The Vision Behind the Shepherd School’s Next Act
By Sophie Kidd
On March 29, 2025, the Shepherd School of Music welcomed families from across Houston to celebrate the school’s 50th Anniversary Community Day. Attendees enjoyed behind-the-scenes tours of Brockman Hall for Opera, hands-on conducting experiences, and performances by the Rice Chorale and a harp ensemble. Designed to welcome the community and spark curiosity, the celebration gave many attendees, especially younger guests, a memorable introduction to the world of classical music.
“It’s incredible how far the Shepherd School has come in 50 years,” says Dean Matthew Loden. “We’ve gone from a regional gem to a top-tier global institution for musical training. That evolution has been fueled in large part by philanthropists who believe in our mission, who understand the power of music to change lives and communities.”
For donors Juliana Chyu and David Whitney, the 50th anniversary is more than a celebration — it’s an opportunity to invest in the school’s future. The couple recently established the David Whitney and Juliana Chyu Fund for Opera, aimed at bringing in visiting conductors, directors and vocal experts to enrich student training. Their gift reflects a shared passion for music, a deep appreciation for mentorship and a commitment to making classical music more accessible for the next generation of performers and audiences.
“We’ve been involved with Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center for the past decade, and one of the first performers we supported there was actually a Shepherd School graduate,” Juliana recalls. “It felt like everything just lined up. When we had the chance to support a specific program at Rice, it was clear that Shepherd — and opera — were where we wanted to focus.”
David, a Rice alumnus and retired dermatologist, recalls his own musical awakening at Rice — spurred not by formal classes, but by friends and the ever-present hum of classical radio. “I didn’t play an instrument, but music found me,” he says. “That experience stuck with me through medical school, through raising a family and through what became a lifelong love of opera.”
Juliana, who immigrated from Korea at age 16 and later became a dermatologist after studying at Johns Hopkins, had a similar path. “I was in choir as a child and learned a Korean string instrument called the gayageum, but I’ve always been more of an observer,” she says. “Still, music has been part of our lives — from taking our children to concerts, to keeping opera subscriptions through all stages of life, even when we were so tired we’d fall asleep in the seats!”
David and Juliana believe that opera holds a unique power. “Opera is the ultimate art form,” Juliana says. “It combines music, theater, visual arts, movement. It’s immersive. And now, with the addition of new technologies and contemporary stories, it has the potential to reach even more people.”
In recent years, the Shepherd School has embraced this contemporary evolution, and the school’s opera program has grown under dynamic leadership and partnerships. The hiring of new Director of Opera Studies Joshua Winograde, formerly with LA Opera and one of the nation’s most respected casting directors — signals Shepherd’s continued ambition to be not just a training ground, but a cultural force.
“Opera is the ultimate art form. It combines music, theater, visual arts, movement. It’s immersive. And now, with the addition of new technologies and contemporary stories, it has the potential to reach even more people.”
— Juliana Chyu
David and Juliana’s gift supports that vision by giving students access to working professionals. Last fall, the fund was used to sponsor Louis Lohraseb as the visiting conductor for the school’s performance of “Alcina.” David and Juliana had the opportunity to meet Louis and saw the importance of visiting artists firsthand. “There’s no substitute for young artists rubbing elbows with people who’ve made it,” David says. “Those conversations, that mentorship — it changes everything.”
For Dean Loden, this kind of investment is essential to achieving the highest level of excellence and innovation at the Shepherd School. “We’re not just training musicians. We’re preparing creative leaders who will shape the future of the arts,” he says. “Philanthropy makes that possible by giving us the flexibility to bring in extraordinary talent and by showing students that their dreams matter.”
For Juliana and David, the impact they hope to make is both personal and far-reaching. “We want to see students explore beyond traditional roles,” Juliana says, “to try new repertoire, to collaborate across disciplines, to think outside the box.” David adds, “I hope they become ambassadors for classical music. It doesn’t have to be exclusive or intimidating. We need more voices making it accessible and essential again.”
Accelerate the Vision
To learn how you can help shape the future of music and support the next generation of artists, contact Nancy Giles, senior director of development for the Shepherd School of Music, at nancygiles@rice.edu or 713-348-4992.
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