January 5, 2021, Submitted by South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) rings in the New Year on a celebratory note by welcoming Robert Cinnante, of Farmington, CT, as president. Cinnante will be instrumental in leading New England’s largest community school for music and the arts as SSC kicks off its second half-century. Cinnante starts on February 1, taking over from Interim President Deborah Allinson, who has served in this role since September 2020.
As president, Cinnante intends to ensure the long-term stability and sustainability of SSC by assessing programming and how it is provided to a diverse community of lifelong learners, fostering existing and new community partnerships, and focusing on the engagement and retention of students, thereby further integrating SSC into the fabric of its surrounding communities.
“I am thrilled to be joining SSC as its next president, and am excited to hit the ground running,” said Cinnante. “This organization has stood at the forefront of arts education on the South Shore for more than 50 years, and I am honored to help continue that legacy at this critical juncture, in partnership with SSC’s Board, staff, faculty, and stakeholders.”
Allinson and the Board of Trustees are very excited about Cinnante joining SSC. “We met some very accomplished, honorable candidates throughout this search, but Robert’s infectious energy, strong leadership ability, music background, and charisma made him stand out from the others,” said Allinson. “We are confident he is the visionary leader we need to guide us through our next exciting chapter.”
Currently the Executive Director of Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Cinnante generated significant growth in WSO’s educational program revenue, launched an endowed concerto competition for young artists and re-established the planned giving program bringing in more than $500k in new endowment gifts. Cinnante previously worked as the Statewide Director of Education & Outreach for the Virginia Opera, and as an independent arts management consultant.
No stranger to the Boston area, Cinnante received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music in classical vocal performance from New England Conservatory. A tenor, he was also the general manager for Boston’s Music for Food, securing private foundation grants and expanding the organization’s national presence.
Cinnante is looking forward to moving back to the Boston area. He will be SSC’s fourth president.
About South Shore Conservatory
For over half a century, South Shore Conservatory has been instrumental in shaping the lives of thousands of students, both young and old. With beautiful campuses located in both Duxbury and Hingham, South Shore Conservatory is the largest nonprofit community school for the arts in Massachusetts, offering robust programs for music, dance, and drama. The Conservatory proudly offers instruction from some of the best educators in the United States, allowing students to train in over 50 programs and featuring over 200 professionally produced concerts and performances annually. If you would like to learn more about South Shore Conservatory, please visit them online at www.sscmusic.org.