Juilliard Entrepreneurship Symposium

The annual Juilliard Entrepreneurship Symposium aims to foster dialogue, learning, and connections among Juilliard students, alumni, and arts professionals from all disciplines and generations. Established in 2018, the symposium focuses on the skills of entrepreneurship: translating an idea into something that has value and creating opportunities for yourself and your communities. Presented by the Alan D. Marks Center for Career Services & Entrepreneurship and the Office of Alumni Relations, the symposium features guest speakers, workshops, and presentations led by Juilliard alumni and other leaders from the arts field.

The 2024 symposium focused on the three areas that address the space where art and entrepreneurship converge: community, creative process, and business acumen. With each session, we asked the audience: How have artists harnessed their creative abilities to entertain, forge strong communities, and establish successful organizations? What business models allow communal artistic projects to thrive? How do we create possibilities for ourselves and our communities in service of our values? Attendees explored critical questions, techniques, and practices that allow us all to find professional opportunities and forge new paths forward.  

The symposium began with a keynote presentation at noon featuring Max Woertendyke (Drama Group 44), Charles Yang (BM '11, MM '13, violin), and Sabrina Sandvi Berry (BFA ‘94, dance). The keynote presentation was then followed by six different sessions throughout the day. Session were led by the following industry-leading alumni: Heather Bixler (MM ’91, violin), Yuri Cataldo (Professional Apprentice Program ’05, costumes), Olivia Cosío (MM ’20, voice), Alex Jones (BFA ’15, dance), Jee-Hoon Krska (Pre-College ’86, piano), Moscelyne ParkeHarrison (BFA ’19, dance), Renate Tsuyako Rohlfing (MM ’12, collaborative piano), and Sarah Wells (Professional Apprentice Program ’17, drama division). Zoom links to each session were provided in the program and attendees were welcome to jump around to different sessions occurring simultaneously. All were encouraged to take notes and ask questions throughout the afternoon.

Read the 2024 program.

The 2023 symposium focused on the four “C”s of 21st-century education: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. With each session we asked the audience: How do these show up in a successful career? How do we build, strengthen, and flex these skills as artists? Attendees explored critical questions, techniques, and practices that allow us all to find professional opportunities and craft a new path forward. 

The symposium began with a keynote presentation at noon featuring Matthew Aucoin (Graduate Diploma ’14, composition), Donald Borror (BFA ’10, dance), and Zack Winokur (BFA ’12, dance). The keynote presentation was then followed by six different sessions throughout the day. Session were led by the following alumni and industry leaders: Erik Christian Peterson (BM ’04, viola); Emily Duncan (MM ’18, flute) and Gloria Yin; Lisa Spector (BM ’83, piano); Amy Stafford (BFA ’06, drama); Gabrielle Salvatto (BFA ’11, dance), Clara Superfine, and Alyah Baker; and Oskar Yao (BCJ exchange ’13; MM ’16, piano). Zoom links to each session were provided in the program and attendees were welcome to jump around to different sessions occurring simultaneously. All were encouraged to take notes and ask questions as they learned to define the 21st century in the arts.

Read the 2023 program.

The 2022 symposium explored making and defining our artistic careers. With each session, we asked the audience: How do we survive as artists? How do we create success on our own terms? How can we make space for others to thrive along with us? Attendees explored critical questions, techniques, and practices that allow them to find professional opportunities and craft a new path forward.

The symposium began with a keynote presentation at noon featuring Julia Bullock (Artist Diploma ’15, opera studies), Nigel Campbell (BFA ’08, dance), and Drew Forde (MM ’16, viola). The keynote presentation was then followed by ten different sessions throughout the day, led by the following alumni and industry leaders: Jerome Butler (Group 12); Drew Alexander Forde (MM ’16, viola) and Cristina Spinei (Pre-College ’02; BM ’06, MM ’08, composition); Jessica Garand (MM ’12, viola); Katherine Lim (BM ’17, MM ’19, violin), Mosa Tsay (MM ’18, cello), and Eric Silberger (Pre-College ’07; BCJ Exchange ’11, MM ’13, violin); Exhale to Inhale; Alyah Baker, Antuan Byers, Gabrielle Salvatto (BFA ’11, dance), and Clara Superfine; Tammy Coil Moore (BM ’06, voice); Tanya Kalmanovitch (BM ’92, viola); Liam Day (MM ’07, trumpet) and Gabriel Lee; and Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Andrew Munn (Graduate Diploma ’18, voice), and Ivàn Enrique Rodríguez (MM ’19, DMA ’24, composition). Zoom links to each session were provided in the program and attendees were welcome to jump around to different sessions occurring simultaneously.

Read the 2022 program.

The impact that COVID-19 had on the entertainment industry left many artists wondering how they could restart their journey. We found hope in our creativity, and as the world began entering a sense of normalcy, we looked to furthering ourselves and our mission. As artists we are entrepreneurs, and we continue to find innovative ways to move our passions forward. This virtual symposium was a special cross-industry conversation with Juilliard alumni and FENDI leadership where they shared their knowledge and offered real-world examples of how innovation and entrepreneurship are tied to creative success, to help our audience further their professional career.

The keynote presentation was led by Andrea Miller (BFA ’04, dance), Ulysses Owens Jr. (BM ’06, jazz studies), and FENDI Americas president Joanna Dubin; afternoon breakout sessions were led by Anthony Barfield (BM '08, trombone); Arnaud Sussmann (BM '05, MM '07, violin); and Armando Braswell (BFA ’06, dance) and Joanne Tucker (Group 38).

For the first virtual Entrepreneurship Symposium, two free sessions were hosted over the course of two days, each including keynote discussions and Q&As.

The session on June 24 was entitled Home Recording Studios and focused on demonstrating how to create a home recording studio and achieve optimal sound for virtual lessons, audition tapes, or performance projects. The session featured voice-over actor Amy Ward Stafford (Group 35), Unison Orchestra co-founder Lisa Liu (Diploma '96, BM '00, MM '02, violin), and Grammy award-winning recording engineer Brad Haehnel.

The session on June 25 was entitled Advocacy in Entrepreneurship and explored how artists support their beliefs through entrepreneurial endeavors. Session attendees were joined by Nigel Campbell (BFA ’08, dance) and Chanel DaSilva (BFA '08, dance), who co-founded MOVE NYC with the mission of cultivating greater diversity and equity within the dance profession and beyond.

For the second annual Entrepreneurship Symposium, alumni were encouraged to connect with their fellow alumni to expand their resources in the areas of community engagement, social media/networking, innovative programming, and legal issues in the performing arts. The symposium included a keynote discussion with arts consultant and former IMG Artists executive Edna Landau, and was followed by lunch and four 40-minute breakout sessions with Drew Forde (MM '16, viola), Karen Cueva (BM '13, MM '15, violin), Conrad Tao* (Pre-College '11, piano), and Amy Lehman, Esq. (director of legal services at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts).

*Denotes that this alum is an Arnhold Creative Associate

In our inaugural symposium, we aimed to connect recent alumni to expanded resources in the areas of audience development, marketing/networking, programming, and legal issues in the performing arts. The symposium included a keynote discussion with New York Philharmonic Creative Partner Nadia Sirota* (BM ’04, MM ’06, viola; ’08 Academy) followed by lunch and four 30-minute breakout sessions on individual topics with alumni including Victoria Pollack (Group 46), Aaron Severini (BM ’15, MM ’17, composition), Ulysses Owens (BM ’06, jazz studies), and Amy Lehman, Esq., director of legal services at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

*Denotes that this alum is an Arnhold Creative Associate