The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami has appointed Serona Elton as interim vice dean ahead of the institution’s 100th anniversary next year.
Elton will serve alongside Dean Shelton “Shelly” G. Berg — who was named dean of the Frost School of Music in 2007 — during his final year before he steps down in Spring 2026. Berg, who led the Frost School for nearly 20 years and has also been nominated for five Grammys, will return his focus to his music career.
“I started my tenure at the Frost School of Music shortly before Dean Berg and it’s been an incredible experience to witness his impact on the school and collegiate level music education more broadly,” Elton, who’s also director of the music industry program at the Frost School of Music, said in a statement. “It’s my pleasure to be able to collaborate with him to help ensure the continued effectiveness of the school’s day-to-day operations as we continue to focus on creating the next wave of what we call ‘Frost Built’ students, who because of their education at the Frost School are uniquely set up to be best-in-class professionals in their fields thanks to the variety of skills they hone here.”
In her new role, Elton — who was honored with the first-ever music business educator of the year award by the Music Business Association (MusicBiz) in 2023 — will oversee the daily operations of the Frost School while continuing to serve as director of the music industry program.
Berg added: “I’ve always said that the future of music is the future that our student musicians and aspiring industry professionals will be able to create for themselves, and it’s been a privilege to be able to help Frost School of Music students chart a course for fulfillment and success by giving them access to an outstanding multidisciplinary curriculum, inspirational faculty, and priceless real-world experiences. From the day I started at the Frost School, I focused on setting a new standard for music schools and I feel confident that newly named Interim Vice Dean Serona Elton, along with the rest of our talented administrative staff and faculty members, will continue to tirelessly work to benefit the next generation of musicians and music industry professionals while actively shaping the future of music — no matter what it may look like in the coming years.”
The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, which turns 100 in October 2026, has been named a Top Music Business School by Billboard.