Harmonizing careers: music and mentoring

Chris Foley ’94E (DMA) and Tyler Ramos ’22E (DMA) share their experience as Eastman alumni, mentorship partners, and music collaborators

Chris Foley ’94E (DMA)

In the world of music education and performance, two alumni from the Eastman School of Music, Chris Foley ’94E (DMA) and Tyler Ramos ’22E (DMA) not only excel as musicians, performers, and educators but also as mentorship partners.

Foley, a Canadian residing just outside of Toronto, is an eight-time mentor with The Meliora Collective Mentorship Program, and Ramos, from Honolulu, Hawai’i, has benefited from the program twice as a mentee. In October 2022, the two were matched through The Meliora Collective. The two then began their mentor-mentee relationship, one that included something unexpected: Foley performing the Canadian premiere of one of Ramos’s original arrangements.

“Our mentorship program provides enriching opportunities for all participants to learn, expand their networks, and gain new perspectives,” says Michelle Cavalcanti, senior associate director of Career and Professional Affinity Programs at the University. “Remarkable connections, like the one between Chris and Tyler, often form in the program. We invite everyone to discover more and sign up as either a mentor or mentee—each of us has something to offer and much to gain by participating.”

The backstory

Following the official conclusion of the three-month mentorship program, Foley and Ramos remained in contact. It was during one of their conversations that Ramos shared a new composition: an arrangement of “Aloha Oe”. This piece, a fusion of Queen Liliʻuokalani’s 1878 Hawaiian folk song and the classical style of Franz Liszt, deeply impressed Foley—he knew he had to play the piece. A few months later, Foley brought this composition to life during a performance at an Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association recital.

“Playing my mentee’s work at a concert was never in the mentorship handbook, but it was a lot of fun, and the audience loved it,” says Foley. He adds that both he and Ramos hope to collaborate again in the future.

The Eastman difference

Participating in this mentorship program has allowed Foley to give back to the community that has given him so much. He stresses the value of Eastman’s expansive global alumni network, saying, “After completing my doctorate, some of my initial opportunities came through fellow Eastman graduates—they literally helped me get my career started.”

Foley emphasizes that true mentorship goes beyond developing task lists, reviewing professional documents, and providing job-hunting tips. “Understanding a person’s aspirations, cultural background, and educational experience is essential,” he says. “From that foundation, we can engage in genuine, meaningful conversations that can facilitate personal and professional growth.”

Tyler Ramos ’22E (DMA)

In addition to being a mentor, Foley has also benefited from being a mentee. Jean Barr—professor emerita of piano accompanying and chamber music at Eastman and one of Foley’s early teachers—was a particularly influential one. Decades after meeting her, Barr still offers guidance to Foley, which, he notes, is important for those mid-career like him.

“Jean is the greatest mentor I’ve ever had,” he says. “She gave me advice that I pass on to mentees today: make long-term connections and find people you absolutely trust. They will help you throughout your career and guide you when you go through challenging professional experiences.”

For Ramos, his first time as a mentee with the program connected him with Eastman alumnus Steve Vacchi ’90E, a bassoonist and faculty member at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. Vacchi, helped Ramos realize that his professional path could encompass more than “just” being one type of musician. “The program, through both Steve and Chris, has broadened my perspective,” he says. “I’ve learned that my career doesn’t have to be narrowly defined—that it can be as diverse and encompassing as the range of instruments I play.”

Like Foley, Ramos appreciates being part of Eastman’s strong alumni community and has found value in being both a mentee and informally mentoring others. For instance, he has provided advice to undergraduate students, encouraging them to build strong friendships and find supportive allies in the competitive music world. “Giving back and supporting others doesn’t ever diminish one’s own success,” he adds. “It brings out the best in everyone.”

Cavalcanti underscores the mutual benefits of mentorship. “Our mentees get to connect with alumni whose career paths aren’t strictly linear, helping them envision career opportunities they may never have considered,” she says. “Our mentors benefit, too—refining their leadership and communication skills, forging new connections, and helping people reach their career goals.”