August 30, 2021 | Welcome Message from President Woetzel

 

Dear Juilliard:

Welcome to the new members of our community: the Class of 2025, new graduate students, new faculty, new artistic staff, and new administrators! And welcome back to all of you who have had a well-deserved break over the summer. Our fresh-class members and new arrivals have faced similar challenges in this global pandemic to the ones we have all endured here already, and they join us today as we move forward together in this challenging environment. Let our community meet with excitement; renewed passion; love of music, dance, and drama; and the commitment to excellence we all share.

We begin today in our wonderful Lincoln Center classrooms at a crucial moment. Yes, it is the start of our school year, but it is more than that. It is a recommitment to our common goals, fueled by the knowledge that global challenges will be met by our entire community with both grit and grace. With those hallmarks, our coming year together can and will be enriched by our collaborative and creative habits of mind, stretching us all to our fullest artistic achievements. 

Why are we here? Why are you here? Why here, and why now? Each of us has our own story that gives the answer. But there are commonalities – perhaps most of all, dedication to the fulfillment of promise. As a student, you arrive at the door of Juilliard with the hope to progress into a lineage of artistry going back over a hundred years. That lineage is full of progressive achievement, essential curiosity, and deep commitment to a practice that has integrity. It is not an accident what happens here; it is the product of purpose. Remember this moment as you ask yourself today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and onward over the course of your time at Juilliard, "Why am I here?” Recommit to that purpose: the pursuit of excellence through thoughtful work, dedicated practice, and achieved craft.

Our purpose is decidedly focused. But, let's also be large as Walt Whitman wrote, contain multitudes, and channel that largesse into your practice, with the goal of being excellent and always curious. Our peerless faculty exemplify this capacity every day, as they innovatively further the artistic possibilities and development of each student, and our staff likewise as they tirelessly create and expand the platforms needed for each student to make progress towards becoming an artist.

A note about the term artist. Artist is a praise word, that speaks of aspiration. Let's all recognize the important responsibility of what it means to be an artist and remain humble enough to grow, to progress. To fulfill our individual promise as well as our unifying goals, we must be clear-eyed and disciplined.

As we welcome our new class, we can recall the magic of our own first day and reflect on the dream that has propelled us. In that spirit, let's embark on a new year of work, practice, and craft, full of growth and development.

In closing, I send a hearty thank you to our esteemed faculty and dedicated staff, and wish our students and everyone all the best for a creative and fulfilling year to come.

Damian Woetzel

President