For many years now, the Mannes community has been admiring and cheering on the beautiful career and practice of its alumna, the flutist, composer, chamber musician, and musical leader, Valerie Coleman. Today, we are grateful to announce that Valerie Coleman has joined the Mannes School and College of Performing Arts faculty, returning to the institution where Valerie received her graduate education. Valerie will serve as the Clara Mannes Fellow for Music Leadership.
“I have known Valerie’s work since I first heard the Imani Winds shortly after Valerie founded the ensemble in 1997. I was struck then by the beauty of her playing and her vision for redefining and renewing the repertoire for and role of the wind quintet. Since then, I have come to know the big field of vision Valerie has for education, community, musicianship of the highest standard, and a deep devotion to equity, inclusion, and social justice. It gives me the greatest of pleasures to say: welcome back to Mannes, Valerie Coleman, we’ve been waiting for you,” said Richard Kessler, Executive Dean, College of Performing Arts, and Dean, Mannes School of Music.
Valerie Coleman, the Clara Mannes Fellow for Music Leadership, will join the Mannes flute, composition, and ensemble faculties, as well as take on leadership in a variety of other areas of practice including teaching in the Master of Music Performer-Composer program and a variety of special projects. It is also anticipated that Valerie’s work will extend across the College of Performing Arts to include work with students from the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and the School of Drama.
“It is such an honor to join the flute and composition faculty at Mannes and to be a part of the innovative Performer-Composer Program. As an advocate for tomorrow’s versatile virtuosi, COPA's vision of being a global epicenter and place of belonging for hybridity is one that deeply resonates within me. I look forward to working with those who dare to be excellent in their own right as musical architects and citizens of NOW, for the future,” said Valerie Coleman.
