Published: Feb. 12, 2021 By

Jeffrey NytchAmong 30 distinguished academics, clinicians, consultants and authors, Jeffrey Nytch—director of the College of Music’s Entrepreneurship Center for Music and associate professor of composition—has joined the Yamaha Master Educator Collective’s newly-launched Music Business and Entrepreneurship group.

The Yamaha Master Educator Collective comprises top-tier educators from across North America recognized as the most highly regarded experts in their fields. The new Music Business and Entrepreneurship group is the latest evolutionary stage of the collective, expanding its capabilities to help educators prepare students for the modern music industry.

“Becoming a part of the Yamaha Master Educator Music Business and Entrepreneurship group fills me with great pride, humility and excitement,” said Nytch. “I look forward to exploring opportunities to teach educators and their students about how entrepreneurship can help build the musicians’ career toolbox and can translate to impactful and meaningful contributions to a diverse group of audiences.”

Indeed, Nytch has built a diverse career as a composer, teacher, performer, arts administrator and consultant. In 2009, he joined the College of Music faculty and rebuilt the Entrepreneurship Center for Music into one of the top programs of its kind in the country. In addition to his work with arts entrepreneurship, Nytch has been a professional musician for more than 25 years, performed a wide range of repertoire as a vocalist, run a small business, co-founded a nonprofit service organization in Houston and served six seasons as managing director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, one of the nation’s premier new music ensembles.

“As a musician, composer and nonprofit organizer, Jeffrey is a unique molder of young minds,” said John Wittmann, senior director of Artist Relations and Education, Yamaha. “His non-linear career path has given him a wide perspective of understanding and inspired his approach to music education.

“With his passionate belief that entrepreneurship serves as the key to transferring skills to other disciplines, Jeffrey works with students from across the country, many of them hopeful future performing artists, to help them discover how to create and enjoy successful careers.”

As one of the leading voices in his profession, Nytch has presented papers for numerous organizations, both in the United States and abroad, including the Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, College Music Society, National Association of Schools of Music, Marketing Management Association and Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Education.

Since 2016—by offering professional development opportunities across diverse fields in the music industry—the Yamaha Master Educator Collective has sought to connect thought leaders in music education as a resource for educators and students at the middle school through collegiate levels. The Music Business and Entrepreneurship group focuses on providing meaningful access to new opportunities for innovation and growth within this quickly expanding educational field.