TENET is investing in the next generation of singers
TENET Trailblazers is a free mentorship program for emerging early music singers, focused on cultivating artistry and building community. Led by TENET artists, mentees gain firsthand experience in concert production & performance.
Originally conceived as a virtual program in 2021 (formerly called Talks with TENET), TENET’s mentorship is now shifting to an in-person format in collaboration with the Juilliard Historical Performance program. Mentees will work with peer continuo players from Juilliard, become entrepreneurs, and collectively put together a performance on April 6, 2025.
The application deadline for the 2024-25 season has passed.
What is TENET Trailblazers?
TENET Trailblazers takes place over the course of the season, alternating in-person meetups with virtual sessions. With guidance from TENET mentors, mentees will plan a performance on April 6, 2025 including programming, rehearsing, promotion, and performing the concert at St. Ignatius of Antioch (552 West End Avenue at 87th Street). TENET will partner mentees with Juilliard’s Historical Performance continuo players, finance audio/video documentation, photos, and some building block skills to develop future projects.
This first-hand experience will be supplemented by virtual sessions centered on career development. Topics covered will include:
Developing professional networks
Creating sustainable careers
Designing dream projects
Our mentorship program was borne out of the inaccessibility that many emerging singers face in early music. TENET Trailblazers strives to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse artist community that will equip the next generation of historical performers to thrive holistically. Because of the distinct lack of equity within the historical performance field, TENET Trailblazers prioritizes the recruitment of participants who self-identify within a group historically underrepresented in early music: artists of color, LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive artists, disabled artists, and other marginalized identities.
We offer this program free of charge.
2024-2025 Mentees
Featured
2021-2024 Mentors
Featured
FAQ
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Participants who can benefit from the program may be:
Artists seeking a career with an emphasis on early music (music in the classical Western tradition from before 1750), or opportunities to perform more early music repertoire within the context of their existing career
Artists interested in vocal chamber music opportunities as a conductor, composer, educator, or singer, or a combination of some or all of those capacities
Artists unable to access the usual career pipelines of school and young artist programs
Historically underrepresented artists within the field of early music: artists of color, LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive artists, disabled artists, and other intersections of identity that are marginalized in the field of western classical music
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No. There is no age limit. TENET seeks applicants who can benefit from the resources that our mentorship program has to offer, regardless of age or career stage.
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In-person activities will take place on the Upper West Side in New York City. TENET cannot provide travel or housing stipends, but the program is offered free of charge.
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All program participants are invited to attend TENET rehearsals and will receive free tickets to TENET performances for themselves and guests. Our goal is to welcome participants fully into our community, and we hope they will develop connections to our roster of artists, who can serve as additional resources.
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The program is free for participants!
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The application deadline for the 2024-25 season has already passed.
During the application window, please send a cover letter, and video recording to lydia@tenetnyc.com. The repertoire is up to you — please perform music that showcases who you are as a musician. Iphone video quality is acceptable. You may also submit additional materials such as a CV or resumé; please note that this is not required and lack of extra materials will not affect our consideration of your application.
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You can view a list of past mentors and guest mentors above on this page. We are in the process of establishing our 2024-25 mentors.
TENET’s mentorship reflects our values. We strive to create a transformative experience for 6-8 singers this season. Each of TENET’s mentors has found a way to build a successful career, and they are excited to share their experiences and help guide singers on their own unique paths.
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Mentees from previous online semesters are welcome apply.
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Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Lydia Becker, our program coordinator, is available at lydia@tenetnyc.com.