Music News

Jon Batiste named to Juilliard’s board of trustees

By Adam Feibel 2022/12/07

Jon Batiste

Credit:Louis Browne

The trustees of The Juilliard School have welcomed Jon Batiste as one of their newest members.

Batiste and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, both Juilliard alumni, were announced as new trustees on Wednesday.

The trustees also elected two alumni as new vice chairs: entrepreneur Julie Choi and actress Laura Linney.

“It is so inspiring to see these extraordinary Juilliard graduates take on new responsibilities at the school,” said Juilliard president Damian Woetzel. “These four alums have each achieved exceptionally in their respective fields and are deeply committed to Juilliard and the students of today.”

Batiste received a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Juilliard in 2008, followed by a master’s degree in music in 2011.

Batiste’s latest studio album We Are was critically acclaimed and earned him 11 Grammy nominations this year, out of which he won five, including album of the year.

In 2020, he won an Academy Award for best original score for the Pixar film Soul. The production also earned him a Golden Globe, BAFTA, NAACP Image Award and Critic’s Choice Award.

Earlier this year, Batiste left The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after serving as bandleader of the show’s house band, Stay Human, for seven years.

Batiste was appointed an inaugural Juilliard Creative Associate in 2018 and has previously participated in numerous projects in collaboration with students and faculty.