Vol. XIX No. 5
February 2004

By SUZANNE MORELLO

'Twas the season for merriment—and it was also one of the best ways to end the year. I received a phone call from Aaron Flagg, director of the Music Advancement Program (MAP) at The Juilliard School, just before the Thanksgiving holiday. He was inquiring as to the whereabouts of my R.S.V.P. for the first-ever MAP reunion. Much to my chagrin, this was the first time that I had heard of the event. Perhaps it had gotten lost in the mail … Whatever the reason, I accepted without hesitation.

Kelvin Eusebio (center), Alex Blake (right), and friend enjoy the luncheon at the reunion. (Photo by Nan Melville)
Several days later, I received a phone call from fellow alumnus and friend of 17 years, clarinetist Shawn Coleman. Not only would I attend the function, but I would also be performing with him in a trio. The pianist was to be announced. My anticipation and excitement level was raised several notches.

As the weekend approached, I found myself becoming anxious. On Friday, December 19, I was on the seemingly distant but always familiar train ride on the 1/9 subway line to Lincoln Center. As I approached the huge glass windows and doors that lead into the building that once nurtured my musical growth, I was greeted by the other members of the trio: Shawn and pianist Cristina Stanescu. How befitting to have the honor of Cristina performing with us! Not only was she on the MAP faculty, but she was also my former accompanist. Now, as adults, we would be performing as peers. The next day, at the reunion, our performance was a success. It absolutely thrilling—especially considering our audience consisted of alumni, faculty, and Juilliard's president, Joseph W. Polisi.

So what did I get out of all of this? The most important thing was that I reconnected with people who were a huge part of my life for so long. The other was the opportunity to experience firsthand the evolution of MAP through all of the alumni after us, and the faces that currently make up the program. Watching the annual winter concert with old friends, and seeing the new products of the program do what we used to, I was filled with a tremendous rush of nostalgia and pride. I realized at that moment just how incredibly special MAP is.

Return to the MAP Reunion index page.
The five years I spent with MAP made me understand the impact that it had on my life, how it changed and shaped my existence. The program allowed me to grow as a musician. That chance enabled me to go on to college and make music my profession. MAP inspired me to become involved in music education and outreach, because it is through the children that music lives on. And I have also become interested in doing what I can to save the arts—to reach the community in any way possible. Finally, I made friendships with people that will last a lifetime. How am I so sure? About 95 percent of us had not seen or spoken to each other in 10 years—but that Saturday, it felt as though no time had passed. It felt like it used to. We got up early on Saturday mornings because we knew that we were the privileged group who got to go to Juilliard on the weekends and learn about music. Although we were coming to a reunion that weekend, we were still doing just that.

Suzanne Morello, who earned a master's degree in viola from Arizona State University, teaches privately and freelances in the New York area.

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