Frost School of Music's Dean to Step Down

Shelton G. “Shelly” Berg has led the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music at the University of Miami since 2007

University of Miami's Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music has announced that its Dean, Shelly Berg, will step down from his position in the spring of 2026.

A six-time Grammy nominee, pianist, composer, and bandleader, Berg decided to make the change to persue his art.

During the 2025-26 academic year, Berg will focus on fundraising to secure the school's future resources. Beginning on August 15, 2025, Professor Serona Elton, Chair of the Music Industry Department, will serve as vice dean to oversee day-to-day operations.

During his tenure, Berg's contributions to the school include the curriculum, deemed the “Frost Method,” which incorporates creative skills with entrepreneurial and practical skills in areas like marketing, production, technology, and pedagogy.

In 2008, he brought in the Henry Mancini Institute, which trains graduate students in multiple musical genres and media, and instituted the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach program, which serves over 1500 underserved kids in Miami-Dade County each year.

“I started with ideas and a vision but the faculty built it,” Berg said. “It’s not my school – it’s their school. I’m so proud of what we accomplished together. I can feel good about handing the baton to someone else.”

“I’ve thrown myself into my academic career,” said Berg, who turns 70 this summer. “While I have the vitality and health it’s important for me to turn my attention towards making music and sharing it with audiences. That has come second for an awfully long time. It feels important to make some time for that in the next chapter.”