How in the World did I End Up in Potsdam?By Julia Bellante

Earliest Musical Memory

When I was very small, my great-grandmother (who was a piano teacher) passed away. My family inherited her upright piano, and I started playing around with it. My mom signed me up for piano lessons when I was in kindergarten, but I didn’t continue with them for very long. I kept playing for fun, though.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Musician

Theater

After my short-lived piano career, I became heavily involved in theater. I took acting classes, musical theater classes, dance, and did shows both in and out of school. I was seriously considering becoming an actress, but there was a part of me that didn’t want to stop playing in band. When I was in eighth grade, I realized that I wanted to teach music because I wanted to help others gain a love of music, too.

High School

When I was in tenth grade, I told my band director that I wanted to be a music teacher. He sat me down right then and talked to me about what that meant, and what it was that I would have to do to be successful. Talking about auditions absolutely terrified me, but the thought of going to school to play music all day was enough to get me through. He also set me up with a private teacher…

Lessons

I really became a musician after I started taking serious lessons the summer after tenth grade. My private teacher, Christine, taught me everything I needed to know in order to get into music school. She graduated from Crane and she would tell me the most amazing stories about things she did and people she met while she was here. Being accepted into Crane became the ultimate goal, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Crane!

I auditioned for four music schools, and much to my surprise, I was accepted into all of them. I spent a few weeks weighing all my options, and I obviously found myself at Crane!

Right Now

The Future

After I leave Crane, I would like to teach music in a school and get my Master’s Degree in conducting.