Student at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music Attends Eastman Leadership Academy, Sponsored by Yamaha
Crane School of Music student Aliciana LoTemple ’21 has been named a fellow in the Institute for Music Leadership’s second annual Eastman Leadership Academy. The bassoon performance major was chosen as one of 15 outstanding graduate and undergraduate students, selected from a national pool of applicants, for the program, which is sponsored by the Yamaha Corporation of America.
The academy is being held from June 26 to 29 at the Eastman School of Music, and brings together juniors, seniors and graduate collegiate music students from around the United States who demonstrate leadership experience and seek to develop careers that are impactful to their communities and the musical arts.
“What I hope to take away from this leadership experience is finding a way of becoming an impactful voice in the music world today. Whether that is becoming a teacher or a performer, I want to be able to impact the next generation of musicians. I also plan to give back to my community in my hometown of Rochester, N.Y.,” LoTemple said.
LoTemple is a member of both the Crane Wind Ensemble and the Crane Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed in several student recitals and chamber groups. At Crane, she has also had the opportunity to be a guest performer with both the Northern Symphonic Winds and the Orchestra of Northern New York.
Over the course of four days, LoTemple and the other Eastman Leadership Academy students will collaborate with leading musicians, educators and leaders in learning activities designed to be immersive, interactive and participatory. Participants will engage with similarly passionate and dedicated musicians while focusing on topics such as innovation in the arts, application of entrepreneurial thinking and business skills, assessing individual goals and crafting a personal mission.
This year’s keynote speakers will include Lee Koonce, president and artistic director of the Gateways Music Festival; and Yuki Numata Resnick, artistic director of Buffalo String Works, an El Sistema inspired organization making classical music accessible to disadvantaged communities. Other presenters include faculty and staff of Eastman School of Music, covering topics such as “Convincing Others of Your Vision,” “A Diverse Musician’s Job Hunt,” and “Grant Writing.”
“As leaders in today’s music schools, it is our goal to prepare students for a field that is regularly shifting patterns. We are constantly charged with navigating a continually evolving professional music world for our graduates while preparing them for the opportunities and challenges that these changes present,” said James Doser, director of the Institute for Music Leadership at Eastman. “We are extremely grateful to Yamaha for reflecting our purpose by supporting these graduate students, giving them the opportunity to move further in their careers.”
The program provides future arts leaders an opportunity to collaborate with national university music schools and departmental faculty, staff and administrators, providing an invaluable window into the world of higher education administration. Upon completing the program, all fellows will be granted a certificate recognizing their award and participation.
“Yamaha is proud to invest in future music educators, helping to frame their path towards successful and fulfilling careers in music education,” said Lisa Steele-MacDonald, director of vertical marketing, Yamaha Corporation of America. “It is incredibly important to increase the number of music makers across the country, all while promoting quality music education.”
For more information about the Eastman Leadership Academy, please visit http://iml.esm.rochester.edu/leadership-conference/academy/about-the-eastman-leadership-academy/.
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.