Music Conservatory of Westchester Names Carol Shiffman Executive Director

White Plains, NY (PRWEB) June 26, 2009

The Music Conservatory of Westchester, a non-profit community school of the arts in White Plains, NY, has appointed Rye resident Carol Shiffman as Executive Director effective July 1, 2009. The announcement was made by Board President Nancy Goodman.

Shiffman succeeds Dr. Aaron Flagg, who leaves to become the next Dean of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. A professional trumpet player and teaching artist, Dr. Flagg holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan and two degrees from The Juilliard School.

Shiffman is nationally recognized for her work in arts administration and music, dance, and arts education. Previously the Dean of SUNY Purchase's Conservatory of Dance, Shiffman led one of the country's preeminent arts institutions with world renowned faculty. She strengthened and expanded the school's range of course offerings, master classes, and special events, and increased student opportunities for performances both on and off campus.

"We are delighted to have Carol as our new Executive Director. Her breadth of expertise in music and education will allow us to continue to develop programming that meets the needs of an ever-broadening and more diverse Westchester County," said Goodman. "Carol's vast experience in collaboration will provide new opportunities for the Conservatory to create innovative partnerships in our 80th anniversary year and beyond."

Prior to her position at SUNY Purchase, Shiffman was Chair of the Music Department at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA, where she oversaw a 50 percent growth in enrollment. She served as Executive Director of Centrum, a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary arts organization in Port Townsend, WA, expanding their series of workshops, concerts, and festivals. Shiffman spent eleven years at the California Arts Council in Sacramento, CA as their Senior Grants Officer. She is also the founder and former Artistic Director of the Momentum Dance Company and Arts Center, a professional modern dance company based in Los Angeles, CA.

"The Music Conservatory of Westchester is a long-standing treasure in the community," said Shiffman. "I am delighted to bring my expertise and lifelong passion for the arts to this wonderful and important institution."

Shiffman received a B.A. with high honors in Comparative Literature with a minor in Dance from the University of Rochester. She completed graduate coursework at the University of California in Dance and at UCLA and California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Education, Arts Management, and Film and Television. Shiffman also studied at L'Université de Paris, La Sorbonne.

The Conservatory, which provides music, musical theatre, and music therapy for people of all ages and abilities, celebrates its milestone anniversary in the 2009-2010 academic year. Last year, the organization set a five-year strategic plan in motion, spearheaded by outgoing Executive Director Dr. Flagg. Under Dr. Flagg's leadership, the Music Therapy Institute has reached record levels of enrollment. New offerings have also been added in composition, voice, Suzuki, hip-hop, rock, and musical theatre.

In honor of the Conservatory's upcoming anniversary, plans are currently underway for a year-long series of celebrations. The organization is currently seeking former students, faculty, and staff to share their experiences for use in one of the many special publications tied with anniversary festivities.

For more details on 80th anniversary plans, or to reconnect with Conservatory alumni, please contact offers(at)musiced(dot)org.

The Music Conservatory of Westchester is located at 216 Central Avenue in White Plains, NY. Registration is always open and financial assistance is available for qualifying students. They can be reached at (914) 761-3900 or by visiting http://www.musicconservatory.org. Follow the Conservatory on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates.

About the Music Conservatory of Westchester
Founded in 1929, the Music Conservatory of Westchester (http://www.musicconservatory.org) is a non-profit community school of the arts, providing music, musical theatre education, and music therapy for people of all ages and abilities. The Conservatory's 36,000-square-foot facility in White Plains offers a Recital Hall and 43 acoustically designed classrooms and teaching studios. Their comprehensive programs, which serve 3,700 students annually, include performing ensembles, musicianship classes, student performances, master classes, workshops, and more. All students receive free admission to the Conservatory's annual series of faculty recitals and children's concerts. This year, the Conservatory awarded $110,000 in scholarship support and tuition assistance to more than 115 of its students. The Conservatory is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, and is one of only 19 non-degree granting institutions in the country to be fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Press Contact:
Kelly Lee
Co-Communications
(914) 666-0066

###