Join other MSMers who share your interests, concerns, and ideas!
Student Organizations at Manhattan School of Music are designed to give students an opportunity to build leadership and interpersonal skills, while contributing to the Manhattan School of Music community.
Each student organization works with the Student Engagement Office, and is organized by students with common interests. Students are invited to initiate and register their group with the Office at the start of each academic year. Groups are open to full-time Manhattan School of Music students in good standing.
Alpha Psi Omega is a theatre honor society providing acknowledgement to those demonstrating a high standard of accomplishment in theatre and offering fellowship for those interested in theatre. Students must qualify for membership to the society.
Student Leader: Joseph Grosso
Staff/Faculty Advisors: Liza Gennaro, Associate Dean & Director of Musical Theatre & Enrique Brown, Musical Theatre faculty
The purpose of the Black Student Union is to provide a sense of unity, support, and cooperation among the black students at Manhattan School of Music. In addition, this organization will provide educational and social opportunities for the entire Manhattan School of Music community to come together to learn about and celebrate the rich heritage, history, and contributions of persons of African ancestry. This will be done by sponsoring cultural activities and educational workshops relating to African heritage and culture. All Manhattan School of Music students are welcome.
Student Leader: Position open
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Celine Walker, Housing Operation Coordinator
Comedy Club provides an outlet for students to express themselves through comedy. This club endeavors to bring joy, happiness, and ease to the students and faculty of MSM. Comedy can be used to break barriers, understand cultural differences, and build understanding. It can also be used to increase positive energy.
Student Leader: Subiya Mboya, Jessica Morilak, Jack D’emilio
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Randy Graff, Musical Theatre faculty
Do Good is a student organization that intends to gather people of the same interest to offer our talents and time to the community around us. The goal of the organization is to connect with the community around MSM and give back by offering our time and energy through service projects of varying kinds. The organization has held clothing and food drives, participated in park clean-ups, performed at healthcare facilities, and sponsored a hair donation drive. Through these acts of service the group strives to connect with people outside of MSM and strengthen the sense of community within MSM.
Student Leader: Melanie Dubil, Lilly Cadow, Anna Maria Vacca
Staff/Faculty Advisor:
This student organization is for students interested in immersive experiences abroad focused on service. This group has volunteered in Costa Rica twice – doing childcare with children from 3-6 years old on their first trip and working on a coffee farm on their second trip. In its third year, ISLO went to Cusco, Peru and worked on a construction project at a preschool. The trip takes place annually, during the second week of MSM Spring Recess.
Student Leader: Anna Maria Vacca
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Crystal Wilson, Assistant Director of Student Engagement & Coordinator of Disability Services
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a community of students from different cultural and religious backgrounds drawn together by a common interest in exploring the Christian faith and its relation to all of life. IVCF is a campus ministry that encourages honest, thoughtful exploration of spiritual issues through hospitable small group Bible studies, large group gatherings, and off-campus retreats. IVCF at MSM strives to hold weekly meetings and one larger event per month where they will present speakers to share about the intersection of faith, life, and music.
Student Leaders: Esther Seitz, Ji In Shin
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Mark Stambaugh, Acting Composition Chair
The mission of It Stops Here is to spread knowledge and awareness about sexual assault and harassment. This student organization will host meetings to share resources, discuss current events, and brainstorm ways to education the community about sexual assault and harassment. The group will organize events, maintain a social media presence, and post educational flyers around campus.
Student Leaders: Elizabeth Baxley, Cat Tron
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Laura Sametz, Musical Theatre faculty
Mindful MSM is a healthy lifestyle group that encompasses activities such as meditation practice, yoga, DIY self-care, healthy dorm room recipes, and how to live sustainably. The group endeavors to create a safe space where students can discuss mindfulness and find support. .
Student Leaders: Anna Maria Vacca, Katherine Pound
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Anne Shikany, Assistant to Artistic Director, Opera Studies & Production
The Chess Club provides a fun and relaxed environment for chess players at MSM, whether they are a new beginner or a seasoned expert. Meet-ups to play games are held once a week.
Student Leader: Will Hopkins
Staff/Faculty Advisor: John Pagano, Humanities Department Chair
MFaBW is the student committee in charge of organizing the annual Music for a Better World fundraising concert. Each year the committee chooses a different cause to advocate for, using the concert as the main fundraising event for the selected organization. In the past the group has raised funds for The JED foundation and for the Westside Campaign Against Hunger.
Student Leader: Erin Acree, Ethan Ostrow
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Henry Valoris, Dean or Performance and Production Operations
The Polar Bear Press publishes articles written by students, for students. The group provides a space where student voices can be heard and endeavors to create a platform where important information can be easily accessible.
Student Leader: Lilly Cadow, Alexis Seminario, Mindy Holthe
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Mimi Tompkins, Director of Digital Strategy and Marketing
Website | Instagram
QueerPBS offers a safe space for people of all cultures and identities to freely discuss ideas and work towards making the community at large a better, more compassionate place. The group strives to bridge gaps between queer and non-queer peoples, assess the needs of the community and fulfill those needs, fundraise for charities and organizations that align with the group’s mission, and HAVE FUN building a community together at MSM. All LGBT Manhattan School of Music students and allies are welcome.
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Jessica Ferrell, Manager of HR Systems
The MSM Student Council is the school’s largest group, whose mission is to provide a forum and voice for the student body at large. The Council works to enrich the MSM student experience through providing opportunities for engagement and leadership development. The council is comprised of representatives from all majors offered at MSM. The Council sponsors many diverse events during the year, including social activities and discussion forms. The council is open to all students – any enrolled student is welcome to participate in the Council as a member at large.
Student Leader: Ryan Sujdak, President
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Bryan Diaz, Student Engagement Graduate Intern
Student Council email: studentcouncil@msmnyc.edu
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Ultimate Frisbee Club is a student team that regularly plays ultimate Frisbee. The club aims to promote the game of ultimate Frisbee within the school, while giving students a physical outlet.
Student Leader: Ryan Sujdak, Joe Giordano
The Veg Society is an inclusive group for vegetarians, vegans, and veg allies (people who like to be healthy and are curious.) The group bring together like minded students to enjoy food, learn and grow together. The group aims to encourage more people to give veganism a try.
Student Leader: Alexis Seminario
Staff/Faculty Advisor: Anne Shikany, Assistant to Artistic Director, Opera Studies
If you’re interested in starting a new group we invite you to obtain a registration form in the Office of Student Engagement, room 120 in the School. A student must have completed one full semester at MSM before initiating the creation of a new student organization. New student organizations are approved and funded on an annual basis.
Private clubs or organizations of any nature that are not specifically supervised by a member of Manhattan School of Music’s administrative staff are not allowed to actively recruit MSM students.
The School reserves the right to take action against a student group for conduct prohibited by the School’s standards of personal and group conduct. Such acts of misconduct by students engaged in organized activities of registered student organizations, whether committed on or off campus, are subject to disciplinary action. An organized activity is any activity that is conducted under the auspices, sponsorship, or supervision of a registered student organization.
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