SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY

"I don’t just have a consultant – I have a partner"

The South Shore Conservatory provides access to exceptional arts education and performance for the South Shore community south of Boston, fostering creativity, artistic growth, and well-being for individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. It was incorporated in 1970 in Hingham after previously serving as a New England Conservatory satellite preparatory program. In 1980 a second campus was established in Duxbury. Over 100 exceptional teaching artists offer private lessons, group classes, ensembles for instruments, voice and dance, an arts-integrated preschool, pre-k and kindergarten, creative arts therapies, workshops, recitals, and concerts. Summer programs include the Summer Music Festival, the popular Evenings Under the Stars outdoor concert series and the Duxbury Music Festival.

When President Robert Cinnante came to the Conservatory in 2021, he recognized a need in the organization’s finance department and was drawn to YPTC’s reputation for working exclusively with nonprofits. “They have helped us to clean up and catch up,” he says enthusiastically. “They’ve really helped us in many ways to get greater visibility into our numbers. In the process, they’ve helped us to solidify our internal finance operations and turn a corner. There’s still a lot of work to do but YPTC has helped to put us on the right track.”

Cinnante is especially pleased with YPTC’s great work ethic, team-based approach and how smoothly YPTC has fit into the Conservatory’s culture. “Behind the numbers you really have to understand the organization,” he says. “They’ve taken the time to get to know our organization. They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. That has been such a benefit. I feel like I don’t just have a consultant – I have a partner with YPTC.

“On a more personal note, they’re a real pleasure to work with. I got called by another organization for a reference and they asked if I had any concerns about working with YPTC. I said no – and how often can you say that?” he asks.

”I feel like I’ve gained more confidence in our finance function and our Board of Trustees has as well,” Cinnante says. “It’s been a very positive experience.”