Michael Shinn Named Executive Director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Shinn, who served as the Conservatory’s dean of music for six years, has been interim executive director since August of 2023.
By Tori Donahue
Berklee has named Michael Shinn(Opens in a new window), DMA, as executive director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee, starting on October 28. In his role as executive director, Shinn will build upon the Conservatory’s storied legacy, leading the institution into its next chapter through the development of initiatives, programs, and collaborations that advance its mission. As a member of Berklee’s senior leadership team, Shinn will also provide input on Berklee’s overarching strategies and will be charged with developing the next strategic plan for the Conservatory.
“I am honored to be able to lead Boston Conservatory at Berklee during this period of tremendous creativity and growth,” said Shinn. “The Conservatory is positioned to be the global standard bearer in conservatory performing arts education, and it is a tremendous privilege to bring us into the next chapter of innovation and collaboration—not just within Berklee, but as part of the larger performing arts world.”
Shinn previously served as interim executive director for the Conservatory, which he began in August of 2023. During his year in this role, he led Boston Conservatory to several impressive achievements, such as: overseeing significant growth in the Dance Division; raising more than $4.2 million in philanthropic funding; hiring more than 30 new faculty across the school’s three divisions; recruiting a new dean of theater, Krisha Marcano, to the Conservatory’s leadership team; and deepening the Conservatory’s partnerships with learning environments and divisions across Berklee, including Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Berklee NYC, and Africana Studies.
“Michael brings a wealth of leadership experience to the executive director role, as well as a passion for the development of the arts, arts education, and performing artists in a contemporary context,” said David Bogen, Berklee’s interim president and provost. “He is incredibly collaborative and supportive of faculty, staff, and students, and I look forward to working with him to advance the Conservatory’s mission to provide students with a transformative, contemporary performing arts education.”
Prior to his role as interim executive director, Shinn served as dean of music for six years. During that time, he worked closely with faculty and administration to develop new vision and positioning statements for the division, refined curriculum in support of Boston Conservatory’s Strategic Direction for 2020–2025, and established important partnerships with renowned arts organizations such as Silkroad Ensemble and Boston Lyric Opera (BLO).
Before joining the Conservatory, Shinn was chair of keyboard studies at The Juilliard School. He also served as senior advisor for artistic and educational programs at Juilliard Global Ventures, where he designed and taught the school’s first online course. In addition, he and his wife, Jessica Chow Shinn, cofounded and direct the pianoSonoma Music Festival(Opens in a new window), which has been a major vehicle for supporting the development of the finest young musicians.
Additionally, Shinn has presented panels about the future of arts education and the role of the arts in society at major conferences including SXSW EDU, SphinxConnect, and the Yamaha Educational Leader’s Summit. He maintains an active performance career as a professional pianist and teaches chamber music and studio piano. Shinn received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from The Juilliard School and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
