Tunde Giwa
Tunde Giwa was born in Nigeria, where he earned a bachelor’s
degree in biology from the University of Lagos. He came to the United
States in 1982 and attended the University of Rhode Island, receiving
a master’s degree in marine affairs in 1986. Before coming
to Juilliard in November of 1999, Tunde was the information systems
manager at DataStudy (now Acuent), an I.T. consulting firm in New
Jersey.
Tunde Giwa |
What do you remember about your first day at Juilliard?
I recall my head spinning from trying to keep up with the names of
the very many people I was introduced to. I also vividly recall my
first tour of the building with Charlie Lucas and Vinny Mangione as
my guides.
What job at Juilliard would you like to try out for a day
and why?
Short-order cook in the Juilliard cafeteria. Then I could kick the
spice index of the nosh up a few notches.
What is the strangest job you’ve ever had?
I once spent a summer working for an outfit that traveled around
rural areas of West Africa showing films to audiences that had no
access to cinemas. Starved as they were for this type of entertainment,
it was quite strange to see the way these people reacted so strongly
to the [bad] films we showed.
If out of the blue your boss said to take the day off,
what would you do with your free time?
It’s quite unlikely that my boss would say that, but in any
case, if it was warm enough, I might go canoeing or sailing. I love
water-based activities.
Do you have a background in music, dance, or drama?
None. I’m strictly a consumer of music, dance, and drama.
What kind of performances do you prefer to attend and why?
I just absolutely love the drama performances here. I try and get
to as many of them as I can. I never stop being impressed with the
quality.
What other pursuits are you passionate about?
I’m an avid sports fan, slavishly following the exploits of
the N.Y. Knicks, Yankees, and the Nigerian soccer team.
What was the best vacation you’ve had and what made
that trip so special?
A trip to Havana a couple of years ago. The beauty and friendliness
of the Cuban people and place were absolutely enthralling. I got
an unfiltered opportunity to learn about the country, its people,
their successes and failures.
What is your proudest accomplishment in life?
Responding to an outbreak of meningitis in northern Nigeria, by
getting together with friends, raising money, creating public service
announcements in various languages and running them on radio stations
all over the country. The announcements encouraged people to get
vaccinated.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
How passionate I am about my politics and how strongly held my worldview
is.
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Month:
Douglas Quint, director of orchestral activities |
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