Biography
I have an extensive background working in New York City's music industry. I spent years developing my career working with professional songwriters and industry executives. Along the way, I developed an interest in teaching about the industry, I first advised my clients on the ever-changing business and then created and executed educational programs for the NY Music community.
I am passionate about this industry and love sharing it with my students! I am a third-year, full-time faculty member of the Arts & Entertainment Industries Management program. Prior to this, I taught at Rider as an adjunct faculty, and also at the famed Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. I worked with their music industry students while supporting Professor Todd Dellinger in the creation of the AEIM program. AEIM is an expansion of Rider's renowned Arts Administration program and it includes more commercial entertainment industry courses. It brings me great joy to introduce you to a business that I have found very rewarding and exciting where there are countless opportunities. So many people do not realize how many careers there are "behind the scenes" in this industry.
My love for the arts began in high school performing in plays and singing in choirs (just like you, probably!). I went on to study theater and music in college and pursued a professional singing career while enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Upon graduation, I continued to sing professionally and moved to New York City where I was hired into a very interesting administrative job at a music licensing company. And, a new career began! I fell in love with the music industry side of things and never looked back. I loved working with talented musicians and songwriters and because I was a musician myself, I had a knack for it. I studied the business diligently and worked very hard to climb the corporate ladder to Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. I remained an executive for one of the leading performing rights organizations (SESAC) in the U.S. for over 20 years. I worked with some of the top songwriters, artists, and executives in the business. I was very involved in the music community and held leadership positions on some of the top music industry organization boards. I have served as president of Women in Music, Inc, secretary of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and am a long-time leader for the Recording Academy (The Grammy Awards) where I served as a National Trustee and a Chapter President, twice. I am currently serving on the NY Chapter Board of Governors. Ten years ago, I co-founded an independent music publishing networking organization called NYC3 which produces bi-monthly professional industry meetings and events. So, I bring a lot of experience and industry know-how, and contacts to the classroom and hope to share this with you to inspire you to follow a career in a field that you are passionate about! When you have a job doing something you love, it doesn't feel like work!