New England Conservatory (NEC) has adopted a co-equal leadership structure.

Per the new structure, President Andrea Kalyn will continue to oversee the institution’s artistic excellence, academic vision and educational mission, while CEO Kathleen Kelly will lead its financial strategy, operations and institutional advancement.

The co-equal structure has precedent at NEC. During the early 1980s, Laurence Lesser and Andrew Falender served as president and CEO, respectively.

The announcement was made in mid-August by Thomas Blumenthal, chair of NEC’s Board of Trustees. Kalyn has served as president since 2019, while Kelly joined NEC in 2016 and most recently served as executive vice president.

“Kathleen is stepping into a role that formalizes and builds upon the extraordinary leadership she has already been providing,” Blumenthal said, per an official press release. “Together, these roles provide NEC with leadership matched to the full scope of what this moment requires.”

The leadership change comes as NEC continues to develop its approach to music education, including programs designed to prepare students for changing careers in classical, jazz and contemporary music. The conservatory’s initiatives include the Institute for Concert Artists, Entrepreneurial Musicianship, Community Performances & Partnerships and its Expanded Education programs for children, pre-college students and adults.