GCDS Announces Partnership with The Juilliard School’s New Pilot Collaboration

GREENWICH, Conn., — Greenwich Country Day School (GCDS) announces the launch of The GCDS-Juilliard Collaborative, a new partnership with The Juilliard School that will embed high-level performing arts instruction directly into GCDS classrooms and rehearsal spaces beginning in the fall of 2026.

The announcement comes as the school's new performing arts center takes shape on campus, pairing a major physical investment in the arts with an equally ambitious programmatic one.

"Our commitment to excellence spans every corner of our students' education, from academics and athletics to the arts," said Adam Rohdie, Head of School. "We are anchoring this incredible physical transformation with an equally transformative programmatic vision."

The Collaborative marks the first time Juilliard has partnered directly with GCDS to embed its instructors within the school's daily program. During the inaugural 2026–2027 year, specialized Juilliard collaborative instructors, who are graduate students, alumni, and affiliated artists, will provide sustained, week-over-week mentorship alongside GCDS's music faculty, with Juilliard overseeing their training and supervision throughout.

"This extends the school's commitment to applied learning, having the best artists work directly with our students, so that they gain a deep understanding of how expert musicians work at the highest level," said Jesse Tennyson, Director of Arts.

The pilot year will feature intensive ensemble-based instruction for strings, sectional support for band and string programs in Upper Elementary and Upper School, coaching opportunities for the Upper School choral program, and side-by-side performance opportunities with Juilliard artists during GCDS concerts. This inaugural year lays the groundwork for broader future collaborations in the years ahead.