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Pasadena Conservatory of Music Executive Director Stephen McCurry to Retire After Three Decades

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Pasadena Conservatory of Music Executive Director Stephen McCurry to Retire After Three Decades

Man smiles at a party

Stephen McCurry has announced that he will retire in August 2025 after building the school into a national leader in community music education.

“It has been the honor of my career to serve as PCM’s Executive Director,” said Stephen McCurry. “Over the past 34 years, we – our exceptional faculty, staff, board, supporters, students, and families – have accomplished a great deal together. With the completion of our ambitious Common Ground campaign in sight, PCM is about to embark on an exciting, new chapter. As we enter this new phase, it feels like the right time to transition to a new generation of leadership with the vision and passion to build on PCM’s outstanding history of growth and contributions to our community.”

3 men and one woman pose at a ribbon cutting in front of Barrett Hall
3 men and 2 women pose in front of a piano

Under McCurry’s leadership, we expanded from a small, rented house on Atchison Street to the 60,000-square-foot campus that PCM owns in the heart of Pasadena. Our administrative staff grew from two to 14, our annual budget increased from $200K to $3.5M, and our assets grew from $200K to $17M. With our $11 million-plus Common Ground initiative, we’ll soon debut a renovated administrative wing, a new music learning center, and an outdoor amphitheater with classrooms and performance spaces that will:

  • Expand multicultural programming
  • Expand programming in Adult Studies, Young Musicians, and Music Production
  • Help develop intergenerational programming for the youngest and oldest in our community

More than 70 highly accomplished music educators, many of whom are active performers, serve on our faculty, and our students have gone on to study in almost every major music conservatory and university in the country.

“We can’t thank Stephen enough for putting PCM on the map and setting the stage for its bright, exciting future,” said PCM Board Chair Laurie Sowd.

The board of directors has formed a transition committee and hired Koya Leadership Partners to conduct a national search for a successor. The new Executive Director is expected to be in place for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Man and woman laugh at a party
Three men talk candidly in the courtyard

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