Jesse Terry is an award-winning songwriter, performer, and educator, and is the Interim Director of the CMED Program (Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) at Shenandoah Conservatory. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Terry has built a distinguished career as a touring and recording artist, releasing twelve albums and EPs and performing more than 2,000 concerts across the U.S. and internationally. His music has been featured on television shows including Virgin River (Netflix) and Hart of Dixie (The CW), and he has appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, AmericanaFest, Musikfest, the 30A Songwriters Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

A recipient of top honors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the CMT/NSAI Song Contest, and the International Songwriting Competition, Terry brings a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom. He has fan-funded many of his albums and creative projects through platforms such as Kickstarter and Patreon, experiences that inform his teaching on artist entrepreneurship and building sustainable careers in today’s evolving industry. His expertise spans songwriting, music production, performance, music business, and entrepreneurship.

In addition to his career as an independent artist, Terry has written professionally as a Nashville staff songwriter, shared his expertise at songwriting retreats and festivals, and published his first children’s book, If I Were the Moon (Schiffer Publishing, 2022). When he’s not teaching or writing a song, he can be found exploring his new home of Winchester with his wife and their two young children, who remain at the heart of his life and inspiration. Looking ahead, he is eager to help shape the next generation of artists and songwriters while continuing to hone his own craft in the studio and on the stage.