Arts Professional Story: Shauna Quill, University of Chicago Presents

Shauna Quill, Executive Director of University of Chicago Presents

About a year ago I began my tenure as Executive Director of The University of Chicago Presents (UCP), the University’s professional music presenting organization. It is my first time being the “boss” and I’m enjoying all aspects of it, from artistic planning and programming, which I’ve done for years, to fundraising and marketing, which are both firsts for me.

The role of an Executive Director differs from place to place. In describing my position at UCP, I must clarify that we have an extremely small full-time staff, so the scope of my duties is different than it would be at larger organizations. (That said, it seems logical to me that the Executive Director of any organization is aware of what is happening in all areas regardless of whether they are doing it personally.) In our office I’m juggling artistic planning and marketing; the production of our chamber music concerts and the needs of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; audience building and grant writing; and the role of our office within the hierarchy of the entire University, to name a few. It is the kind of job that allows, and in fact demands, creativity both within and outside of the artistic realm.

Fortunately for me, the University fosters such creativity and supports it internally. My first season of planning will begin in the 2008/2009 year and, in addition to the typical presentations for which UCP is known, I’m partnering with organizations around the University and Chicago to put together a ten-day festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of Olivier Messiaen’s birth. Putting it all together has been a daunting task, but I could not wait to utilize the University’s astounding intellectual resources to benefit our programming. Being able to program beyond the traditional concert format and showcase scholars from fields throughout the University is a luxury and a joy. With support from the University’s Music Department and the Humanities Division, I have complete confidence that, as the University moves toward the opening of the David and Reba Logan Arts Center in 2011, The University of Chicago Presents will be at the forefront of showcasing artistic excellence to the community.

In regard to preparing for this position, I must admit that there was no great plan that led me to it. I come from a very artistic family and have been performing as far back as I can remember. From flute and piano to tap dancing and acting, I have seen and done a lot. I never thought I would end up on this side of the fence (probably because I was not aware it existed), but I’m happy that I did. To say it was all chance, however, is not exactly accurate.

I bounded out of college happily in 1997 knowing that I would not pursue a performance career (a story too long to be told here). Initially I took a position as a paralegal thinking I would become a labor lawyer, but at the same time my favorite hobby was reading the Sunday New York Times jobs section. I interviewed for all sorts of jobs in every field searching for the perfect career, and then one day I read an ad for which I was completely unqualified. It was to be an assistant artist manager at a management firm. The requirements were that you had to have a master’s in musicology and be fluent in at least three languages. Undeterred by my lack of a master’s and "muy poco" knowledge of Spanish, I applied figuring I had nothing to lose. I bought a new suit and went into what turned out to be the office that represented Pavarotti and a bevy of other opera singers.

I cannot say exactly why they hired me, but something about my eagerness to learn and do anything must have struck a chord with them. It probably helped that I loved opera, too. I started immediately and had a blast booking engagements for singers at houses around the world while attending the Metropolitan Opera at every opportunity. My favorite job perk was traveling to see our artists perform and rehearse, which eventually made me realize that I was on the wrong side of the business. I wanted to be producing performances, not just attending them.

As luck would have it, just about the time I was thinking this, a colleague announced he was leaving his position at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Skipping the details, he and I flip-flopped across the country, and I stayed in Aspen for four years. I went from the Assistant Artistic Administrator (or “AAA” since people called me when things went wrong) to Associate Artistic Administrator to just Artistic Administrator (or “AA” because there was a lot of schmoozing involved). Those were some of the greatest years of my life and I learned a ton! I had the greatest mentors whose wisdom still stays with me (“It’s not brain surgery, Shauna!”), I met amazing artists whom I now call friends, and I learned enormous amounts of repertoire. It was the place where most people who've met me probably know me from.

After Aspen, I consulted for a range of companies and foundations around the world, but it was not until this job in Chicago that I felt truly grounded again. I am really fortunate to have had all of these experiences, and I have no doubt that there are many others who could be, and are, doing it just as well or better than I am. The thing is, I truly love what I do, and no matter what happens behind the scenes it all fades away once the music starts. Music is such a physical thing to me and in all its many forms it is the one thing in the world that can transport me to another place – one of complete happiness. I cannot imagine working in a field about which I was not passionate, so it is truly a gift that I am able to make my living doing what I do. And so long as I can help bring such joy to the people who attend our performances, I would feel fulfilled whether I were the boss or the usher.

So if I had to give advice to someone wanting to enter this field, here is what I would say:

1 – Get some comfortable shoes because you are going to be running around a lot.

2 – Aways be kind and thoughtful – people, and especially artists, will remember.

3 – Don’t be afraid. If you want this life then you have to be willing to risk everything, but the rewards are great.

4 – Look me up sometime. I love to meet anyone and everyone.

And finally,

5 – “It’s not brain surgery!” You can and will figure it out.

Shauna Quill is the Executive Director of The University of Chicago Presents. She has held artistic positions with the Aspen Music Festival and La Jolla Music Society, and consults for cultural organizations around the world.