadership Bootcamp (ELB)
Launched the annual online, interactive training program for early professionals in music or arts administration to continue developing leadership skills and tools.
Master of Arts in Music Leadership (MAML)
Eastman graduated its first class from the Master of Arts in Music Leadership degree program.
Eastman Leadership Academy (ELA)
Launched the annual, virtual summer experiences for upperclassman or graduate music students to learn skills needed to tackle the challenges facing the music world of today.
Department Matching Grant
Developed a funding program for each Eastman department to request financial and logistical support to bring in guest artists for events, workshops, or panels.
Eastman Leadership Conference (ELC)
Launched the first annual
3 1/2 day professional development opportunity for current and aspiring deans, associate/assistant deans, and department chairs of music schools to continue to develop their leadership skills.
IML Grant and Mentorship Program
This grant was established in 2017 to support Eastman students in the development of musical projects, ideas, and/or research. The program offers both financial support and 1:1 mentorship to get the project off the ground.
Eastman Careers & Leadership Certificate (ECLC)
IML opened enrollment to a completely online, for-credit certificate for early professionals in the music field to advance their education in non-profit organizations and prepare them for a career in leadership.
Eastman Case Studies
Volume 1, consisting of 5 individual case studies, was published. This annual, educational publication examines issues and challenges that face today’s music organizations and leaders, challenging the reader to make decisions in resolving them.
Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research
This center was created to research innovative ensembles, both in terms of symphony orchestra and chamber ensembles. The goal was highlight artist-centered ensembles that modeled change, while maintaining operational sustainability.
Click here to access the archived Paul R. Judy Center website.
Center for Music Innovation and Engagement (CMIE)
CMIE served as a place for students to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas and find their place in today’s marketplace. It also hosted Eastman’s first online courses such as e-Theory; a course to prepare incoming freshmen for the music theory placement exams.
Preparing the Generation “E” Musician
Conference
The goal of this conference was to “envision the future” of Eastman curriculum. Students and deans engaged in developing new ideas, such as, entrepreneurial courses and projects, to be added to the curriculum.
Entrepreneurial Leadership in Music Schools Workshop
At the 2007 NASM conference, Eastman used part of the Kauffman grant to host a pre-conference workshop to help create an educational environment that promotes creative and entrepreneurial thinking in musicians.
The Eastman New Venture Challenge
A business plan competition was developed to provide the winning entrepreneurial student or team idea with $2,000 towards a possible venture capital investment. Individuals or teams pitched ideas to a panel of Eastman faculty and staff.
Orchestra Musician Forum
In 2006, Paul Judy and the Symphony Orchestra Institute (SOI) gave Eastman $1.2 million to launch the Orchestra Musician Forum (polyphonic.org). The goal of this site was to provide research on improving the effectiveness of symphony orchestras during an ever-changing economy.
Added Careers & Professional Development to IML
Recognizing the success of the IML and the needs of the students, the school administration merged the Office of Careers and Professional Development into the IML in 2005.
Kauffman Foundation Grant Recipient
Growing support of entrepreneurship education attracted the Kauffman Foundation, which awarded Eastman a five-year, grant of $700,000. This funding furthered Eastman’s goals, enabling them to expand the ALP curriculum and present at national conferences.
Institute for Music Leadership
In 2001, Eastman was the recipient of the Mellon Foundation three-year grant which allowed the school to join the Mellon Forum and create the Institute for Music Leadership (IML). This allowed Eastman to expand on its entrepreneurship, using the IML as the spearhead.
Catherine Filene Shouse Endowment
In July 2000, the Arts Leadership Certificate Program was named in honor of Catherine Filene Shouse, in recognition of a major endowment grant from her foundation.
Arts Leadership Certificate Program Developed
Created in 1996, this certificate and internship program originated as part of the “Eastman Initiatives,” the Eastman School’s comprehensive restructuring of its curricular and co-curricular program.
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