THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A BLACK ARTIST

Fredara Mareva Hadley, Ph.D. is an ethnomusicology professor in the Music History Department at The Juilliard School where she teaches courses on ethnomusicology and African American Music. Her work has been featured in academic journals in press including: The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Billboard Magazine Her commentary is included in documentaries including: The 1619 Project Docuseries and The Black Church. Her current book projects include her forthcoming book, I'll Make me a World, centers the musical ecosystems of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their impact on Black music and beyond. Her other book project is an edited volume about Aretha Franklin for Cambridge University Press. Dr. Hadley is a proud alumna of two Historically Black Colleges: Florida A&M University and Clark-Atlanta University She completed her Ph D at Indiana University and taught at Oberlin College & Conservatory before joining the Juilliard faculty in 2018.

Fadwa Hayes is from New Jersey, and began her studies at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a full tuition scholarship as a James Dickson Carr Scholar. There, she studied cello performance with Jonathan Spitz from 2003 to 2007 and received her Bachelor of Music Degree. Ms. Hayes then went on to receive her Master of Arts degree and an Advanced Diploma at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where she studied Cello Performance with Marcy Rosen from 2007-2010. In addition to her masters, she was a recipient of the Discimus et Serviamus Award for 2 consecutive years and the Chamber Music Award for Excellence.

Immediately after graduating with her masters, Ms. Hayes began her career as an advocate for the students, healthy learning, and a bridge between the students, faculty, and administration. She worked as an Administrative Assistant from 2008 to 2011 at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Then in 2012, Ms. Hayes moved her administrative assistantship to The Juilliard School, and in 2016, she was promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions, where she met daily with prospective applicants. In June 2018, Ms. Hayes was promoted to Associate Director of Admissions, where she was responsible for the management of all 1500 plus music auditions at The Juilliard School. Ms. Hayes is widely known for her invaluable efforts in community outreach, contributions, and seminars Fadwa Hayes is now the Assistant Dean for the Music Division at The Juilliard School