M.A./MBA Students Help Shape Future Growth for Dallas Chamber Music Society

Seven graduate students in SMU’s joint M.A./MBA Arts Management program spent the spring semester tackling a real-world challenge: helping the Dallas Chamber Music Society (DCMS) strengthen its audience development, financial sustainability and long-term organizational strategy.

As part of their capstone project, the second-year students developed two comprehensive strategic plans for DCMS, which presents world-class chamber music concerts in Caruth Auditorium throughout the year. The collaboration reflects SMU’s emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement while also building on the university’s existing connection to the organization through Aaron Boyd, chair of strings and director of chamber music at Meadows, who also serves as president of DCMS.

Over six weeks, students conducted interviews, analyzed financial records and board materials, researched peer organizations and developed recommendations focused on infrastructure, marketing, audience retention, fundraising and community engagement. The capstone experience challenged students to move beyond theoretical coursework and apply strategic thinking within the realities of a working arts organization.


M.A./MBA student Sumi Srikanth fields questions from DCMS officers and directors during the presentation.


“This project expanded my understanding of how arts organizations contribute to the cultural life of Dallas by creating spaces for connection, learning and shared artistic experiences,” explains Sumi Srikanth, one of the participating students in the project. “I was inspired by how organizations like DCMS cultivate relationships across audiences, artists, donors, educators and community partners while helping keep the arts vibrant within a growing and evolving city.”

The students’ recommendations focused on building stronger organizational systems while also deepening audience connection. Their strategic plan included ideas ranging from customer relationship management systems and targeted audience retention efforts to expanded community partnerships and new approaches to storytelling and digital outreach, as well as provided strategies to help DCMS expand its reach while preserving the intimate concert experiences that define the organization.

“The understanding and articulation of our challenges, the insightful questions during the interviews, the background reading of our board minutes and our financials, and the abundant multi-solutions presented were impressive and compelling,” says DCMS Vice President and Board Member Regan Smith. “We cannot express enough our gratitude for the fine work and dedication of these students to helping us and inspiring DCMS to become a better organization.”

The partnership provided DCMS a fresh perspective at a pivotal moment as the organization looks toward future growth and leadership transition planning. The project also offered students an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to Dallas’ arts community while gaining firsthand experience navigating the opportunities and challenges facing cultural organizations today.


M.A./MBA students and program director Megan Heber pose after presenting their capstone project.


For Srikanth, who graduated with her M.A./MBA degree this May shortly after this capstone project was presented, the experience underscored the importance of mission-driven leadership in the arts and nonprofit sectors. It also enabled her and her fellow graduate students to explore the broader role arts organizations play in sustaining community and cultural identity across North Texas.

“One of the aspects of the project that stayed with me most was seeing the level of stewardship, care and passion that the DCMS leadership and board bring to sustaining chamber music and creating artistic experiences in North Texas,” says Srikanth. “It reinforced for me that arts leadership is ultimately about community, connection and creating spaces where people can gather around shared cultural experiences.”

This collaboration exemplifies the applied-learning model at the heart of SMU Meadows Arts Management program, where graduate students work directly with arts organizations to address real strategic challenges while preparing for leadership roles in the nonprofit and cultural sectors.

Learn more about the M.A./MBA program here.