1. Abigail Adams Summer 2016
Summer Internship Reflection: Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
The Context:
I’m a double major at SUNY Purchase, and due to my heavy course load each semester, I
haven’t had too much time, until now, to put the arts administration theory I’ve learned into practice.
It’s been easier with the music composition theory I’ve learned during my pursuit of my BMus in
Studio Composition. That theory is as simple as practicing a song. For my BA in Arts Management,
it hasn’t been quite so simple. Arts administration theory requires a student to be out in her field. I
have had opportunities to create low level strategic marketing plans for my music, read contracts, and
draft hypothetical professional correspondence at school, but I haven’t had the chance to do any of
these things in the field. All students in the Arts Management undergraduate program at Purchase are
required to complete an internship worth four credits during their studies, in order to graduate. I
spontaneously applied to intern in the marketing department at Caramoor Center for Music and the
Arts in Katonah, New York. Fortunately, this internship was the most fruitful internship I’ve
completed, and it really opened my eyes to what it’s actually like to work in arts administration.
I feel very fortunate to have become a part of such a wonderful team at Caramoor. I’m
entirely enamored with the estate, its history, and commitment to thoughtful programming. This
experience has been incredibly inspiring and interesting, especially through my studies under Tahra
Millan, V.P. and Chief Marketing Officer, Mary Cornell, the Programs and Publications Manager,
and Morgan Boecher, the Communications Marketing Manager.
Before I began my internship, Tahra and I discussed what my hopes were for the program,
and how to make it a successful experience for everyone involved. The goals we set are as follows:
Initial Internship Goals:
1. Strategy and Planning (fall/ spring program book creation and development with publications
manager).
2. Project Management (Material deadlines, editing, trafficking, and management with
publications manager).
3. Creative, Research, & Writing (fall/ winter season program planning with Creative Media
Group).
4. Organizational Development (transitioning publications function into Creative Media
Group).

2. The Take-Away:
“Strategy and Planning” and “Project Management”
The bulk of my work here at Caramoor has been to assist Mary with her work proofing and
editing text for inserts in the summer program book, cross-checking text for accuracy, creating and
developing the fall/ spring program book, managing material due dates and timelines, and archiving
programs dating back to 1946. Additionally, she also allowed me to be the point person for the
program creation for Caramoor’s “Dancing at Dusk: Pacific Rim” series. This series of four events
allowed families to enjoy the estate’s grounds, picnic, listen to music, and learn dances from distinct
cultures.
I really enjoyed learning Mary’s project management system. The organization skills she has
taught me will remain with me for the rest of my life. Projects no longer seem daunting, as I’ve seen
just how much work she and I can accomplish as a highly organized team. Mary’s timeline zooms
ahead of the timelines of many other functions that happen here, she must operate on a different
schedule, as the book has to come out rather promptly. We were already working on the fall book
halfway through the summer. It’s very satisfying work, especially as I love to read and write. I didn’t
think I’d be working on print media publications this summer, but it was a new and exciting thing for
me to learn. Mary’s messaging is by its very nature more academically tuned. It serves a different
purpose than digital media, and has a different voice while maintaining the same branding. Her work
seeks to inform and elaborate, while the work of the Creative Media Group seeks to attract and
garner excitement.
Many students my age are quick to disregard the necessity of print media creation, as digital
media creation and promotion have quickly become easy to access tools in marketing. However, I
now see how important it is to connect with multiple audience demographics. Millennials are an
exciting audience to attract, but organizations cannot disregard their slightly more mature audiences
who have lent support over many years.
One thing that strikes me is that I’ve really seen the marketing team transition from finishing
up their summer strategy and begin their work on the fall strategy. Although these two parts are out
of order, I can see how the team’s work accumulates and turns into positive success. As one ark
falls, another rises, it’s beautiful. Among my peers at school, I’m hard pressed to see proof of project
completion. True organization is the key to accomplishing goals. It’s really refreshing to see that
here.

3. Summer Autumn
“Creative, Research, & Writing” and “Organizational Development”
I met the third and fourth goals we set with varying degrees of success. Tahra and I believe
that this is due to the nature of the summer festival season, which is strategic, but much more tactical,
when compared with the fall, winter, and spring seasons. During the fall and winter, things slow
down at Caramoor, and much more of the strategic planning occurs. If I’d had more time with the
Creative Media Group, I would have been more prepared to make recommendations regarding how
to transition the publications functions into the Creative Media group, and further merge their
strategies.
I did a moderate amount of work with the Creative Media Group, writing some copy for the
fall brochure, trafficking edits for the fall brochure, doing research for brochure copy, and posting
events on listing sites. I also got to sit in on meetings regarding the layout of the program book, and
learned how Mary interacts with Morgan regarding their combined work. Although this goal wasn’t
met as thoroughly as I would have liked, it could have happened with more time, and I still found it
fruitful. Having a bit of copy that I wrote make it into the fall brochure helped, too! I still got to see
how Morgan and his teammates worked together to create thoughtful, fun media that engages
audiences and potential audiences online, in a genuine, honest way. Luckily, I’ve had a bit of
experience with digital media marketing in a previous internship, and will be taking digital media
marketing classes this fall. Again, I feel a part of a very strong team, and love seeing how everyone
interacts.
Holistic Learning and Positives:
Despite not meeting the final two goals to the same extent as the first two, some other
valuable experiences presented themselves holistically as the summer progressed. Each Tuesday, the
marketing department, including the audience services department, would meet to discuss the week,
and reflect on what we were doing as a team. This allowed the marketing department to

4. communicate and stay up-to-date with each other’s strategy, and progress in meeting weekly goals.
Not only were these meetings informative, and proof of the vast knowledge this team holds, but they
were also very fun and inspiring. These meetings helped us regroup and encourage each other
through the fast paced festival season. After each meeting, I’d catalog the marketing staff members’
weekly reflections in Microsoft Excel. These reflections noted everything the staff members noticed
during the previous weeks’ events. The staff members trust each other, and are open enough to give
constructive criticism, which is very important in ensuring positive growth within a team. These
meetings and reflection sheets foster an open environment based on mutual respect for team
members. Caramoor’s mission is all about fostering the arts, and sharing mutual love of the arts,
while allowing individuals to feel at home on the lovely estate:
Our mission is to enrich the lives of audiences through innovative and diverse musical
performances of the highest quality, mentor young professional musicians, and engage
children through interactive, educational experiences that deepen their relationship to and
understanding of music. These three prongs – music performance, musician mentoring, and
music education – infuse everything we doi
.
These values are prevalent among the staff, who are dedicated to the mission. There is constant
positive growth here.
Weekly meetings occur on a larger scale on Wednesdays. The entire administration staff gets
together to do much the same thing as the marketing department does. These meetings illustrate the
broader timelines that we all adhere to, and show how each department works together. The meetings
are always cheery and informative. At each meeting we discuss the previous week’s events, the
upcoming events, ticket sales projections, and general comments on strategy. Again, the mutual
respect among the staff is visible. Everyone is jovial, and happy to be at Caramoor supporting the art
they love.
Working in an office setting for the first time in my life really taught me what makes a
machine run. It’s clear that when every individual is organized, prompt, respectful, creative, and
positive, the gears turn, and immense amounts of success follow.
The Big Picture:
Caramoor helps bring classical music, including bel canto opera and chamber music, jazz,
and roots music to the larger community, in a soulful, heartfelt way. It’s clear that everyone here
brings love and care to what they do, collaborating for true success. This center is lucky to have had

5. such a warm intent built into the very house that crowns the grounds. However, as a newcomer to
this team, I have learned a great deal, and can see the true care and energy it takes to preserve that
intent. I’ve yet to experience or learn more from any other arts organization. This internship was the
best way I could’ve imagined to spend my summer.
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"Support - Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts." Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. N.p., 17 Feb. 2014.
Web. 04 Aug. 2016.