A flutist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Juilliard
and a D.M.A. from SUNY-Stony Brook, Bärli spent 20 years as a founding member
of the Naumburg Award-winning Aspen Wind Quintet (1981-2001). She has been a member
of the artist-faculty of the Aspen Music Festival since 1984.
How long have you worked at Juilliard, and what do you remember about your first
day?
Two years. After a career spent primarily as a performer and teacher, I came to
Juilliard for a new direction in administration. On my first day, I was bewildered
to discover that my beautiful, brand-new office was completely empty. I spent
the day running around the building trying to figure out what was needed and where
I might find it.
What job at Juilliard would you like to try out for a day and why?
I would love to be a member of the Dance and Drama faculties for a day and sit
in on their entrance auditions. The educational process in those divisions fascinates
me; seeing that in action at the entry point would be phenomenally interesting.
What is the strangest job you've ever had and what made it strange?
I've never had a strange job. All of my work has been in performance or teaching,
and I've learned something from everything I've ever done.
If out of the blue your boss said to take the day off, what would
you do with your free time?
I would either take the time to catch up on work (which produces its own kind
of euphoria) or I would grab my kids, go see a daytime movie, then go for a
bike ride along the Hudson.
What kind of performances do you prefer to attend and why?
Student performances here. The personalities and unique artistic voices of each
student are endlessly intriguing to me.
What other pursuits are you passionate about?
Spending time with my children. I also love to quilt.
What was the best vacation you've had and what made that trip so special?
A trip to France, Germany, and Austria with my kids and husband; part of my
family heritage is European, so it was wonderful to have them glimpse some of
that legacy.
What is your proudest accomplishment in life?
My children, Nan and Spencer, without a doubt! A close second would be the Aspen
Wind Quintet. The partnership amongst the five of us as we built the group and
then won the Naumburg Chamber Music Award was extraordinary.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
How much I love this job! And that dance is my secret passion—it's what I
always wanted to do when I was a child.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Juilliard has woven a constant thread throughout my life. My mother,
Irene Schneidmann, attended Juilliard as a piano student of the legendary Rosina
Lhèvinne, and my childhood included numerous trips to New York from our home
in Connecticut to visit "Madame Lhèvinne." My first flute teacher, Jean Whiton,
had been a Georges Barrère student at Juilliard. I became a student of Julius
Baker at 14. Samuel Baron, the late flutist of the New York Woodwind Quintet,
was my quintet's coach before we won the Naumburg, and he later became my mentor
and friend. My life as a performer has been filled with Juilliard colleagues—and
now I am privileged to work with a faculty that includes teachers and classmates
from my own student days. Sir Isaac Newton once said, "We stand on the shoulders
of giants." I feel that way, too.
