If you asked me twenty years ago what the least likely master’s degree I would ever pursue, it would have definitely been a business degree. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music Degree from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in the early 2000s, I was excited to gain hands-on experience by teaching. I have spent most of my career as a music teacher, working with students of all ages, in all different environments—from infants and toddlers to elementary, middle, and high schoolers.
Teaching did—and still does—bring me immense joy. Watching students grow, develop, and discover a love for music and their instrument has been one of the most gratifying parts of my professional life. However after a year and a half of teaching music on Zoom—an experience that was as challenging as it sounds—and then navigating the demands of post-COVID classrooms, I began to imagine what I wanted the next chapter of my career to look like. I realized I was ready for a change.
I have long been fascinated by arts administration. While working in Baltimore, I gained my first hands-on experience as Operations Manager for the Handel Choir of Baltimore. After leaving Baltimore and moving to Wisconsin, I took on part-time roles with Suzuki Strings of Madison, Salon Piano Series, and the Stoughton Chamber Music Festival. Through these positions, I realized that what I love about teaching—the variety, the engagement with diverse stakeholders, and the dynamic nature of the work—is exactly what drew me to arts administration.
It took me four years to work up the courage to apply to the Bolz Center for Arts Administration. Going through a career change in your 40s is not for the faint of heart. Balancing an accelerated program alongside professional responsibilities and family life has made this one of the most challenging years of my life—and, within those challenges, one of the most vibrant and exciting.
Returning to school later in life, while juggling far more than I would have in my 20s, has been deeply impactful. Almost every class discussion directly connects to the work I am doing, allowing me to immediately apply new ideas and approaches in real time. So much of my arts administrative work has been learned on the job, and it’s a tremendous opportunity to be able to spend a dedicated year in classrooms, learning from professors and industry leaders.
This program and career change have reinforced how essential adaptability is for me. Twenty years ago, I could never have imagined a career rooted in business, but that is the beauty and joy of life: exploring new ideas and reinventing yourself along the way. I’m excited to bring that mindset and my Bolz Center experience into a full-time role within a larger arts organization in Madison, one that still offers the hands-on variety and meaningful engagement I’ve loved throughout my career.
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