Lacey Huszcza and Isabel DeBoel are College of Music horn performance graduates working as advocates for the arts in Los Angeles.
Sometimes the best way to channel a passion for music isn鈥檛 necessarily on the stage.
When horn player Isabel DeBoel graduated with her BM in 2011, that much was clear.
鈥淩ight around the time I graduated, the Philadelphia Orchestra filed for bankruptcy,鈥� says DeBoel. 鈥淎 lot of orchestras were struggling and I was really affected by that.鈥�
Encouraged by horn professor Michael Thornton, DeBoel looked for work in arts administration, advocating for the performers and the art form that she loved and allowing her love of music to manifest itself in her career鈥攄espite her decision not to perform herself.
鈥淚 wanted to see what I could do for orchestras that were in trouble,鈥� she says.
Thornton helped DeBoel secure an internship at the Colorado Symphony. From there, DeBoel moved to southern California and took a job with the Los Angeles Ballet.
It was a similar journey for Lacey Huszcza.
After graduating in 2003 with a BA in horn performance and a degree in communications, Huszcza also she knew wasn鈥檛 destined for a career as a performer.
鈥淓ven though I was afraid I鈥檇 disappoint him, Professor Thornton was instrumental in encouraging me to pursue a career in arts advocacy and administration,鈥� Huszcza says.
She interned at the Arvada Center in special events fundraising and was hooked. Shortly after that, Huszcza left for LA.
Fast forward to 2016. Huszcza is now in her eighth different position at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, in charge of all income generation for the organization as the Senior Director of Advancement and Strategic Engagements.
Eager to work with an orchestra, DeBoel this year applied for a position at LACO in Huszcza鈥檚 department. When Huszcza saw her alma mater on DeBoel鈥檚 resume, she knew she鈥檇 be a great fit.
鈥淲e had gone through the same program with Professor Thornton, so I knew that Isabel would have a real understanding of what an orchestra needs and how to balance that artistic passion with the business side of raising money,鈥� Huszcza explains.
It was the kind of serendipity that gives strength to the theory that in job hunting, it鈥檚 all who you know.
鈥淎s a student I used to see Lacey鈥檚 name everywhere,鈥� says DeBoel. 鈥淚 used to play sheet music with her name written on the top.
鈥淲hen I saw she worked at LACO, I actually had a message drafted to her on LinkedIn. But she reached out to me first.鈥�
Now LACO鈥檚 newest Advancement and Prospect Research Associate, DeBoel says this isn鈥檛 the first time the alumni network has made the difference in her career. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful thing to make that connection,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e in a new city and you find people who went to your school, it gives you a sense of home.鈥�
Huszcza, too, knows what an important resource an alumni network can be. She and her husband Daniel Stott鈥攚ho also graduated from the College of Music鈥攎oved to LA in part because they knew other CU grads who had been successful there.
鈥淲e knew we would never be totally alone in LA. Keeping in touch with everybody you can is always good because you never know where that connection might lead.鈥�
Huszcza says though she and DeBoel aren鈥檛 performing professionally, their passion for music still guides them in their careers鈥攕omething other music graduates must keep in mind.
鈥淭here are many paths you can take that will keep you deeply connected to the music that you love, even if performing in an orchestra isn鈥檛 the one for you.鈥�
鈥淛ust go for it,鈥� DeBoel adds. 鈥淎nd remember that other alumni and faculty are there to help. There鈥檚 always a safety net.鈥�
