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By SHAWN COLEMAN
Anniversaries, with all their pleasures—expected and unexpected—carry one
responsibility: reflection. Thirteen years ago, 40 teenage kids walked into
Juilliard for the first time. We were a bunch of high-school kids to whom
anything could have happened; we all had equal opportunity to succeed or fail
in life. On the weekend of December 20, I attended the first Music Advancement
Program reunion and met with a few of my old buddies, now adults. I was
impressed, though hardly surprised, by the varied accomplishments of my former
(and in some cases, still current) colleagues. The educational pedigrees were
stellar (Columbia, Eastman, Barnard, and of course, Juilliard), the employment
equally impressive (J.P. Morgan, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sony Music,
Wyoming Symphony, Jazz at Lincoln Center).
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| MAP alumni view a photo gallery posted outside of Morse Hall. (Photo by Nan Melville) |
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While it is intended to provide a firm musical background (which it does), the
most important aspect of MAP is the relationships that are built with the
students. Whether we've made our careers in music or not, we all share a
common interest in helping others. I feel safe in speaking for all the alums
when I say that what was instilled in all of us is the importance of music in
a person's life—especially that of a young person. We also share the
commitment to ensuring that music reaches all communities, to using our
success to ensure that programs like MAP and the Bloomingdale House of Music's
Music Access Project (which is directed by a MAP alumnus) continue and are
expanded.
While those 40 youngsters were likely all to do well in life, it would be
remiss to not attribute some of our success to involvement in the program.
When you break the barrier of "classical music isn't for you," what you
realize is that not only is classical music for you—everything
is for you. After the reunion, about eight of us who used to go out for pizza
went out for cocktails, and reflected on old times and recent times. It felt
like home again. It's interesting how people define a place. Counting the
years in MAP, Pre-College, and undergraduate studies, I spent about 12
years—nearly half my life—at Juilliard, so the place really felt warmly
familiar that Saturday. MAP embodies the very best of Juilliard: high
standards in a nurturing environment. That's not always the Juilliard you hear
about, but it is the Juilliard that I know best—and it's my hope that more
people like that teenager I was 13 years ago will get to know "my School."
Standing in the back of Paul Hall, watching the MAP winter concert and seeing
that on stage the standard is as high as always, I watched the interaction of
the current students—the way they support each other, laughing and talking
between pieces—and realized we alumni are doing the same. Now, back in
Boulder, Colo., where I now live, I reflect on my life, the lives of my
friends and colleagues, and my alma mater—and I feel confident in the
direction of all three. In these times of uncertainty, it's important that
programs like MAP exist. It's vitally important that, for a few hours every
week, kids can have nothing else to think about but improving their art, their
social skills—in short, improving themselves. I hope my words prompt some
reflection in you—and that you have a place like MAP in your history, and that
you have the opportunity to use your talents to support community arts
programs.Shawn Coleman, who earned a B.M. in clarinet in 2002, is earning a master's degree in performance at the University of Colorado. He is principal clarinet of the Wyoming Symphony.
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