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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, fostering entrepreneurship, and building community. Led by TENET artists, mentees gain firsthand experience in concert production and performance practice.
Collaborating with the continuo players from the Juilliard Historical Performance program, mentees will learn valuable skills to support their future project ideas including fundraising, promotion, administration, scheduling, ensemble skills, and audience engagement. These season-long skills will be actively engaged as the Trailblazers organize and fundraise for their final public concert in the spring of 2026.
Come hear the TENET Trailblazers' 24-25 free concert, Harmony of Hope, this Sunday April 6 at 3:30pm! Learn more here.
Accepting applications for 2025-26 now!
Clicking this link will open your email client. You can also write directly to lydia@tenetnyc.com.
To apply: Please send a cover letter telling us why you would like to be part of this program 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.
Who are TENET Trailblazers?
The TENET Trailblazers mentorship program exists to help singers become empowered to dream up and develop programs that bring music to our broader early music community. Taking place over the course of a concert season (fall through spring), Meetings alternate between in-person and virtual sessions. Guided by TENET mentors, each Trailblazer will take part in the 2026 concert and be part of a team of fellow mentees that brings the Trailblazers’ concert to the stage.
TENET supports the Trailblazers in a variety of concrete ways through partnership with Juilliard’s Historical Performance program, documenting the performance with audio, video, and concert photography to benefit the individual mentees, and by sharing concrete and tested skills that mentees can apply to future projects.
Among the many topics surrounding event creation, TENET mentors will also share their knowledge of career development topics including:
Developing professional networks
Creating sustainable careers
Designing dream projects
TENET Trailblazers was born of a desire to help emerging singers tackle the struggles they face as they enter the workforce. We strive to create a more welcoming and inclusive atmosphere as we believe a diverse artist community brings strength and greater interest to our collective audiences around the country. TENET’s program prioritizes the recruitment of artists of color, LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive artists, disabled artists, and other marginalized identities for it is through the creation of a broad artist pool that new ideas and talents emerge.
This program is free for all selected participants.
2024-2025 Mentees
Featured
2021-2025 Mentors
Featured
FAQ
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Participants who can benefit from the program may be:
Artists who seek the chance to perform early music repertoire or seek a career with an emphasis on early music (music in the classical Western tradition from before 1750).
Artists who are excited to gain entrepreneurial skills and learn more about what is involved in having a career as a freelance musicians.
Artists who may want to explore less standard career pipelines or alternate programs for young artist.
Historically underrepresented artists within the field of early music: artists of color, LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive artists, disabled artists, and those who may be marginalized in the field of western classical music.
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No. TENET seeks enthusiastic applicants who can benefit from the skills and information we hope to share regardless of age or career stage.
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The 2025-26 Trailblazers will have four in-person coaching & career building sessions across the season, interspersed with four virtual meetups focused on entrepreneurship. These dates will be announced once the 2025-26 Trailblazers roster is finalized; attendance to all of these meetings is mandatory.
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In-person activities will take place in Manhattan. While TENET cannot provide travel or housing stipends, we assist with artist housing and we encourage the group to include a reimbursement of travel costs in the concert fundraiser.
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All program participants are invited to attend TENET ensemble rehearsals, if they wish, and concert tickets are provided free of charge for mentees and their guests. Our goal is to welcome participants fully into our TENET community, and we hope they will develop connections with our artist roster, who can serve as additional resources.
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This program is free for all selected participants.
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The application deadline for the 2024-25 season has already passed, and the window for the 2025-26 season opens in April 2025.
Once the window opens, please send a cover letter telling us why you would like to be part of this program 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. -
You can view a list of past mentors and guest mentors above on this page. We are in the process of establishing our 2025-26 mentors.
TENET’s mentorship program reflects our values as musicians. We strive to create a transformative experience for 8 singers each season.
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Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Lydia Becker, our program coordinator, is available at lydia@tenetnyc.com.