Dark Horse Institute Adds Three

Pictured (L-R): Tom Willett, Cathy Baird, Jamie Nehasil

Audio engineering, production and music business school Dark Horse Institute has announced three new appointments.

Tom Willett has been named President, reporting to Founder & CEO Robin Crow. Willett toured and recorded extensively during the ‘60s and ‘70s, served as a booking agent and personal manager in Nashville for numerous artists in the ‘80s, and worked as an A&R executive and marketing VP at major labels in Los Angeles (Word/ABC; What?/A&M) and New York (Word/Epic/Sony Music) throughout the ‘90s. In 2001, he co-founded the Contemporary Music Center, the nation’s first artists’ colony for musicians on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, MA where he served as Creative Director of the fully-accredited music school for musicians, engineers and entrepreneurs. After relocating to Nashville in 2010, he served as an Adjunct Professor at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University before becoming Director of Education at Dark Horse Institute.

Cathy Baird has been appointed Vice President of Academic Operations. Formerly Institutional Director at DHI, Baird has worked in the field of college admissions and operations for more than 14 years, including as Director of Enrollment of the Chef’s Academy at Harrison College, and Director of Admissions at Daymar College and Southwestern College, both in Kentucky. Baird holds degrees in Business Administration and Management from Volunteer State Community College and Triton College in Illinois.

Jamie Nehasil has joined the Music Business faculty at Dark Horse Institute. Nehasil brings decades of entertainment business experience to DHI students, having formerly served as Owner and President of Common Grounds Entertainment, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Black Fuel Music/220 Entertainment Group, and Director of Music and Marketing at Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group. He holds the MBA from the Massey Graduate School of Business at Belmont University, a BGS in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Minnesota, and sits on the board of Franklin-based The Jam Camp.

Dark Horse Institute is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and maintains studios, offices and classrooms at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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