What Performing Arts Educators does

Performing Arts Educators (PAE) is a privately held 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Palm City, Florida, that organizes non-competitive performance and cultural exchange opportunities for instrumental, choral, and dance ensembles at iconic venues worldwide. Its portfolio centers on six core products: the Invitational at Carnegie Hall (running 18+ consecutive years), the Summer Stages International Series (annually touring European cities, with Lisbon 2026 as the latest cohort), L'Invitation Parisienne (a Disneyland Paris and Parisian dance institute immersion), the New Caledonia Folk Orchestra (a transatlantic Appalachian-Irish folk program launched August 2025 at Edinburgh Fringe), Signature Stages: Ireland (cultural exchange in Waterford, Kilkenny, and Dublin), and supporting offerings including the PAE Fellowship (a complimentary curated network for qualified directors) and the Del Kieffner Award (a national annual mentorship recognition).

PAE's commercial offering is delivered through bundled travel and performance packages that include venue access, production support (technical sound checks, ticketing, reserved seating blocks), accommodation, internal coach travel, cultural workshops with local performers, and guided tours. Revenue is generated from per-participant program fees paid by ensembles and their accompanying family members; a complimentary PAE Fellowship and a $5,000 Leadership Fellowship for directors who inspire 25 or more participants serve as director acquisition and retention layers rather than revenue streams. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: directors discover PAE through the fellowship network, word-of-mouth referrals, and direct outreach, then enter a personalized interest-to-commitment funnel that can extend ~45 days before non-refundable deposits. Logistics delivery depends on core partners including Greatdays Group Travel and Travel 4 Experiences.

The organization operates with 1-10 employees under a founder-led family governance structure spanning two families — Max Straub (Executive Producer & Founder) and Mark Jacob (General Manager & Founder), together with second-generation leaders Dr. Carrie Straub Jacob (Board Chair), Katie Jacob Salmon (Executive Producer), and Mackenzie Jacob (Media Manager) — supplemented by credentialed stage management professionals. No external funding rounds or ownership changes have been disclosed; the entity has reported no public revenue figures. Across more than 25 years of operations, PAE has delivered 50+ international productions, including landmark Olympic-associated performances at Sydney 2000 and London 2012, and has served over 2,500 participants and companions.

Name

Performing Arts Educators

Legal name

Performing Arts Educators

Website

https://performingartseducators.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Performing Arts Educators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that organizes non-competitive international performance and cultural exchange opportunities for dance, choral, and instrumental ensembles at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and historic European sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts programs
• Cultural exchange tours
• Ensemble performance services
• International music festivals
• Arts education events

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Performance Program Fees: PAE generates revenue through fees associated with participation in its performance programs. Directors and ensembles pay for access to iconic venues, production support, logistics coordination, accommodation arrangements, cultural activities, and performance opportunities. The organization handles venue access, reserved seating blocks, and all production support as part of its service offering.
2. Travel and Accommodation Services: Comprehensive travel packages including accommodation (such as 8-day/7-night stays with full breakfast), guided tours, performance venue coordination, workshop sessions, welcome dinners, and internal coach travel. These bundled offerings provide revenue while delivering complete program experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Performing Arts Educators (PAE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes non-competitive performance and cultural exchange opportunities for instrumental, choral, and dance ensembles at iconic venues worldwide. The organization secures venue access, production support, ticketing, reserved seating, accommodation, transportation, and cultural immersion programming, allowing directors to focus purely on artistry in supportive, non-competitive environments.

Product overview

Performing Arts Educators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of performance programs centered on non-competitive, director-led performance opportunities at world-class venues. The core offerings include the Invitational at Carnegie Hall (the longest-running series at 18+ years), the Summer Stages International Series (annual festivals in European cities), L'Invitation Parisienne (Disneyland Paris combined with Parisian dance training), New Caledonia Folk Orchestra (traveling folk music celebration), and Signature Stages: Ireland (cultural exchange program). Supporting offerings include the PAE Fellowship (free curated network providing monthly insights and peer connections for directors) and the Del Kieffner Award (national mentorship recognition). All programs emphasize artistic freedom, cultural exchange, and growth in supportive, non-competitive environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summer Stages International Series: Annual summer festival series for pre-professional dance, music, and theater groups in historic European cities, featuring headline performances and cultural exchange workshops.
• Del Kieffner Award
• L'Invitation Parisienne
• New Caledonia Folk Orchestra
• Signature Stages: Ireland

Products and services

• Invitational at Carnegie Hall PAE's longest-running series providing directors with full artistic control on Carnegie Hall's iconic stage. Ensembles choose repertoire, conductor, and soloists while PAE handles venue access, production support, and reserved seating blocks in a non-competitive environment. Now running for 18+ consecutive years.
• Summer Stages International Series Annual international series offering directors complete artistic freedom to lead headline showcases in historic European cities. PAE handles venue coordination, production support, accommodation with full breakfast, guided tours, and logistics while directors focus on artistry and cultural exchange.
• L'Invitation Parisienne

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 consecutive years of Carnegie Hall Invitationals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Greatdays Group TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics and production support partner for PAE's international programs. Provides transportation links, staging systems, and travel coordination for performances across Europe including Summer Stages Lisbon 2026 and New Caledonia Folk Orchestra Ireland programs. Full PAE team works alongside Greatdays representatives on-site during productions.
• Travel 4 ExperiencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction support partner providing logistics arrangements, transportation links, and staging coordination for international performance programs. Collaborates with PAE on venue logistics and travel arrangements.
• Pedro Fidalgo Marques (Oeiras Dance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal production partner in Portugal facilitating dance workshop coordination and local artistic connections for Summer Stages Lisbon 2026 program. Provides expertise in Portuguese performing arts scene.
• St. Canice's CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric venue partner for New Caledonia Folk Orchestra Ireland 2026 program. Cathedral serves as the grand venue for the transatlantic collaboration concert featuring multiple ensembles from the US and Ireland.
• Lady Desart ChoircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish community choir based in Kilkenny, performing at the A Celtic Tapestry concert. Fundraising for their landmark Carnegie Hall performance in January 2027 through ticket proceeds.
• Music Generation WaterfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish youth harp program led by Jill Devlin, offering children and young people access to harp tuition in Waterford City. Collaborates with New Caledonia Folk Orchestra on transatlantic cultural exchange performances.
• Heartland Harp Ensemble USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican folk harp ensemble based in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, led by Lorinda Jones. Participated in previous Ireland and Scotland tours, performing traditional folk music from Celtic lands.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• National Music Festival: National Music Festival is a nonprofit classical music training program in Chestertown, Maryland that provides young musicians with performance opportunities, masterclasses, and cultural immersion. While more focused on summer training, it shares PAE's nonprofit ethos and educational mission for emerging performers.
• World Projects Corporation: World Projects designs international music festivals and performance tours for university and community ensembles across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It shares PAE's cultural exchange and international touring model but focuses more on competitive festivals and adjudicated events.
• Heritage Festivals: Heritage Festivals operates music festival and performance tours for student and amateur ensembles, including international travel to destinations in Europe. While more focused on adjudicated festivals than PAE's non-competitive model, it serves an overlapping customer base of school directors and ensembles.
• ACFEA Tour Consultants: ACFEA Tour Consultants is a student and music group tour operator offering international performance tours to Europe, Asia, and beyond. It is comparable to PAE's Summer Stages International Series in providing bundled travel, accommodation, and performance experiences for ensembles.
• Starlight Orchestras & Music Travel: Starlight Orchestras and Music Travel arranges international performance tours, festivals, and cruise performances for school and community music groups. It overlaps with PAE on bundled international performance travel but is more commercially focused.
• Music Travel Consultants: Music Travel Consultants specializes in international performance tours for school music ensembles, including festival performances at Carnegie Hall and European venues. It overlaps with PAE on international performance travel but operates on a more commercial, customized tour basis.

Direct peers

• Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY): DCINY produces concerts and performances at Carnegie Hall and other iconic NYC venues for choirs and ensembles from around the world. Like PAE, it provides full venue coordination, production support, and ticketing services for amateur and pre-professional musicians seeking prestigious stages.
• Mid-America Productions: Mid-America Productions is a long-established concert producer at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, organizing choral and orchestral performances for ensembles internationally. It shares PAE's model of providing venue access, production logistics, and ticketing support for non-competitive performances by visiting ensembles.

Others

• Cypress Performing Arts Association: Cypress Performing Arts Association is a nonprofit organization supporting youth classical music education and performance opportunities. While not a direct competitor, it shares PAE's nonprofit mission and focus on providing performance platforms for young artists.
• Young Artists of the World Foundation: Young Artists of the World Foundation supports young musicians through international performance opportunities and cultural exchange. It is comparable to PAE's mission of pairing emerging artists with prestigious performances, though typically focused on classical chamber music.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/performing-arts-educators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Performing Arts Educators