Build the Career You Want
Whether That's Winning the Audition, Getting the Job, or Creating Your Own Path
APPLY TODAY
Most conservatory programs prepare you beautifully for one thing: excellence on your instrument.
But a sustainable music career in 2026 requires more than that.
Here's what we believe:
A career in music isn't an unstable path where the odds are stacked against you. It's a rich and incredible opportunity to share your skills and talents with the world in creative ways. The challenge? Music school often leaves gaps in the training you need to make that happen.
We're here to amplify the training you already have and fill those gaps. You need to know how to find work, manage money, pitch yourself, and navigate the business side of being a professional musician. And here's what most music programs won't tell you: you have more options than you think.
Yes, you can pursue auditions and teaching positions. But you can also create a concert series, start a community music school, grow a private studio, launch creative projects, or design a portfolio career that combines several income streams. Today's music landscape rewards versatility and entrepreneurship as much as technical excellence.
That's where the Music360 Career Hub Professional Development Certificate Program comes in.
Whether you're preparing for auditions, building something from scratch, or both, the Career Hub helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Through a comprehensive curriculum that connects who you are to what you do, you'll gain the tools and support to stand out and succeed in today's classical music landscape—on your terms.
What You'll Learn
Part 1: Amplify Your Foundation
Strengthen the training you already have with core essential professional skills:
Business & Career Foundations
- Money confidence, finance & budgeting
- Contracts and negotiating
- Crafting your elevator pitch
- Task, time & project management
- Understanding freelancer vs. entrepreneur models
Professional Materials That Work
- Résumé & CV development
- Crafting your biography & "About Me"
- Cover letters, applications & interview prep
- Building your website & digital presence
Communication & Presence
- Artist statements & teaching statements
- Public speaking & presentation skills that feel authentic
Soft Skills That Set You Apart
- Problem-solving & resilience
- Cultivating an opportunity mindset
- Networking without feeling fake
- Sustainable motivation and habits
Part 2: Build What's Next
Take your ideas from concept to reality:
From Idea to Launch
- Clarifying and shaping your vision
- Writing proposals that get funded
- Forming a non-profit or for-profit entity
- Fundraising & grant writing basics
- Bringing projects from concept to completion
Feedback on Your Work
Throughout the Build phase, you'll receive personalized feedback on your projects, proposals, and professional materials. Our instructors review your work and provide actionable guidance to help you refine your ideas and move forward with confidence.
Plus: Tools for Practice, Performance & Well-Being
Because your playing is a reflection of who you are, and how your body feels has everything to do with how you perform:
- Strategies to strengthen your practice and performance
- Access to renowned pedagogues and thought-leaders
- Wellness practices designed specifically for performing artists
- Weekly accountability and community support
How It Works
Access Course Materials
Video + written lessons you can work through at your own pace on our digital learning platform
Join Weekly Office Hours
Includes live workshops with guest speakers from across the music industry
Complete Assessments
Earn your certificate through structured evaluation of your work
Get Ongoing Support
Apply what you're learning in real time with personalized guidance
Project Incubator
Have an idea you want to develop—a project, a studio, a series, a program? Think of this as your incubator! Many Career Hub participants continue with one-on-one or group support to bring their vision to life.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Ready for comprehensive, structured learning?
The Career Hub Certificate Program guides you from inner clarity to professional launch with complete curriculum, assessments, personalized support, and project incubation.
Perfect for musicians committed to building complete career skills and earning a professional development certificate.
Register for the Career HubWant flexible, ongoing development instead?
Thrive Memberships offer monthly access to live workshops, masterclasses, guest artists, and our video library—without formal assessments or application requirements.
Perfect for musicians who want to stay inspired, sample content, and learn at their own pace.
Explore Thrive Memberships
Still figuring out your next move?
Take our Career Profile Quiz to discover where you are in your journey and get a personalized roadmap—whether that's the Career Hub, Thrive, or a custom path forward.
Perfect for musicians who want guidance on which option fits their current stage and goals.
Meet Your Instructors
Learn from experienced professionals who've built successful, multifaceted music careers
Ixi Chen
Clarinetist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, faculty at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Founder & Managing Artistic Director of concertnova. Ixi brings practical experience in performance, teaching, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on helping musicians connect their authentic voice to professional materials that work.
David Cook
Associate Professor of Clarinet at Millikin University, author of Clarinet Conditioning, and founder of Academic Musician Career Consulting. David specializes in higher education career paths, pedagogy, and the academic job market.
Austin Pancner
Founder and CEO of The Functional Musician, bass trombonist, and certified performance health specialist. Austin has helped over 100 musicians overcome tension, pain, and injury through his holistic approach to musician wellness and injury prevention.
Annie Phillips
Former faculty at New England and San Francisco Conservatories, where she led over 1,500 individual coaching sessions with musicians. Annie developed Musical Startups at SFCM and co-directed Switchboard Music. She focuses on professional development, arts marketing, and what makes a fulfilling creative career.
Nick Photinos
Four-time Grammy Award-winning cellist, Professor of Chamber Music at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and founding member of Eighth Blackbird. Nick has collaborated with everyone from Björk to Philip Glass and brings 24 years of touring, recording, and creating new music to the curriculum.
Ted Nelson
Balancing passion, work and experience on both sides of the aisle, Ted has been a cellist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 21 years, and is the former VP of Artistic Planning and Operations at the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Ted offers insider knowledge of auditions, orchestra management, and navigating institutional music careers.
The Career Hub is for you if:
✓ You're in school and want to build a holistic skill set that goes beyond the practice room
✓ You're a pre-professional looking to launch your career with confidence
✓ You're a professional musician or teacher who wants support and resources to keep growing
✓ You're ready to explore your unique skill set and what you can contribute to the world (and your pocket!)
Registration Timeline:
Rolling Registration Open
Through April 30, 2026
To access both course materials and live guest speakers for the 2025–2026 program year, complete your registration and upload materials on Acceptd by April 30, 2026.
- Students may join anytime between January 10, 2026 – April 30, 2026
- Starting earlier gives you more time to complete coursework and access the full live speaker schedule
- Guest speaker replays are only available during the current program year
- Course materials begin rolling out January 10, 2026, with weekly coaching calls throughout the year
- You'll have up to 2 years from your start date to complete all assessments and earn your certificate
We believe
a career in music is not an unstable path where the odds are stacked against you, but instead it is a rich and incredible opportunity to share your skills & talents with the world in creative ways. And that...
Musicians are entrepreneurs
The days of having just one job are mostly over, but that doesn't mean a career in music isn't viable. You must explore your unique skill sets that can contribute to the world (and your pocket).
There's a gap in music school education
Traditional programs don't fully prepare you for the real world. You need professional skills beyond your playing—communication, marketing, finance, resilience, wellness.
Wellness lies at the heart of everything
What makes a strong, healthy mind is different for everyone, but it's just as important as scales and excerpts. Remember: you're a musician-athlete.
Your playing reflects who you are
Being emotionally well and heart-centered makes a dramatic difference not only in your expressive capabilities but in your whole life.
THRIVE began in October 2020 and has helped hundreds of students gain the confidence and skills they need to make strides in their playing and career. We've got big hearts and believe there is space for everyone in classical music—and we're here to help you claim yours.
Still figuring out your next move?
Take our Career Profile Quiz to discover where you are in your journey and get a personalized roadmap