Music Institute Appoints Shalisa Kline Ugaz As New President & CEO

The Music Institute of Chicago, which aims to lead people to a lifelong engagement with music, announces Shalisa Kline Ugaz as its next President and CEO, effective July 7, 2025.
 
Ugaz, who lives in Highland Park, Illinois, will be responsible for strengthening the Music Institute’s financial foundation, increasing its endowment, expanding its footprint across the Chicago metropolitan region, raising its profile among Chicago’s business and civic institutions, and extending and innovating its community engagements, all while maintaining the current high quality of its extensive and varied music instruction. Members of the Music Institute Board of Trustees engaged a national search firm to identify a visionary leader aligned with the Music Institute’s mission. 
 
“At this pivotal moment in music education, I am deeply honored to lead a community where innovation, excellence, and accessibility converge,” Ugaz said. “The Music Institute of Chicago has, for nearly 95 years, built an incredible faculty, staff, and board who are passionate advocates for the arts and believe wholeheartedly in the power of music education to shape lives and create pathways for lifelong learning. I look forward to the journey ahead to support unparalleled teaching, performance opportunities, and accessible programming throughout the greater Chicago community.”
 
Ugaz is a nationally respected arts executive and accomplished violinist with more than 20 years of leadership experience in music education and nonprofit management. Most recently, she was executive vice president of learning systems of the Royal Conservatory of Music, while also serving as president of RCM America, the RCM extension in the U.S., overseeing a $21 million revenue-generating portfolio and leading teams across North America. She launched RCM’s first fully digital early childhood program, secured major corporate and philanthropic partnerships, and expanded the organization’s global reach.
 
Previously, as executive vice president of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, she led a $10 million capital campaign, reversed financial deficits, and grew community engagement tenfold, from 1,500 to more than 16,000 individuals annually. Her earlier leadership roles at Merit School of Music and Third Street Music School Settlement included managing multimillion-dollar budgets, growing earned and contributed revenue, and expanding access to music education for under-resourced communities. She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
 
“Shalisa brings a consistent track record of strategic innovation, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to access and inclusion in the arts,” said Music Institute Board Chair Scott Verschoor. Noting that Ugaz taught at the Music Institute 20 years ago, he continued, “While Shalisa’s professional credentials are exceptional, her connection to our community makes this appointment especially meaningful. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we welcome Shalisa back to the Music Institute to lead us into a new chapter with clarity, creativity, and purpose.”