Alum's passion fuels communications career in the music industry

A love for singing and songwriting led Dawn Delvo 06’ to Minnesota State Moorhead’s music industry program — and eventually to the red carpet at the Grammys. Through networking opportunities and bold choices, she built a career she once dreamed of.

Dawn chose Moorhead for its unique combination of performance and business training She learned the ins and outs of the music world, not just how to perform but how to navigate contracts, manage artists, promote events, and build connections that could open doors.

For Dawn, one of the most defining opportunities was joining the student chapter of the (MEIEA).

Though MEIEA is no longer active, students have new opportunities to build connections. Today, they have access to the latest music recording technology within three professional production facilities while participating in a student-led production company, experiences that prepare them for the industry.

Through MEIEA, she traveled to national conferences across the U.S. including New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Miami, where an unexpected encounter shaped her future.

“In Miami, I attended a panel and loved what the speaker — Mike Kraski, president of Equity Music Group — was saying. I introduced myself and asked for an internship. That conversation led to my first industry opportunity in Nashville,” she says.

Dawn moved to the Music City without looking back and was determined to break into the industry.

That internship as a record label intern didn’t convert to a job, but it gave her something even more valuable: connections. From that point forward, she embraced the unpredictable path of the music business, taking PR/Marketing positions, stints at short-lived labels, and even worked at a temp agency all while growing her network with every stop.

Eventually, she joined , a place she now calls home.

“My first job there was digital support. Now I’m VP of Communications,” Dawn says. “Most people don’t stay 14 years at one company in this industry. But the culture here made me want to stay and grow.”

Dawn has lead communications for chart-topping artists like , , , and rising stars and .

Dawn Delvo on the 2020 GRAMMYs red carpet 

“I remember thinking, ‘This is my job right now. I’m getting paid to live my dream,’” Dawn says.

Her 14-year-old daughter has grown up alongside her at Black River. “Doing this as a solo mom means everything. I get to show her that it’s possible,” she says.

Dawn explains the overflowing talent in Nashville, “Some of the best songs will never be heard because they don’t make it past the demo,” she says. The industry is volatile but when it works, it’s magic.

She has worked with Kelsea Ballerini since her earliest days, celebrating milestones from debut albums to Grammy nominations to coaching on .

Throughout her career, Dawn has found that her experience in Moorhead classes like accounting and audio engineering still serve her today. As a VP managing artist budgets at Black River Entertainment — a record label, GRAMMY winning publishing company with three recording studios (sound stage) — she regularly taps into her foundational skillset.

Beginning this fall, Moorhead is expanding those real-world offerings even further. Students interested in performing popular music are encouraged to register for a new commercial music ensemble, with personalized guidance from professional musicians and faculty in masterclass-style settings.

With her 20 year anniversary in Nashville approaching, Dawn is shifting some focus to giving back with intention.

“At Black River, we’re looking for ways to use what we’ve built to give back to our community,” she says.

On a personal note, later this year Dawn is set to publish her first book entitled My Greatest Solo – Accompanied By Grace about her journey in music and motherhood as a solo mom in Nashville.

She also hopes to return to Moorhead to speak with students about the different opportunities in the music business.

Her advice: “If you want to do it — do it. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Be a journalist at your school. Be a musician in your town. You can’t go swimming if you’re not in the water. Jump in, wherever you are.”