About the Innovation Institute

The Music Academy has continued to expand opportunities for fellows and alumni to develop into entrepreneurial and innovative artists through new initiatives under the umbrella of the Innovation Institute. A keystone of the Institute’s year-round offerings is the annual Alumni Enterprise Awards (AEA), a significant grant program for trailblazing endeavors. The AEA program includes the annual Innovation Residential, an educational incubator and continued mentorship for awardees. Each summer, fellows attend a range of career development workshops that closely connect with their performance program. These forward-thinking Innovation Seminars cover business and communication skills, entrepreneurship, finances, technology, and other related topics. Led by a range of industry leaders, these interactive workshops share best practices for building rewarding and sustainable music careers. The Innovation Institute also collaborates with faculty artists, speakers, alumni, and supporters. Fellows are also invited to participate in entrepreneurial competitions to expand their skillset. The Fast Pitch Awards are an opportunity to develop and share ideas that are designed to advance the field of classical music. The Digital Challenge, a video competition, encourages fellows to craft an engaging musical performance, one that may have them serving as director, producer, technical director, and performer. The Innovation Institute leads the Academy’s investment in educational and performance technology, including developing plans for streaming performances from Hahn Hall and other campus venues. Recent strides include providing the 2020 fellows with remote learning equipment, facilitating an online Summer Festival, and producing year-round donor events. Learn more at musicacademy.org/innovation. The Alumni Enterprise Awards are generously supported by the Ladera Foundation.

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