When planes toppled the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the country froze in a moment of horror. Every member of the Juilliard community was affected by the tragedy, as we struggled to come to grips with the enormity of the loss. But 9-11 alone cannot define our year. We found other points of focus and many reasons to celebrate.

The Jazz Studies program officially opened its doors in September, with the debuts of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and Juilliard Jazz Small Ensembles following soon thereafter. The Dance Division commemorated its 50th anniversary with concerts in December and February that featured exciting premieres. For many, annual events like the Focus! Festival, the Bachauer and Petschek recitals, and the MLK concert were highlights. For others, the Juilliard Opera Center’s premiere performances of Heloise and Abelard proved a crowning achievement. Now, as the 97th commencement approaches, the excitement is tempered by the loss of two prominent faculty members: violin teacher Dorothy DeLay and Dance Division director Benjamin Harkarvy. Juilliard mourns their passing and celebrates their extraordinary lives.