Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt McFarlane.
Hi Matt, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The arts have always been a vital part of my life – my parents were both music teachers and studying piano was a non-negotiable as a kid- the one requirement my brother and I both had was to take piano lessons until we graduated high school. We both are active pianists in various settings now and continue to love playing, so I would say it has paid off. I studied music education at Graceland University and collaborated with a great group of fellow music majors, creating and producing two full recordings. I also met my wife, Molly at Graceland and we have been a great team since 1997. I was active throughout high school and college in various music ensembles ranging from choir, band, jazz band, orchestra, and participated in a wide range of other arts activities. I did my masters work at Westminster Choir College in Princeton New Jersey in Piano Accompanying and Coaching, developing collaborative skills that have served me very well outside of musical settings. Part of the experience at Westminster was being a part of the Symphonic Choir that performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing at Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The experience at Westminster exposed me to artists on a vastly different level, and greatly expanded my understanding of what is possible in the music world. in 2003, Molly and I moved to the Minneapolis-St.Paul Metro area setting in Chanhassen. We both taught private music lessons and collaborated on a church music job as well. in 2004, I applied for a music teaching position at a new Performing Arts Charter School opening in Hopkins named the Main Street School of Performing Arts. I have worked at MSSPA (now PiM Arts High School) as a music teacher from 2004-2014, and as the Executive Director from 2014-Present. in 1998, Molly and I attended the Bay View Music Festival in Petoskey, Michigan. we attended for several years as students, and in 2004 was hired as the Operations Director. I have served in that position since 2004, providing the organizational backbone for the operational aspects of the festival. I’ve had the opportunity to support many national touring acts as they performed at Bay View, as well as serving as a staff pianist for in-house performances.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have always tried to be as widely skilled as possible, ready for any opportunity that appeared. my background in vocal and instrumental music made me a good candidate for the MSSPA Job. My piano and trombone skills and background landed my first summer at Bay View. Once I had my foot in the door, I worked hard to maintain and over produce in the positions I was able to earn. It has not always been smooth. Working in the arts is not always congruent with financial stability, so maintaining multiple income streams often left little time for anything but work. I’ve applied and progressed to the final round of interviews in positions I felt strongly about the impact I could make for the organization and have not been the final selection. While disappointing, I’ve always learned something from these experiences and have worked to continue to develop and grow through these experiences.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My main work for the past ten years has been as Executive Director at the PiM Arts High School. After being hired in this position in 2014 along with an amazing team of staff, we expanded and rebranded the school, moved to a larger facility, and expanded the impact the school was able to make in the Twin Cities Arts Community. My specific work focuses on strategy, financial management, staffing, and facility management as well. I’m most proud of the high quality arts education our students can access free of charge, and the safe and supportive community our staff and students have created. I also keep an active music calendar through weekly church playing, accompanying singers at Gustavus Adolphus College, and supporting the musical experiences of my two children, Fiona (13) and Rogan (9). I believe my varied background and experience as an artist and leader in arts education gives me an informed perspective when prioritizing and making decisions whether working with other musicians or making a decision about the direction of the school.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Any big growth opportunity requires some risk. It was a risk to go out to New Jersey for grad school, coming from small town Iowa. The growth I experienced during my three years in a major metropolitan region has been invaluable to my perspective as an artist and administrator. It was a risk to apply for the Executive Director position at MSSPA, as it would mean getting the buy-in from my teaching peers, as well as reconfiguring what working together entailed. It has been thoroughly gratifying to have the opportunity collaborate and grow an organization, in turn creating a platform to impact the arts environment in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pimartshs.org
- Instagram: @pimartshs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pimartshs
