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Jody Mullen
Born in Burlington, Vt., Jody grew up in Wilbraham, Mass., and Sparta, N.J. She earned a B.A. in music from Columbia University's Barnard College in May 2004—and was waiting tables until a week before she came to Juilliard.
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Jody Mullen in a Village Light Opera production of The Merry Widow, spring 2006. (Photo by Alexandra Tombrakos Weiss)
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How long have you worked at Juilliard, and what do you remember about your first day?
I've been at Juilliard since October 18, 2004. I remember taking a tour of the building with Janet Kessin, my boss, and thinking, "I'm never going to stop getting lost in this place." (P.S.: I was right.)
What job at Juilliard would you like to try out for a day and why?
I think I'd like to work in Student Affairs for a day. The students here are really fantastic—friendly, generous, and open-minded—and I'd love to work with them more than I currently do. (I'm a work-study supervisor in our department.)
What is the strangest or most memorable job you've ever had and what made it so?
Before Janet offered me this position, I was living with my parents and working as a waitress. It was memorable because I was always hurting myself. I had to cut bread for customers, and I was always slicing my thumb along with the bread. One time, I went to get ice out of the freezer, and the freezer cover fell off and hit me. I used to come home with battle scars. Of course, the most painful part of all was the bad tips!
If out of the blue your boss said to take the day off, what would you do with your free time?
I'd go shopping on the Upper West Side, get a peppermint mocha with whipped cream from Starbucks, have a voice lesson with my wonderful teacher, take a nap on the lawn at Barnard, and go out for Thai food. (If you like Thai, go to the Lemongrass Grill at Broadway and 96th Street and order the dish "Fun in Black." You won't be sorry.)
Do you still pursue your music? If so, how do you balance it with your job?
I practice and schedule voice lessons during the evening, and I sing in productions that rehearse at night. Everyone in my office was a music major like me, so they are really supportive and understanding. I even had a few Juilliard friends in the audience at my last opera.
What kind of performances do you prefer to attend?
I love opera, musical theater, and the ballet (especially the New York City Ballet). I wouldn't mind seeing a rock concert, since it's been a while … maybe the Stones can come back?
What is your favorite thing about New York City?
The arts scene is enormous and diverse. For a young artist, this is the land of opportunity. It's overwhelming.
What is your proudest accomplishment in life?
I'd have to say graduating from Barnard. I had such an amazing college experience. I'm also proud that I've been living on my own, working full-time, and singing for almost two years now.
What book are you reading right now? Or what CD are you listening to?
I'm reading Tolkien's The Return of the King and listening to my iPod mini, which contains everything from Beethoven to Britney. (Hey, you can't work out to a symphony!)
What other pursuits are you passionate about?
I'm a big bookworm, and I love to write. I'm a huge animal lover; my boyfriend and I have hamsters and a goldfish. I always have hamster pictures as my computer desktop background here … I'm sure people think I'm "that weird hamster girl." I also love the Red Sox.
What was the best vacation you've had and what made that trip so special?
My visit to Paris in high school stands out because I love French culture—the food, the art, the architecture, the fashion, the language—all of it!
What might people be surprised to know about you?
I was voted "Most Easily Embarrassed" by my high-school class. You wouldn't expect a performer to be easily embarrassed, but I am!
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