Peter and Kara Dugan | Life After Juilliard

Postcards From Juilliard Alums

Hi, we’re the Dugans! We met 13 years ago in Signor Maione’s Italian class at Juilliard, and in 2016 we got married and went on to make our double debut with the San Francisco Symphony the following year. In 2020, Peter became the host of NPR’s From the Top, a program that features stellar teen musicians, who wow us every week. The same year, Kara was named a WQXR Propulsion Lab Artist and continues to appear as a guest host on the station. It’s been fun for us to grow together, not just as a couple but also as performers, and giving recitals together is a special treat. This season we joyfully returned to our Juilliard roots for a New York Festival of Song performance with our dear friends baritone John Brancy (BM ’11, Graduate Diploma ’13, voice) and Charles Yang (BM ’11, MM ’13, violin), plus our mentor Steven Blier (faculty 1992-present). We’ve been lucky enough to have some great touring experiences; Kara has sung with the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall, and Peter made his Wigmore Hall debut in London this year as part of a recital tour with violinist Joshua Bell. At the end of the day, we’re always grateful to return to the Upper West Side, which has been home for us ever since our Juilliard days. 

Peter Dugan (BM ’11, MM ’14, piano) and Kara Sainz Dugan (BM ’14, MM ’16, voice)