[NEW YORK, October 15, 2025] —The Juilliard School’s K–12 Programs and Initiatives department has entered into a multi-year arts education partnership with Allentown School District (ASD) to enrich arts education across the district. Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, the three-year collaboration will support students from kindergarten through grade 12, offering opportunities designed to nurture creativity, strengthen artistic development, and enhance overall learning.
Through this new relationship, Juilliard will provide in-person professional development for performing arts educators, student mentorship opportunities with Juilliard-affiliated artists and alumni, and consultation for instructional design and long-term planning. In addition, educators across disciplines will have access to Juilliard K-12’s extensive suite of online educational content, including lesson plans and professional development courses, with the goal of integrating Juilliard’s pedagogical values of creativity, inquiry, and reflection throughout the district.
“What excites us about this work with Allentown is the opportunity to demonstrate how bolstering performing arts can elevate the entire K–12 educational experience,” said Richard Mannoia, Senior Managing Director of Juilliard K–12 Programs and Initiatives. “Allentown's performing arts teachers will be our true partners in this work—experienced practitioners whose insights and classroom expertise will be essential in shaping sustainable, locally-relevant approaches to arts education.”
This collaboration also reflects ASD’s deep commitment to elevating the role of dance, drama, and music within the district while reenforcing broader academic goals and supporting student wellness. With Allentown School District, Juilliard deepens its growing collaboration with districts in the League of Innovative Schools, building a model for how performing arts education can drive innovation in teaching and learning across diverse school communities.
“Studies consistently show that arts education strengthens critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving,” said Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for the Allentown School District. “By engaging with Juilliard’s world-class resources, our students are not only enriched culturally but also equipped with the tools they need to succeed academically and personally." As outlined in our Strategic Plan, Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030, we are committed to expanding access to transformative learning experiences that nurture joy, creativity, and critical thinking.”
To launch the partnership, Richard Mannoia, Senior Managing Director of K–12 Programs and Initiatives, and Stephanie Cunningham, Associate Director of K-12 Drama Programs at Juilliard, visited the Allentown School District on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Their site visit focused on learning more about our schools, students, and community to help determine the most effective way to implement Juilliard-led programs for our learning community. The team observed dance, drama, orchestra, choir, and art classes across several schools and grade levels. This visit is an important part of ensuring that we can co-create programming that builds on the unique strengths and needs of our district, while making world-class arts opportunities accessible to students across the Allentown School District. Teachers will gain access to Juilliard Creative Classroom this month, and the Juilliard team will return to the District for professional learning sessions in early November.
By joining forces, Juilliard K-12 Programs and Initiatives and the Allentown School District are creating new pathways for young people to explore the performing arts while advancing an approach to education that inspires confidence, self-expression, and lifelong learning.
About Allentown School District
The Allentown School District (ASD) is dedicated to providing a high-quality, equitable education to more than 16,700 students across 24 schools, making it the third-largest urban school district in Pennsylvania. Guided by our strategic plan, “Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030,” ASD is committed to fostering academic excellence, whole-child development, and innovative opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, and life. Together, we are lighting the way for a brighter future for our students, schools, and the entire Allentown community. For more information, visit www.allentownsd.org.
About The Juilliard School
Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors, composers, choreographers, and playwrights from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. Juilliard is led by Damian Woetzel, seventh president of the school, who has prioritized affordability and access to the highest level of artistic education while championing Juilliard’s tradition of excellence.
Located at Lincoln Center in New York City, Juilliard offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, drama (acting and playwriting), and music (classical, jazz, historical performance, and vocal arts). More than 800 artists from 42 states and 50 countries and regions are enrolled in Juilliard’s College Division, where they appear in more than 800 annual performances in the school’s five theaters; at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully and David Geffen halls and at Carnegie Hall; as well as at other venues around New York City, the U.S., and the world.
The continuum of learning at Juilliard also includes nearly 400 students from elementary through high school enrolled in the Preparatory Division—Pre-College and Music Advancement Program (MAP); MAP serves students from diverse backgrounds often underrepresented in the classical music field. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in Juilliard Extension, the flagship continuing education program taught both in person and remotely by a dedicated faculty of performers, creators, and scholars. Beyond its New York campus, Juilliard is defining new directions in performing arts education for a range of learners and enthusiasts through a global K–12 educational curricula and preparatory and graduate studies at The Tianjin Juilliard School in China.
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Contacts
Brendan Padgett, The Juilliard School
news@juilliard.edu
Melissa Reese, Allentown School District
reesem@allentownsd.org