ARI FERRIS
New York
Summary
Ari Ferris is a New York City-born and raised arts administration professional with a distinctive background in classical music. A graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, New York City, Ari completed four years of Classical Opera Performance education and earned an advanced NYSSMA music theory certification before pursuing her Music Business bachelor’s at Columbia College Chicago. Her experience spans nationally recognized organizations where she has supported admissions, student services, finance operations, marketing, and large-scale arts programming.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Student Services / Finance Associate
Merit School of Music
Chicago, IL
09.2025 - Current
- Serve as a primary point of contact for students, families, and faculty, maintaining strong student support interactions.
- Manage enrollment workflows, scheduling coordination, and Salesforce database accuracy for private lesson and group class programming.
- Support tuition billing, payment processing, and financial account reconciliation while assisting with seasonal student transactions.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with academic leadership and program managers to streamline registration processes and reduce administrative delays.
- Maintain confidentiality and accuracy of student records while balancing high-volume communication across phone, email, and in-person support.
Admissions Associate
The Chicago Academy for the Arts
Chicago, IL
10.2024 - 09.2025
- Worked directly under the Director of Enrollment to support admissions strategy and increase prospective family engagement.
- Guided over 200 prospective students and families through inquiry, audition, and enrollment processes with personalized support.
Administrative Assistant
Live Nation Entertainment
Chicago, IL
05.2024 - 08.2024
- Provided executive-level administrative support to venue leadership in a fast-paced live entertainment environment.
Digital Marketing Intern
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Chicago
11.2023 - 05.2024
- Worked directly with the Website Content Manager and Vice President of Marketing to support digital engagement initiatives.
Guest Service Associate
Madison Square Garden Entertainment
05.2022 - 05.2023
- Assisted over 500 patrons nightly across high-profile live entertainment events and supported VIP experiences.
Education
Master of Science - Leadership for Creative Enterprises
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL06.2026
Bachelor of Arts - Music Business
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, ILHigh School Diploma - Classical Voice
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
New York, NYSkills
- Excellent Communication
- Customer Service
- Copywriting
- Data Management
- Financial Operations
- Event Production
- Content Marketing
- Journalism
- Time Management
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 75th Tony Awards — Production Assistant / Event Support
- Berklee College of Music — 5-Week Summer Performance Program
- Grammy Awards — Event Experience
- Northwestern University — Journalist / Blog Writer
- Lyric Opera of Chicago — Blog Writer
- Jonas Brothers / Billie Eilish Chicago Academy for the Arts Fundraiser — Copy Editor
- National Tessitura Conference — Accessibility and inclusion work presented in Washington, D.C.
Certification
- Dean's Scholarship (Columbia College Chicago)
- Certified by the New York State Music Association (Chancellor's Endorsement)
- Berklee College of Music Certification
Timeline
Student Services / Finance Associate
Merit School of Music
09.2025 - Current
Admissions Associate
The Chicago Academy for the Arts
10.2024 - 09.2025
Administrative Assistant
Live Nation Entertainment
05.2024 - 08.2024
Digital Marketing Intern
Lyric Opera of Chicago
11.2023 - 05.2024
Guest Service Associate
Madison Square Garden Entertainment
05.2022 - 05.2023
Master of Science - Leadership for Creative Enterprises
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts - Music Business
Columbia College Chicago
High School Diploma - Classical Voice
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts