2024 Alumni Achievement Award
Shauna Quill has devoted her professional life to the performing arts and arts education. Since 2023, she has served as president and chief executive officer of the Music Academy of the West, which nurtures exceptional young musicians and leaders in Santa Barbara, California.
Previously, Shauna served as the executive director of the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS). Under her leadership, it became the first youth orchestra to receive the Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance – Classical for its inaugural professional recording. During her tenure with the NYYS, the organization expanded its programming with additions like Musical Theater Songwriting and the Crescendo orchestral program for New York City students ages 10 to 18. She helped build partnerships and fellowships through the community with Interlochen Center for the Arts, Harmony Program, Harlem School of the Arts and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. The group was recognized as one of the most awarded youth orchestras in the United States, touring internationally and performing for “CBS Sunday Morning,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
Before the NYYS, Shauna was executive director of UChicago Presents, the university’s professional multi-genre music series, where she designed and curated festivals on Olivier Messiaen and the Soviet Era that were named top cultural events by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and TimeOut Chicago. Shauna has held senior leadership positions at arts organizations including the Aspen Music Festival and School, La Jolla Music Society and the Herbert Breslin Agency.
Shauna received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in flute performance from CMU’s College of Fine Arts School of Music, where she was a student of Jeffrey Khaner, Julius Baker, and Ethan Stang.
It's truly an honor to be recognized by Carnegie Mellon, where the seeds of my life's goals were planted. I look forward to returning to campus to see its evolution.
Shauna Quill (CFA 1997)