About the IML
What is the Institute for Music Leadership?
As the first center of its kind in the country, the Institute for Music Leadership (IML) is a vital hub for creating, sharing, and implementing cutting-edge ideas and programs that will ensure the vitality and relevance of music in the 21st century.
Created in fall 2001 with generous support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music:
- provides Eastman students, alumni, and professional musicians at all stages of their career with the broad education, specialized skills, and diversified experience they will need — in addition to their exceptional musicianship — to become versatile music leaders who will shape our musical and cultural future
- seeks to develop and maximize leadership potential in its participants through a variety of innovative diploma and certificate programs, professional development opportunities, intensive seminars, and “real world” experience
- offers a proactive response to the changing state of music today by challenging its participants to think more broadly about music, its role, and their roles in society
- is committed to leading the music profession into a new era
Want to learn more? Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Those Who Make It Happen
Here’s a closer look at the Institute for Music Leadership administration, as well as the individuals responsible for its certificate and diploma programs.
Ramon Ricker |
Senior Associate Dean for Professional Studies |
Leslie Scatterday |
Operations Manager, IML |
Cheryl Stanton |
Operations Manager, IML Grants and Finance |
Russell Scarbrough |
Assistant Director, Alumni Relations |
| Linda Altpeter |
Administrative Assistant to IML Director |
(position currently vacant) |
Assistant Program Coordinator, IML |
Rey David Cortés |
Information Analyst |
 |
Ramon Ricker Director, Institute for Music Leadership Senior Associate Dean for Professional Studies |
Ramon Ricker is Director of the Institute for Music Leadership, Senior Associate Dean of Professional Studies, and Professor of Saxophone at the Eastman School. In addition to a career as performing artist and studio teacher, he also directs the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program.
Dr. Ricker received a bachelor of music education degree in clarinet from the University of Denver, a master of music degree in woodwind performance from Michigan State University, and a doctor of musical arts degree in music education and clarinet from the Eastman School. He has been a full-time Eastman faculty member since 1972, and for nine years served as the chair of the Department of Winds, Brass and Percussion (1989-98). His association with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) first began as a clarinet soloist in 1972 and in 1973 he won a position in the RPO as a member of the clarinet section. He continues to play in, and occasionally conduct, the orchestra today. From 1996-2005 he also has served on its board of directors. For eight summers (1993-2000) he was music adviser to the Schlossfestspiele in Heidelberg, Germany, where he directed the participation of the Eastman School Philharmonia in its five-week residency at this well-known German music festival.
Ray first began his musical studies on the clarinet. At age 16, while continuing to study the clarinet, his interest in jazz led him to begin saxophone lessons. Throughout his professional career he has continued to perform on both instruments. Today he often is a featured saxophone and clarinet soloist and chamber musician in venues throughout Europe and North America. His books on jazz improvisation and saxophone technique as well as many of his compositions are viewed as standards in the field with over 130,000 copies sold worldwide and translations in French and Japanese. As a professional musician and music contractor he has performed on hundreds of television commercials and program themes including national accounts for NBC, ABC, Cinemax, HBO and Arts and Entertainment. As a composer and arranger he has been honored by grants from the National Endowment, New York State Council on the Arts, Creative Artist Public Service, Meet the Composer, and ASCAP. His arrangements have been commissioned by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the American, Atlanta, Cincinnati and North Carolina Symphonies, and his works are published by Advance Music (Germany), Alphonse Leduc (Paris), Warner/Chappel (USA) and Jamey Aebersold (USA).
Leslie
Scatterday
Assistant Director, Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program
Operations Manager, Institute
for Music Leadership
Leslie Scatterday is Assistant Director of the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program and Operations Manager for the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music. She manages all aspects of the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program (ALP) including the curriculum, guest speaker series, internship program, certificate programs and ALP student advising. She is also responsible for overseeing operations in the Office of Career and Professional Development. Prior to joining Eastman in 2002, she had 13 years of higher education experience in various administrative positions at Cornell University, the last being Associate Director of the Purchasing Department. She holds a degree in Business Education from University of Akron.
Cheryl Stanton
Operations Manager, IML Grants and Finance
Project Manager, Polyphonic.org
Cheryl Stanton is the Operations Manager, IML Grants and Finance for the Institute for Music Leadership. She is responsible for managing all financial and grant accounting. She is also Project Manager for the orchestral website Polyphonic.org. Prior to joining the IML team, Cheryl worked in the Development Office at Eastman and brings several years of higher education experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from SUNY Albany and a master’s degree in Math, Science and Technology Education from St. John Fisher College. Cheryl is currently working on her PhD in Higher Education at the University of Rochester.
Russell Scarbrough
Assistant Director, Alumni Relations
Coordinator, Careers and Professional Development
Russell Scarbrough is the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Coordinator for the Office of Careers and Professional Development. He oversees all Eastman alumni services and events, both on and off campus. He also coordinates Eastman Weekend, the school’s bi-annual gathering of alumni, students, faculty, and parents. Russell also assists current Eastman students in their career development, providing advising services, maintaining web resources, and facilitating contact between students and Eastman alumni around the world.
Russell graduated from the Eastman School in 2008 with a DMA in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media, and in 2004 with a MM in Jazz Composition. He studied composition and arranging with Bill Dobbins, and trombone with Mark Kellogg and John Marcellus. One of his ongoing projects is writing a comprehensive history of jazz at the Eastman School.
Linda Altpeter
Administrative Assistant to IML Director
Linda Altpeter is the Administrative Assistant to the IML Director for the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School Of Music. Linda provides support for special curricular initiatives, provides operational assistance, and arranges special events. Prior to joining the IML team, Linda worked in the Academic Dean’s Office at Eastman and spent 15 years at the School of Medicine & Dentistry. She holds a BA degree in Psychology from Houghton College.
Assistant Program Coordinator, IML
Assistant Project Manager, Polyphonic.org
(position currently vacant)
Rey David Cortés
Information Analyst
Rey Cortés is the Information Analyst for the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music and the Polyphonic.org website. He provides technical support, including maintenance and updating as well as content and video editing. He also assists in new technology projects developed at the Eastman School of Music. Rey holds a MM from the Eastman School of Music, as a student of Mark Kellogg, and a BM with emphasis in Music Industry Studies from Loyola University New Orleans, where he studied with Richard Erb. He has worked for the International Trombone Festival and Trombones de Costa Rica.