NMS Welcomes Brian Beach - Director of Operations
“We are delighted to welcome Brian Beach to New Music School as our new Director of Operations.
A musician, educator, and arts leader with more than 20 years of experience, Brian has dedicated his career to helping young artists reach their full potential. His thoughtful leadership, collaborative spirit, and passion for music education have made a lasting impact on students and institutions throughout Chicago. As he joins the New Music School community, Brian will help guide the operations and strategic initiatives that support our mission and the continued growth of our students. We are excited for this next chapter and look forward to all that we will accomplish together.”
Francisco Ybarra
Founder, New Music School
About Brian Beach
Brian Beach is a distinguished arts administrator, educational leader, and accomplished musician with more than two decades of experience advancing artistic excellence through strategic leadership, operational innovation, and institutional growth. As Director of Operations at New Music School, he oversees the organization’s operational strategy, infrastructure, and resource management, ensuring the delivery of exceptional educational experiences and artistic programming at New Music School, a nationally recognized center for pre-college music education known for its rigorous training, distinguished faculty, and commitment to developing the next generation of accomplished musicians.
Prior to joining New Music School, Brian spent 18 years shaping the operational and artistic landscape of the Merit School of Music, ultimately serving as Program Director for Strings, Orchestras, and Chamber Music. In this role, he directed complex multi-site programming across the institution’s main campus, two branch campuses, and eight strategic partner locations. He led programs serving more than 600 string students annually within a community of over 3,000 young musicians, balancing rigorous artistic standards with operational efficiency, fiscal stewardship, and long-range program development.
A respected collaborator and strategic leader, Brian has cultivated enduring partnerships with many of Chicago’s most prominent cultural institutions, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, the Harris Theater, and Ballet Chicago. Through these collaborations and his commitment to educational excellence, he has helped create pathways for aspiring musicians to pursue advanced study at some of the nation’s most prestigious conservatories and universities, including the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan.
In addition to his administrative leadership, Brian is an accomplished violinist and educator. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and pursued graduate studies at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. His training with renowned pedagogues Susan Waterbury, Susanna Perry Gilmore, and Mimi Zweig informs a deep understanding of artistic development and a belief that exceptional achievement flourishes within thoughtfully designed and expertly supported educational environments.
At New Music School, Brian brings a rare combination of artistic insight, operational expertise, and strategic leadership, helping to shape an institution where students and faculty are empowered to pursue the highest levels of artistic excellence.
