Looking to learn about how to run a successful musical enterprise or non-profit? Internships can be a great way to explore and gain skills before graduation.

 

Arts Internship Award Program

The Running Start program partners with nonprofit arts organizations to provide scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students to complete an internship for one or two semesters. Host sites vary each semester; sites and scholarship are announced through the Running Start newsletter or on social media. 

 

DALE Internship Program

The Running Start program partners with CMS-Detroit to provide scholarships to two music students to complete an internship for one or two semesters. These opportunities are paired with students studying early childhood music education and arts leadership, with more areas to be explored. These internships are open to any interested music student, applications are available via Handshake. Preference will be given to students who have previous affiliation with CMS-D. Openings and applications will be advertised in the Running Start Bathroom Bulletin and by faculty.

 

Opera Internships

The Running Start office paired with Professor Melanie Helton provides 2 full internships and 1 microinternship per semester. Positions range from stage management, production assistant, and costumes/wigs microintern. These opportunities are open to voice students, selected by faculty.

 

Summer Microinternship Program

The Running Start office partners with the DSO to provide 3 microinternships throughout the summer. These internships are project-based work that builds transferrable skills in arts administration, with flexibility built into this program to lend itself to allow students to complete an internship and summer music festival. Applications are announced through the Running Start newsletter/Bathroom Bulletin and on social media. Applications will be open during the month of March on Handshake.

 

Off Campus Internships

A few tips for your search:

• Do you need a place to begin searching for internships in Michigan? Check out Michigan Arts and Culture Council. They may even have an organization near you!
• Search for positions to determine your interests. The list below gives you a place to start, or check out ​​​​ MSU Handshake, The Bridge Network (password required, send request to beamerch@msu.edu to gain access), Michigan Nonprofit Association, or Culturesource. You can also look for direct targets: Music Festival websites (eg. Aspen, Music@Menlo, Glimmerglass, Wolftrap), presenting organizations, nonprofits, businesses in the industry that you love, or network with professors or alumni through LinkedIn to find opportunities.
• Consider internships on campus or with areas of the College of Music. Handshake is the best place to search (keyword: MSU)
• Meet with Running Start to discuss getting credit for your internship (MUS466) or a funding program like the MSUFCU Unpaid Internship award (undergraduate students only)
• International students who want to pursue an internship off campus must complete at CPT form.

Already found your internship but want to work on your internship application, cover letter, or interviewing skills? Set up an advising appointment on Handshake.

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Running Start List of Jobs and Internships

Click on a job or internship name to be redirected to their host site.

Job/Internship Name	Type of Program	Due Date
Ann Arbor Summer Festival	Community Engagement, Development, Education, Marketing and Design, Operations	Feb. 5, 2024
Appel Farms Arts and Music Center	Arts Administration, External Relations, School Programs and Outreach, Special Events and Conference Assistant	Rolling
Aspen Music Festival	Production Manager, Orchestra Manager, Technical Director, etc. See site for more listings	Varies
Bocal Majority	Administrative, Music Library, Junior Faculty Members	April 1
Boulanger Institute	Marketing, Business, Education Internships	Rolling
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp	Counselors, Music Staff	Rolling
Brooklyn Academy of Music	Education Operations, Dance, Visual Arts, Production, Design, Marketing, Humanities	Varies
Des Moines Performing Arts	Music Staff	Varies
Emma Bowen Foundation	Media and Technology	Rolling
Encore/Coda	Music Faculty, Counseling Staff	Varies
French Woods Festival of Performing Arts	Music Staff, Counselors	Rolling
Glimmerglass	Production, Administration, Artistic Administration	Varies
Great Lakes Center for the Arts	Special Events Internship	Applications open in February, 2024
Interlochen Center for the Arts	Counselors, Music Staff Other jobs and internships available	Rolling
Kennedy Center	Marketing, External Affairs, Programming, Development, Production/Operations, National Symphony Orchestra, Education, Production, Washington National Opera	Dec. 8, 2023
Long Lake Camp for the Arts	Music Staff	Rolling
Lincoln Center for Performing Arts	Public Programming and Administrative, Public Relations, Lincoln Center Festival Managements, International Intern, Marketing Partnerships	Rolling
Major Orchestra Library Association (MOLA)	Music Librarian positions for performance organizations such as ballet, opera, symphony, festivals, military service ensembles, and educational institutions.	Rolling
MSU College of Education	Urban Immersion Fellowship	TBD
Music Academy of the West	Piano Technician, Venues Manager, Director of Individual Giving and Donor Relations	Rolling
Music at Menlo	Merchandising, Development, Hospitality, Patron Services and Donor Stewardship, Publications and Publicity, Production, Student Services, and Operations	Feb. 15, 2024
National Public Radio	Radio Programs, New Unit, Arts and Entertainment Editorial, Picture and Multimedia, Marketing/Communications, Finance, Development, IT, Legal, Ombudsman, Sponsorsihp, Business Development, Library, Distribution, Digital Services	Paused for Summer 2024
National Repertory Orchestra	Artistic & Education, Development, Personnel, Production Operations & Recording, Marketing & PR, Music Library, Video & Photography, Stage Manager, Orchestra Manager	Jan. 31, 2024
New England Music Camp	Teaching Faculty, Counseling Staff	Rolling
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival	Administrative, Library/Director's Assistant, Production Manager, Recording Engineer	Rolling
Philadelphia Orchestra	Collaborative Learning Program, Development Department	Rolling
Ravinia Music Festival	Development intern, production assistant,
Round Top Festival Institute	Artistic Administration, Technical Assistant	Mar. 18, 2024
Sarasota Festival	Festival Intern	Dec. 1, 2023
Sesame Workshop	Children's Media	Rolling
Stanford Summer Arts Institute	Residential, Music Staff, Camp Life	Rolling
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival	Artistic Administration intern, Development & Special Event intern	Jan. 31, 2024
Wolf Trap	Apprenticeships: Artistic Administration, Communications, Costuming, Lighting, Props, Scene Painting, Stage Management, Technical Theatre, Wig & Makeup,	Mar. 1, 2024
Yellow Barn Music School and Festival	Production interns, Box Office intern	Contact Catherine Stephan for summer staff positions at catherine@yellowbarn.org
Young People's Chorus NYC	Arts Management	Rolling