Shepherd student earns competitive fellowship

Shepherd student earns competitive fellowship

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News staff

Upon graduation from his master’s program in the Shepherd School of Music, bassoonist Bradley Balliett has earned a selective fellowship at The Academy – A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and The Weill Music Institute, which combines the finest young professional musicians with children in New York City public schools.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with other young musicians, live in New York and put on great concerts,” Balliett said. “I was really attracted to this fellowship because it takes into account the complete picture of the musician.”

The two-year fellowship provides performance opportunities, advanced musical training and intensive teaching instruction and experience. It is designed to develop the skills and values leading to careers that combine musical excellence with education and community outreach.

The outreach component is nothing new for Balliett, who has worked with the Just for U Music Program (JUMP) at Rice. JUMP provides an in-house education program for elementary and middle school students from Title I schools in the Houston area. Started in 1998, the program invites teachers to bring their students to Rice for a concert performed by Shepherd School students and designed to introduce the children to the joys of classical music.

“Music can help kids find connections,” Balliett said. “Whenever I play a concert for kids, my goal is to show them that I am a regular person, just like them, who is really enjoying what I’m doing. I want them to know that they can do that to: find something they are good at — whether it be math or music — and then really enjoy doing it.”