Since Juilliard’s forerunner, the Institute of Musical Art, opened its doors, families have been a strong force at the School—among the first students to enroll in October 1905 were sisters Mary and Jeanette Crabtree, who both studied the piano for three years. It’s not surprising: family ties are potent enough to direct many of the decisions we all make, and sharing a passion for the arts with a parent, sibling, or spouse may add deeper meaning and depth to the pursuit. Inevitably shared passion soon extended beyond the practice rooms and rehearsal studios, leading to the first Juilliard couples—and, eventually, to Juilliard children and grandchildren. This year’s edition of Center Stage is dedicated to the families that have not only shared Juilliard but also the mysterious combination of qualities and experiences that make a performer.
—Jamée Ard (D.M.A. ’94, voice) is the director of national advancement and alumni relations
When musical genes are shared, family relationships can come with all kinds of
possibilities—extra pressure, in-house mentors, close
scrutiny, emotional support, fast-track learning, struggles with public perception. Here is how some of those possibilities played out in a few Juilliard families—the Gilberts, the Shahams, the Dichters, the Browns, and the Zukermans.
When we started working on this issue of The Journal, we knew
that there were lots of Juilliard families—spouses, siblings,
parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins—who’d gone here. But we
had no idea how many: a database search turned up almost
1,000 groupings, and even that wasn’t complete. Here are a few of them. Tell us about your Juilliard
family connection or story at
journal@juilliard.edu.
Sweaty dancers, long rehearsals, tiny practice rooms … Who would have
thought that Juilliard could be a hotbed for romance? It’s true that
dating in such a tiny community is a risk. (What if the guy who just
dumped you is the principal of your section in orchestra? And you really
don’t want to be paired with your ex in ballroom dancing class.) Here are seven Juilliard couples who took the plunge.
