Pasadena Conservatory of Music is thrilled to announce that, following a comprehensive, national search by Koya Leadership Partners, leading music educator and administrator Dr. Stephen Cook will assume the role of Executive Director after the retirement of Stephen McCurry in August.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cook served as Principal of Arts at the California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) and was a founding member of the administrative team that opened the school in 2017. During his time at CSArts-SGV, Dr. Cook and his team increased the school’s total enrollment to 1300 students, 45 full-time academic teachers, 175 adjunct arts instructors, and an administrative support staff of 25. CSArts-SGV was recently ranked the #2 Best Charter High School in the State of California and the 5th Best High School for the Arts in the nation by niche.com.

Dr. Cook, who received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, has been a member of PCM’s faculty for the past 12 years and has served as Chair of the Piano Department since 2014.

He also served on the faculty of the Colburn School of Performing Arts, was the Director of the Pianist Program at the Orange County School of the Arts, was an Associate Professor at Whittier College, and served on the Executive Board of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers.

Dr. Cook expressed enthusiasm for his new position and admiration for his predecessor, stating: “I will truly miss Stephen McCurry’s leadership. I can’t wait to get started and, together with PCM’s incredible faculty and staff, I am committed to seeing the Conservatory thrive and grow into an even greater presence in the San Gabriel Valley.”

For his part, McCurry shared that “Dr. Stephen Cook is the right person to lead PCM through this next chapter. He’s already a big part of our community and culture. I’m confident that under his leadership PCM will continue to grow and flourish.”

Transition committee member and PCM Board Chair Laurie Sowd said, “PCM’s transition committee and Board of Directors couldn’t be more excited to have a candidate with Dr. Cook’s experience and vision filling the role of Executive Director and building upon Stephen McCurry’s remarkable legacy.”