BU Tanglewood Institute: From the Director’s Desk | October 2018

As cooler temperatures set in and autumn foliage becomes more vibrant, I reflect on summer 2018 with intense gratitude and look toward summer 2019 with my usual enthusiasm and excitement. The 53rd season of Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) was one of breaking records and expanding our reach. We saw our largest and most geographically diverse class of 437 students, comprised of students from 44 states/US territories and 13 foreign countries. We welcomed visitors to campus from the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, the National YoungArts Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. And with the sponsorship of our friends at M&T Bank, we presented more than 100 community events and concert performances all throughout the Berkshires.

One component of this performance series is, perhaps, our best kept secret: the BUTI Community Engagement Program. Not everyone finds it easy to connect with audiences, but thanks to this program, more than 80% of 2018 BUTI instrumentalists had the opportunity to build these skills as they took their art beyond the concert hall—performing dozens of concerts in non-traditional venues and for individuals who might otherwise not experience classical music, much less live performance. Guided by mentors such as visiting artist Joseph Conyers (BUTI’98) and guest clinician Sarah Whitney (BUTI’99), students interacted with audiences young and old, from the Berkshire South Regional Community Center to Boston’s Conservatory Lab Charter School. “You made my decade!” said one audience member. It’s moments like this that drive our work, and we’re eager to deepen and grow this program in future years.

Speaking of the future, the summer 2019 Admissions Application will launch later this week on November 1. Students—start brushing up those excerpts and art songs! Over the coming weeks, we will share what we’re planning for 2019, and you won’t want to miss it. Like us on Facebook to be the first to know of these upcoming announcements.

During this changing season, it’s with bittersweet sentiments that I announce the departure of Grace Kennerly, BUTI’s Director of Admissions and Artistic Planning, to serve as Executive Director of Boston’s A Far Cry. The BUTI community will miss her, but we look forward to seeing her thrive as she takes on this new challenge.

But it’s the entire BUTI community that makes BUTI special, and I can’t do enough to express my appreciation. Thank you to our alumni and parents. Thank you to our faculty and staff. Thank you to our audiences and donors. Your participation and support is invaluable and irreplaceable. We’re grateful that all of you are part of this ever-growing BUTI community—one that is passionate about great music, excellent education, and doing our part to contribute to a meaningful future.

Sincerely,
 

Hilary Field Respass
Executive Director
BU Tanglewood Institute