Mila balella

Mila Balella recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music and Entertainment Industries from William Paterson University, where she was awarded magna cum laude through the Honors College. Throughout her academic journey, she developed a strong foundation as a classical flutist and actively pursued opportunities to expand her skill set and network within the music industry. 

Her involvement in the Music and Entertainment Organization (MEO) spanned all four of her undergraduate career. As President, she facilitated meetings, appointed the executive board, organized events, and delegated tasks. Working closely with the university staff, she produced live music events that raised funds for charitable organizations, including The Madison Holleran Foundation, O Bom Samaritano, and People to People. Her leadership strengthened relationships with other clubs and organizations, promoted MEO across campus, and increased membership engagement. Mila’s leadership experience with MEO helped develop her dedication to grow as an aspiring music industry professional.

Beyond academic achievements and campus leadership, Mila developed valuable hands-on experience through several internships. During the summer of 2023, she joined The Newton Theatre as an intern gaining exposure to day sheets, merchandise contracts, and artist/venue contracts while shadowing front-of-house management and the box office operations. Her role also involved volunteering with concessions and ushering. In 2024, Mila officially worked as a box office attendant handling ticketing sales and customer service during shows. She appreciates her time and education with this incredible team.

Mila’s experience in artist management began at The Rocks Management, in August 2023, where she managed several social media pages by creating content, organizing calendars, and scheduling posts. She also took lead on AJ Smith’s Street Team by coordinating social media engagement and other tasks with members. A highlight of this internship was aiding the logistical planning and graphic designs for The Zombies’ first annual St. Albans Festival. Her responsibilities extended to administrative tasks such as playlisting and updating Bandsintown. In November 2025, Mila dived into merchandising under Cindy DaSilva and Chris Tuthill at The Rocks for Colin Blunstone, Bruce Sudano and the Ronnie Spector estate.

In her current role at Collective Entertainment, she collaborates with partners, Melissa Garcia and Lesly Montes, to develop digital marketing strategies and provide artist management assistance. Mila mainly manages social media for multiple clients, increasing monetization on Facebook and Instagram, and provides community engagement. Furthermore, she is responsible for streamlining workflows, training interns and providing utmost organization for the team. After working in merchandise for The Rocks Management, Mila was inquired to manage merchandise for Emily Jane White. She completes all shipping and handling and manages the online store. These projects are only the highlights of what Mila has worked on with Collective since completing her undergrad.

Mila’s side hobbies include everything music. She loves to spend her free time practicing flute and piano, singing, and songwriting. Her dedication and eagerness to learn and improve her musical skills are ever-present in her music industry work. Mila also enjoys spending time with friends trying new coffee shops, taking trips to the beach and to New York City. Traveling has always been a part of her life, as she has traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally. Currently residing in northern New Jersey, Mila is eager to apply her comprehensive education and practical experience to make a mark on the music industry.