CCED Drop-In Hours: Stop by Muller 101 anytime Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and meet with a trained Peer Career Advisor to have your résumé or cover letter reviewed, discuss your grad school search, and beyond!
Appointments with Katrina (MTD Career Engagement Specialist): Whether you are a current student or alum, schedule a one-on-one appointment to dive deeper into your professional development journey.
Casting sites are online platforms where performers can find and apply for acting opportunities in theater, film, and television. These sites are valuable as they provide access to a wide range of casting calls, helping students gain experience, build their résumés, and connect with industry professionals.
Actors Access: One of the most widely used casting websites in North America; tv shows, films; can submit to roles without talent representation
Backstage: Oriented towards beginners; smaller commercials, theatre, student films; includes educational articles about the industry
Playbill: Broadway’s #1 job site - acting, internships, administrative, design, technical, and all other stage employment opportunities
💰 Paid / Stipend
🏠 Housing provided or assistance
🎭 Theatre
💃 Dance
🎶 Music
🗂 Arts Administration / Operations
🎭 Theatre / Musical Theatre
The Rev Theatre Company: Paid seasonal employment and internships in professional theatre production and administration. 💰 🎭 🗂
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Paid summer positions and internships across performance, production, and theatre operations. 💰 🎭 🗂
Asolo Repertory Theatre: Paid apprenticeships and employment in professional regional theatre production and administration. 💰 🎭 🗂
Berkshire Theatre Group: Paid seasonal and year-round positions in theatre production, front of house, and administration. 💰 🎭 🗂
Pittsburgh CLO (Musical Theatre): Paid internships and seasonal employment in musical theatre production and administration. 💰 🎭 🗂
The Muny: Paid summer internships and seasonal roles in large-scale musical theatre production and operations. 💰 🎭 🗂
Santa Fe Opera: Paid and stipend-supported apprenticeships in opera performance, production, technical theatre, and administration. 💰 🎭 🎶 🗂
💃 Dance
Jacob’s Pillow: Paid summer internships across dance programming, production, archives, and administration; housing support available. 💰 🏠 💃 🗂
Ascend Performing Arts: Paid operational and administrative roles supporting a nationally recognized performing arts organization. 💰 💃 🗂
🎶 Music
Aspen Music Festival & School: Paid summer positions and fellowships with strong mentorship and professional development; highly recommended by MTD alumni. 💰 🎶
Colorado Music Festival (CU Presents): Paid seasonal and administrative positions supporting professional orchestral and festival programming. 💰 🎶 🗂
Brevard Music Center: Paid and stipend-based summer employment and internships in music performance, production, and administration. 💰 🎶 🗂
Cincinnati Opera: Paid employment opportunities in opera production, administration, and education. 💰 🎶 🎭 🗂
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Paid positions and apprenticeships in opera performance, production, and administration. 💰 🎶 🎭 🗂
The Met Opera: Paid summer internships across arts administration, production, archives, and education. 💰 🎶 🗂
🗂 Arts Administration / Education / Performing Arts Organizations
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts: Paid internships and apprenticeships across arts administration, technical theatre, music, opera, and education. 💰 🎭 🎶 🗂
The Real School of Music: Paid internships in music education, administration, and community arts programming. 💰 🎶 🗂
Lakeside Chautauqua: Paid seasonal employment with potential housing support across arts programming, operations, and education. 💰 🏠 🎭 🎶 🗂
Hollywood (FL) Art & Culture Center: Paid internships and education-focused roles in visual and performing arts administration. 💰 🗂
Bergen Performing Arts Center: Paid internships in arts management, marketing, education, and production support. 💰 🎭 🎶 🗂
National Dance Education Organization: Paid internships supporting national dance advocacy, education, and administration. 💰 💃 🗂
ATG Entertainment Limited: Paid roles in live entertainment operations, production management, and venue administration. 💰 🎭 🗂
College of Creative Arts / Interlochen Center for the Arts: Paid summer and year-round employment in arts education, performance support, and administration. 💰 🎭 🎶 💃 🗂
On Theatrical (Bond Theatrical Group): Paid professional opportunities in theatrical merchandising and Broadway-adjacent operations. 💰 🎭 🗂
Freelance platforms are online marketplaces that connect freelancers (independent professionals who work on a project-by-project basis) with clients seeking their expertise and services. Many individuals in the music industry are freelancers. Freelance work offers the chance to build a diverse portfolio, hone skills, expand professional networks, and enjoy a flexible schedule, all while choosing projects that align with personal interests.
Airgigs: began in early 2012 as the first marketplace for hiring session musicians and recording engineers and has since grown into a global talent base
Fiverr: popular freelance platform with a variety of services and users, including musicians, sound engineers, composers, and voice over artists
SoundBetter: a music-specific marketplace where musicians can find and hire professionals for tasks like mixing, mastering, producing, songwriting, singing, and more
Twine: connects companies with creative and digital freelancers, including various music and audio services
Upwork: businesses post projects and freelancers can apply to those projects, essentially acting as a job board for freelance work
Summer music festivals, institutes, and competitions offer music students opportunities to enhance their skills, gain performance experience, collaborate with peers and mentors, and showcase their talents in a focused, immersive environment. These opportunities are amazing résumé-builders!
American Institute of Musical Studies: summer programs in Austria for Voice, Piano & Orchestra - Graz, Austria
Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music: summer chamber music workshop - Keene, NH
Aria International Summer Academy: intensive summer sessions for violin, cello, clarinet & flute - Hadley, MA
Arts Empowering Life Summer Residency: brass & percussion residencies - Orleans, MA
Aspen Music Festival and School: orchestras, opera, chamber music, performance classes, and lectures; a combination of intensive one-on-one instruction and professional performance experience - Aspen, CO
Atlantic Music Festival Institute: a variety of collegiate & professional programs including those in composition, conducting, instrumental, piano & vocal arts - Waterville, ME
Banff International String Quartet Festival & Competition (BISQC): competition, festival and career development for emerging string quartets - Alberta, CANADA
Bang on a Can Summer Festival: intensive, chamber-focused residency for composers, performers, and for the first time, a workshop for music critics/journalists - North Adams, MA
Boston University Tanglewood Music Center: the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer academy for advanced musical training that includes programs in composition, conducting, instrumental, library, piano, and vocal arts - Lenox, MA
Bowdoin International Music Festival: instrumental, fellowship, string quartet, collaborative piano, and composition programs - Brunswick, ME
Brevard Music Center: college programs include orchestral studies, -piano institute, piano seminar, collaborative piano, jazz, composition,
classical guitar, saxophone, low brass seminar, flute seminar, clarinet seminar, and opera - Brevard, NC
Chautauqua Institution: training in music (including piano, instrumental, opera, and conducting), theater conservatory, visual arts residencies, and dance programs with masterclasses, performance opportunities, and intensive study – Chautauqua, NY
Colorado College Summer Music Festival: intensive chamber music program with faculty mentorship, private lessons, community engagement, and performance opportunities - Colorado Springs, CO
Domaine Forget: international academy offering advanced training in strings, piano, voice, guitar, and dance with masterclasses and concerts - Québec, CANADA
Eastern Music Festival: orchestral institute providing rigorous rehearsal schedules, private study, chamber music, and fully produced performances - Greensboro, NC
Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival: chamber music intensive focused on entrepreneurship, career development, and performance with Imani Winds artists - New York, NY
Kent Blossom Music Festival: partnership with The Cleveland Orchestra offering orchestral, chamber music, and composition programs alongside professional musicians - Kent, OH
Lake George Music Festival: tuition-free fellowship featuring orchestral and chamber performances, new music premieres, and professional networking - Lake George, NY
The Maine Chamber Music Seminar at Snow Pond: immersive chamber music seminar with coaching, masterclasses, and frequent public performances - Sidney, ME
Music Academy of the West: conservatory-style summer training in orchestral studies, opera, voice, piano, and composition with fully staged productions - Santa Barbara, CA
National Music Festival: orchestral and chamber fellowship pairing young artists with professional mentors for concerts and community engagement - Chestertown, MD
National Orchestral Institute & Festival: pre-professional orchestral training with sectional coaching, national tours, and residencies - College Park, MD
National Repertory Orchestra: fellowship orchestra performing a full summer season of symphonic repertoire with community outreach - - Breckenridge, CO
The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute: orchestral training program with National Symphony Orchestra musicians, culminating in side-by-side performances - Washington, DC
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Yale Summer School of Music: prestigious chamber music program of Yale School of Music offering fellowships, coaching, and performances - New Haven, CT
The Ohio Light Opera, The College of Wooster: professional company experience in operetta and musical theater with performance and production roles - Wooster, OH
Oregon Bach Festival Composer’s Symposium: contemporary composition intensive presented by Oregon Bach Festival featuring premieres, readings, and mentorship - Eugene, OR
Orford Musique: advanced training institute in strings, piano, voice, and chamber music with international faculty and concerts - Québec, CANADA
Pacific Music Festival: international orchestral academy founded by Leonard Bernstein offering orchestra, chamber music, and conducting programs - Sapporo, JAPAN
Pierre Monteux School: conducting and orchestral training program emphasizing rehearsal technique and performance - Hancock, ME
Rafael Méndez Brass Institute: brass-focused intensive honoring Rafael Méndez with masterclasses, ensemble playing, and solo opportunities - Denver, CO
Rocky Ridge Music Center: summer conservatory offering programs in classical, jazz, and new music with performance and outreach opportunities - Estes Park, CO
Round Top Festival Institute: orchestral and chamber music academy featuring sectional coaching and a full concert season - Roundtop, TX
Sarasota Music Festival: chamber music–focused festival with orchestral training, coaching, and performances alongside renowned faculty - Sarasota, FL
Sewanee Festival: orchestral program combining intensive rehearsal, chamber music, and public concerts on a residential campus - Sewanee, TN
Spoleto Festival: multidisciplinary festival offering professional performance opportunities in opera, orchestral, and chamber settings - Charleston, SC
The Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA): tuition-free orchestral academy emphasizing mentorship, sectionals, and community concerts - Powell River, BC, CANADA
Texas Music Festival, University of Houston: orchestral institute with chamber music, private lessons, and concert performances at University of Houston - Houston, TX
Yellow Barn: chamber music residency centered on intensive collaboration, contemporary music, and artist-faculty exchange - Putney, VT
ENTWORK’s Directory of Summer Theatre: An extensive list of professional theatres and theatre festivals in the US that present stage productions in the summer; broken down regionally
Take Five: resource created to increase accessibility to internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships for young theatre professionals by providing the information necessary for position consideration and application all in one place. Select the opportunities tab to explore!
League of Resident Theatres: LORT theatres operate under a collective bargaining agreement with unions like Actors' Equity Association, ensuring specific standards for compensation, working conditions, and other benefits for its employees.
Arts Admin Jobs: jobs board for the arts and culture sectors
BIPOC Arts Job Board: Opera, theatre, festivals; celebrating BIPOC professionals in the industry
Handshake: an online career platform designed for college students and recent graduates to find jobs, internships, and networking opportunities, connecting them with over a million employers. Use your Netpass username & password to sign up / log in. Be sure to follow IC's Performing & Fine Arts collection (explore tab, Ithaca College "view your school's resources," scroll down to our collections)!
New York Foundation for the Arts Classifieds: Employment opportunities for artists, arts administrators, and museum professionals
OffStage Jobs:Behind-the-scenes jobs in the live entertainment industry
Playbill: Broadway’s #1 job site - acting, internships, administrative, design, technical, and all other stage employment opportunities
Take Five: resource created to increase accessibility to internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships for young theatre professionals by providing the information necessary for position consideration and application all in one place. Select the opportunities tab to explore!
Theatre Communications Group’s ArtSearch: Free, but you have to register for an account
United States Institute for Theatre Technology: Theatre design & technology jobs
The Online Application System for K-12 Education (OLAS): job application system serving schools and districts throughout New York state and the surrounding areas of CT, MA, NJ, PA, and VT. There is no cost to register as an applicant on OLAS - multiple job opportunities, one application.
Teacher Recruitment Day (Western & Central, NY): annual job fairs connecting K–12 teacher candidates with school districts, including open networking and scheduled interviews, offering schools an efficient way to recruit qualified educators in one day.
K12 Job Spot: Build profile, upload resume, and apply to multiple teaching jobs; get insight on school districts, such as their student population and upcoming events
Higher Ed Jobs: College and university faculty and administration jobs
School Spring: Teaching job board with openings nationwide
BIPOC Arts Job Board: Opera, theatre, festivals; celebrating BIPOC professionals in the industry
Digital Music: music industry jobs, from major recording labels, streaming services, universities, merchandising companies, startups, and more
Doors Open: Global electronic music opportunities
Handshake: an online career platform designed for college students and recent graduates to find jobs, internships, and networking opportunities, connecting them with over a million employers. Use your Netpass username & password to sign up / log in. Be sure to follow IC's Performing & Fine Arts collection (explore tab, Ithaca College "view your school's resources," scroll down to our collections)!
Music Business Jobs: Global music business jobs
Music Careers: Built by music professionals for music professionals; includes opportunities in music recording & performance, marketing & PR, live entertainment, and more
Musical Chairs: Best for classical music and academic jobs (orchestras, conservatories, etc.)
Music Jobs: Jobs board for freelancers and companies in the music industry
Opera America: Opera and theatre opportunities including artistic administration, marketing & PR, technical / production
Orchestra Plan: For orchestra musicians to find and apply for auditions by creating a professional profile with their information and achievements
Musical America Worldwide: Music performance and administration
Soundlister: For audio professionals to showcase their skills and find employment opportunities and projects; also serves as a recruitment portal for those seeking sound talents
Appel Farm Arts Camp (NJ) – inclusive arts camp hiring counselors and specialists in all disciplines
Belvoir Terrace (MA) – girls’ performing arts camp hiring dance, music, and theatre staff
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI) – music, dance, theatre, and visual arts camp that hires seasonal staff
Brevard Music Center (NC) – classical music institute; offers staff and internship roles
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts (NY) – large performing arts camp hiring across disciplines
Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI) – renowned for music, theatre, dance; hires summer camp staff
Long Lake Camp for the Arts (NY) – performing and fine arts camp looking for instructors and counselors
Luzerne Music Center (NY) – music camp offering counselor and teaching assistant roles
Stagedoor Manor (MA) – theatre camp famous for its alumni; offers counselor and production roles
Professional associations, organizations, and labor unions offer students valuable connections to industry standards, networking opportunities, and career development resources. These groups help emerging artists stay informed, build professional relationships, and access tools that support a successful transition from student to working professional.
Actor's Equity Association (Equity): labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers; advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans
Audio Engineering Society (AES): only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology; unites audio engineers, creative artists, scientists and students by promoting the growth, knowledge, and appreciation of the science and art of audio
American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Assists musicians in the U.S. and Canada with fair agreements, music ownership, and benefits
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP): performing rights organization of more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers
Dramatists Guild of America (DGA): the national, professional trade association for American theater writers, including playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists
Music Teachers National Association: a collaborative community of music-teaching professionals, connecting both the seasoned educator and those at the beginning of their career; networking, leadership, mentoring and educational opportunities
National Association for Music Educators (NAfMe): collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education; check out their collegiate membership section
Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA): labor union representing approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals
Theatre Communications Group (TCG): commitment to modeling and advocating for the structural, cultural, and equitable environments that a just and thriving theatre ecology requires; check out their student membership section to learn about what is included
Women's Audio Mission (WAM): dedicated to the advancement of women and gender-expansive people in music/audio production and creative technology, fields in which they are critically underrepresented; music and media arts training, mentorship, and conferences
ACX: Amazon's and Audible's platform that connects authors with voice actors to create and distribute digital audiobooks. It serves as a marketplace where narrators audition for projects from self-published authors, independent publishers, and literary agents.
Backstage: a leading online platform providing a casting engine and resources for voice actors to find auditions and apply for voiceover jobs; under the “Job Type” drop down menu toggle to “voiceover”
Upwork: a large online freelance platform where clients seeking voiceover talent post jobs, and voice actors can apply to these jobs or create "gigs" to offer their services for projects like commercials, animations, explainer videos, and more
Voices: a global online marketplace that connects businesses and creators with professional voice actors for projects like audiobooks, online ads, and e-learning content
Voice 123: a pay-to-play online marketplace that connects voice actors with clients seeking voiceover services; voice actors create a profile to showcase their demos and skills, then use paid membership plans to gain access to and audition for projects posted by clients
This general résumé guide offers essential tips on formatting, showcasing achievements, and tailoring your résumé to job descriptions. While it provides useful advice, it may not be as specialized as other resources on the MTD Career Engagement webpage. For more specific guidance, refer to those documents or meet with the MTD Career Engagement Specialist.
This guide for music performers outlines best practices for effectively showcasing your performance experience, education, training, and additional skills. As a musician or vocalist, your résumé serves as a key tool for securing auditions, interviews, fellowships, festivals, grants, competitions, and graduate programs. This guide will help you craft a clear, compelling résumé.
This résumé guide for Acting and Musical Theatre B.F.A. students focuses on best practices for showcasing your theatre, film, and TV credits, as well as your headshot, training, skills, and union/non-union status. The guide is an outline on how to effectively present your performance experience and make a strong impression in the competitive entertainment industry.
Freelance work involves self-employed individuals offering their expertise on a project-by-project or contract basis, allowing for independent work. This guide covers the pros and cons of freelancing, key skills for success, and a step-by-step approach to getting started.
IC Internship Funding Resources
Ithaca College has several excellent resources to assist students with unpaid or low paying internships. These include the IC Career Center Internship Fund, The Class of '08 Scholarship, and The Washington DC Scholarship as well as the Alice Flaum Berman '71 Summer Music Festival Scholarship. Applications go live at the start of the spring semester.
IC’s Student Emergency Relief Fund
The Student Emergency Relief Fund provides financial assistance to students facing unexpected emergencies. This application-based funding is intended for unforeseen and unanticipated situations. Additionally, the fund helps students with financial need to purchase course materials at the start of each semester.
bold.org
Provides a variety of scholarship opportunities to students at various education levels and fields of study, helping them reduce college costs without taking on debt. Users create a personalized profile, allowing them to find scholarships tailored to their background and goals, and can also earn "Bold Points" by engaging with the platform to increase their chances of winning.
Entertainment Community Fund
National organization providing vital social services, emergency financial assistance, career development, and support for affordable housing, health care, and senior care to all professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry, including those in film, theater, television, music, radio, dance, and opera. Formerly known as The Actors Fund.
National Endowment for the Arts
Federal agency established in 1965 to promote and strengthen the arts in the United States by funding artistic projects and education. Find information on funding opportunities, research resources, and application forms for eligible organizations and individuals. For application submission, you may also need to use Grants.gov, the federal government's portal for all federal funding opportunities.
Princess Grace Foundation USA
The Princess Grace Awards identify and support extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance and film through career-advancing grants.