Imparting the gift of music to others
Imparting the gift of music to others
Meet passionate music educator and Metro NYC Network Leader Tanya Chanphanitpornkit ’15E
Tanya Chanphanitpornkit ’15E
Tell us about your time as a student.
I loved my time as a student at the Eastman School of Music. I learned so much from my professors, friends, and colleagues. To me, Eastman was a safe space for us to explore who we were and what was important to us, to take the good ideas, learn from the bad ideas, and decide how to make our mark on the world “for the enrichment of community life.”
One of my favorite memories from my time at Eastman was after every concert because there is only one exit from backstage, you would leave and there would be a sea of people celebrating your performance with applauses and warm hugs. It gave me great joy to able to support my friends and colleagues, and it also meant a lot to me that the artists of Eastman wholeheartedly supported each other. To me, this act of kindness has inspired me to continually support my friends and colleagues even after our time at Eastman.
How did your experience at the University of Rochester influence your life?
Growing up in public school after coming from Thailand at 10 years old, I saw how my music teachers changed my life. I started playing bass in high school, and I immediately fell in love with the instrument. In high school, at the end of a performance with the New Jersey Youth Symphony of Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 at Carnegie Hall, I felt like I was on top of the world. And I thought to myself: what an honor it would be to be able to impart the gift of music to others. That’s when I knew that my career needed to be the vehicle to carry out my mission: to provide music education for the coming generations. For me, I knew that if I could have anything in life, it would be for every single child to have an excellent music education.
Through teaching, I have learned that the greatest thing I can provide for a young mind is the opportunity to ask questions, offer thoughts, and expand their perception of our very complex world. All we need to do is empathize with one person, help them, and expect nothing in return. To me, that is what it means to be a humanitarian. What I learned at the University of Rochester has propelled how I approach my professional and personal life.
What inspired you to get involved and volunteer?
I am honored to be on the Network Leadership Council (NLC), Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC), and Alumni Board! Each of these roles have challenged my own thinking and provides a safe space to problem-solve alongside other passionate alumni. The DAC’s mission, in particular, is very close to my heart. As a first-generation Thai woman, I have had unique experiences that I find difficult to grapple with. It has been a meaningful and worthwhile endeavor for the University to think critically about the intersectionality of these lenses of our students and how we can provide support for each and every student.
For the NLC, we get to host such fun events such as this year’s New Year’s Celebration at the Overlook in Bryant Park. I love connecting with people near me while providing the opportunity for other alumni to enjoy their city as well.
Other contexts in which I volunteer is through The Meliora Collective’s Mentorship Program and Alumni Interviewer program. I love watching my mentees grow and knowing that I contributed to how they may have approached their experiences differently. I am grateful to be able to give feedback and provide insights, something I wish I had access to when I was in their shoes.
What’s the most rewarding part of staying connected with your alma mater?
In the scope of my involvement, I have had the pleasure of meeting prospect students, mentoring current students, and connecting with alumni. Hearing about people’s stories excites me, and it deeply moves me to be able to see how people of University of Rochester are thriving in so many ways, in all walks of life. In my own career, it continually reminds and inspires me what an education can do for a person.
What are you looking forward to next?
Currently, I am a doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University. I hold positions teaching orchestra at the Nyack Public Schools and conducting at Manhattan School of Music Precollege and New York Youth Symphony. My current faculty positions in higher education include Columbia University, William Paterson University, and The College of New Jersey. I am also a founding member of a nonprofit called Girls Who Conduct. Through these positions, I still live by our beloved motto, Meliora — and that will never change, I will always aspire for “ever better” in everything I do.
What advice do you have for others looking to get involved?
After graduating, I immediately started involved and I was admittedly nervous about what I could contribute. The best advice I have been given when I first considered getting involved is, “an impact’s an impact, no matter how small, but you have to start somewhere.” We will be alumni of University of Rochester much longer than we were students, so let’s continue our impact together.