Holly Bean

In the world of jazz, where every note tells a story, Holly Bean’s journey from the University of Tennessee (UT) to Juilliard is one of passion and perseverance. As the first woman admitted to Juilliard’s master’s program for Jazz Piano, her story embodies dedication and mentorship’s transformative power.

Born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Holly grew up in a musical household and started playing piano at the age of three. Initially in college, she pursued physics, following in her parents’ footsteps, but soon realized her true passion lay in music. A pivotal conversation with her father led her to transfer to UT, where she auditioned for the College of Music on voice for a composition major.

At UT, Holly quickly found her calling in jazz piano, despite having no formal training in jazz theory or piano proficiency. With the support of her professors, particularly Donald Brown, Holly immersed herself in jazz, eventually changing her major to jazz piano.

“UT was there for me when I was lost,” Holly recalls. “They saw how much I loved this and put all their faith in me.”

After completing her degree in two years, Holly moved to New York City, immersing herself in the jazz scene and auditioning for Juilliard multiple times. Despite initial rejections, her determination paid off when Aaron Flag, associate director of Juilliard’s jazz program, invited her to apply again. Holly was accepted, making history as the first woman in the master’s program for Jazz Piano.

Now in her final year at Juilliard, Holly’s vision extends beyond personal success. She dreams of establishing a ‘Donald Brown School of Jazz’ to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth, inspired by the mentorship she received.

“Meeting Professor Brown gave me a home, a life, an identity, a voice, a sound,” Holly says. Her advice to current students is to pursue what they love passionately and explore different disciplines.

To follow Holly Bean’s journey, find her on Instagram @jazzfaerie and Facebook under Holly Bean. More of her journey will be included in this year’s edition of the college’s annual magazine, Noteworthy. Stay tuned!

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