Student Reflections: Lindsay Phillips and Noémie Chemali

Students Reflect on an Action-Packed Year

Just before commencement, we asked students—some graduating, some staying on—to reflect on their time at Juilliard. They wrote about highlights, top takeaways, and things that were and weren't surprising. In addition, some shared what scholarship had meant to them and what their summer/future plans are. Keep an eye out for entries from other students and check out this video highlight reel from commencement. Congratulations to the class of 2022!

Lindsay Phillips

Top takeaway
The people I’ve met—my classmates and the teachers who inspire me daily. Juilliard isn’t just a place or a name; it’s a supportive community of artists who all embody a shared respect for one another’s dedication and passions. This school is a haven for an array of artistic voices to be strengthened, shared, and heard. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to further my artistry surrounded by some of the most generous and nurturing individuals I’ve ever met.

Third-year dancer Lindsay Phillips is from Andrews, South Carolina

Noémie Chemali

Highlights

• Artistically, I have been inspired by so many of my colleagues’ performances! Drama’s presentation of Indecent and this year’s Spring Dances were two of the most inspiring performances I have ever seen. They revealed the power of multidisciplinary collaborations to hold a mirror up to today’s society and reframe difficult historical narratives.

• Scholastically, I am ever inspired by my music theory teacher, Philip Lasser (DMA ’97, composition), who has the most interesting mind (and wonderful sense of humor) and dares to teach music theory as if it were a philosophy class, which has challenged me to situate the fine compositional details of the music I am playing within a much broader context.

• Socially, performing Andrew Norman’s Gran Turismo with seven other Juilliard violists was a wonderful time, as it was a rare occasion to intermix with members of the other viola studios! We definitely bonded over the challenge of learning this crazy fast and virtuosic piece, originally written for violin, on viola, a feat that ultimately brought us much closer together.

Scholarship support
I would not have been able to attend Juilliard had it not been for the generous support of my scholarship donors. I feel so grateful to have had access to the world’s best teachers and colleagues.

Biggest surprise
The amount of opportunities I’ve had to develop new skills, from taking a composition class and playing in a baroque ensemble to managing my Gluck fellowship group’s outreach performances—and the list goes on.

Least surprising
My peers’ crazy talent and work ethic.

Top takeaway
An immense sense of gratitude for all of those who have made this experience possible for me and a desire to give back to the community to make this dream accessible to people of a wider variety of backgrounds.

Master’s violist Noémie Chemali will be releasing her first album, Opus 961 (in part thanks to funding from the Marks Center for Career Services and Entrepreneurship), and going on tour to promote it

These pieces are adapted from a special feature that originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of the Journal.