Curtis has a historic reputation for training students for careers in the world of classical music, namely orchestras. But as the world of classical music evolves, sitting in the chair of one of the Big 5 orchestras may no longer be the ultimate goal for students.
“Our responsibility is not to decide what a career will be, but to train these young, extremely talented musicians to have the most varied and varied career paths imaginable. I truly believe there is,” Diaz said.
For example, he points to the contemporary trio Time for Three, which will perform at the Kimmel Center later this month as part of the Curtis Centennial season. Time for Three is a Grammy Award-winning trio that calls itself a “classic garage band” known for its take on bluegrass, hip-hop, and pop with classic string ensembles.
Two members of “Time for Three” are Curtis alumni, bassist Ranan Mayer and violinist Nick Kendall, who were joined by their sister Yumi Kendall. Nick works as a trio in different musical genres, while Yumi is the deputy principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Curtis’s professor.
Yumi also started the podcast “Tacet No More” with Curtis alumnus and orchestra member Joseph Conyers in 2023 to discuss concerns within the classical music industry, particularly issues surrounding diversity and equity.
This podcast fits into a relatively new aspect of Curtis’ curriculum: social entrepreneurship, the training of students to participate in the civic life of the communities in which they work.
“This has deepened our awareness of the role of artists in the community,” Diaz said. “Are we responsible to the communities we live in? If the answer is yes, and that’s the case, how does that manifest? ”
