About Me

Brittney Bryanna Burgess
Program Manager for Partnerships and Access at The Juilliard School | Executive Director of Black Collegiate Musicians (BCM) | Arts Leader & Educator

I am a vibrant Lyric Soprano from Queens, NY, dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in the arts. As the Program Manager for Partnerships and Access at The Juilliard School and the Executive Director of Black Collegiate Musicians (BCM), I focus on creating sustainable opportunities for young musicians and fostering a supportive community.

My educational background includes a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Nazareth College and a Master’s in Vocal Performance and Literature from The Eastman School of Music, where I studied under Katherine Ciesinski. My performance career features a contemporary opera debut in Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up as Mrs. Johannes "Ma" Zenger, an orchestral solo debut with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and roles such as Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief and Cinderella's Stepmother in Into the Woods. I have also performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and served as a vocal backup for Josh Groban’s tours.

Previously, as Operations Director for Buffalo String Works (BSW), I expanded an El Sistema-inspired strings program across Buffalo, NY, serving diverse communities. At Eastman, I helped establish a DEI office and supported Black students as the Graduate Advisor for the Black Students Union.

I am honored to have received the 2022 Diversity Award from Eastman, the Willard J. Hines “We Can Make a World of Difference Voice Scholarship Award,” and to be a member of the Fifth Cohort of the Sphinx Lead Program. My passion for teaching extends across various genres and age groups, from children to adults.