BU Tanglewood Institute: At the intersection of creativity and community

By Gillian Mahoney | Published August 2026

Beth Morrison (BUTI’89, CFA’94) still remembers the feeling of arriving at the BU Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) and immediately being immersed in music. Everywhere she turned, the sounds of pianos and violins floated by. At night, she and her friends lay on the grass and counted the stars as the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed. The summer of 1989 marked the single biggest turning point in her life: it was when she decided to become an opera singer.

The BUTI program has been a similar haven for talented young artists from all over the country. Musicians ages 14–20 flock to Lenox, Massachusetts each summer to participate in workshops under the instruction of industry professionals. Areas of study range from voice to composition, piano, strings, and more. This year, BUTI marks 60 years of teaching students to become dynamic and versatile musicians.

Discovering a new world of music

Although the teenage Morrison long had ambitions to become a Broadway star, there was no turning back from opera once she stepped foot in Lenox. “I just fell in love with classical music,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘What is this? How did I not know about this my whole life?’” She went on to pursue her BFA in vocal performance at BU’s College of Fine Arts, returning to BUTI each summer to train and then to mentor students as a resident assistant and voice teacher. After graduation, Morrison earned her Master of Music in vocal pedagogy from Arizona State University. As much as she loved performing, she developed a passion for education and eventually worked her way up to become the administrative director of BUTI. She held the role for several years before jumping into a new venture.

In 2006, she founded Beth Morrison Projects, a production company dedicated to redefining American opera with a 21st-century perspective. “I wanted to create operas that tell the stories of our time,” Morrison says. She credits BUTI for inspiring her to make the change she wanted to see, and she hopes that the program continues to empower the next generation. “If BUTI can do anything, it’s to inspire young people to do whatever helps set them up for their future path and to open their eyes to how the world can be. Now more than ever, it’s essential for the next generation to create their own opportunities.”

BUTI lays an unbreakable foundation

Stella FitzGerald (BUTI’18, CFA’24) knows that she wouldn’t be where she is today without BUTI. “It was a very transformative summer, and I don’t say that lightly,” FitzGerald reflects. “I loved walking the grounds, going to downtown Lenox, and being around music all day. It’s one of the most special summers I’ve ever had in my life. I don’t think anything will compare to the nostalgia I have for Tanglewood.”

FitzGerald once aspired to become a different kind of professional singer. She grew up with her parents’ “crazy CD collection,” taught herself how to sing and play guitar, and participated in choir and community theater. She dreamt of a career in musical theater, starring in school productions in Austin, Texas and filling her schedule with voice lessons. Classical music didn’t even cross her mind until the director of her high school’s voice program pointed out that her voice was well suited to opera. She encouraged her to study the discipline and apply to BUTI.

When FitzGerald arrived on the Tanglewood grounds, she knew she was in a magical place. “It sounds cliché, but it’s true,” she laughs. “It was such an immersive experience to watch professionals, listen to wonderful music, and work on my craft.” She loved living in a collaborative environment in which she could learn from other singers and instrumentalists who shared her goal of becoming a professional musician. Penelope Bitzas, the director of the Young Artists Vocal Program, was also her close mentor and still advises her today.

The singer continued her education at CFA, choosing BU because of how the college was integrated into the larger University. FitzGerald also jumped at the opportunity to learn even more from Bitzas, who became her voice teacher at BU. “I knew I would be in good hands if I studied with Penny,” FitzGerald reflects. At CFA, she thoroughly enjoyed the balance of participating in school-wide traditions and making friends across campus without sacrificing the intensive training that the college provided.

While FitzGerald has soared to new heights in her career, adding a Master of Music degree from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and training at the highly selective Merola Opera Program and Academy of Vocal Arts to her resume, her BUTI education keeps her grounded. “Everything that I’m building, even as I get farther away from BUTI, goes back to that because they laid such a strong foundation. The faculty are so invested in their students, and there’s a real spirit of optimism and positivity. The BUTI experience is a very unifying factor in the industry, and community is the most important thing for being a musician. My hope is that they continue that work and celebrate their incredible alumni network.”

Musical prowess with community spirit

Nicole Wendl, executive director of BUTI, hopes that students do exactly that: move away from the competitive nature that often comes with high-caliber musicianship and shift toward an environment in which they can fail safely and grow in a supportive space. “BUTI helps young people cultivate lifelong technical prowess and artistry, but it also shows them what it really feels like to live in a community with one another,” she adds. The program’s unique approach to community building is what drew Wendl, herself an award-winning violinist, to Tanglewood.

She notes that access to several different types of freedom, whether it be physical, creative, or mental, makes the experience truly special. As the program celebrates its 60th anniversary, Wendl hopes that alumni, current, and future students recognize not only their capacity for musical evolution, but the importance of community. “Alumni are what built BUTI, and every single person is part of the reason it exists,” Wendl says. “The fact that they still care and are willing to give back their time and energy are the reason that it will last another 60 years.”