From Sedbergh to Juilliard: Joe reflects on resilience, New York and finding his place
When Joe left Sedbergh for The Juilliard School in New York, he knew he was joining one of the world’s leading performing arts conservatoires. What he didn’t expect was just how often the lessons he had learned at Sedbergh would help him navigate life beyond school.
In this SED Talk, Joe reflects on moving from the north of England to New York City, adapting to one of the world’s most demanding music institutions and discovering that resilience, kindness and self-belief are skills developed long before you step onto the stage. From running across the fells to performing at Juilliard, he explains why Sedbergh is about much more than academics or sport—it’s about the person you become after you leave.
Is this your first visit back?
I’ve been back about three times.
It’s so interesting to look at the School through a different pair of eyes, as someone who is no longer a pupil. It’s quite mind-bogglingly surreal, mainly because, when I was a pupil here, everything felt very focused. At least for me, I was always thinking about what I had to do next: whether I had a music recital, an exam coming up or a piece of homework for my next class. I was never able to relax in the way I can now.
Coming back without being a pupil, and feeling more relaxed, has meant I can watch pupils simply being around the campus and doing, in a slightly different setting, what I did—with that same enthusiasm to learn.
You have moved from the north of England to the United States. How has living in New York shaped you beyond music?
I think, first of all, New York City is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite place I have ever lived. Seriously, it is a bundle of fun. I could not recommend it more highly, particularly to someone coming straight out of school.
That said, the culture shock was very real at first. Moving from a small community in the north of England to one of the busiest cities in the world was a huge adjustment. Everything moves faster, there are people everywhere, and for the first few weeks it felt completely overwhelming. But once I found my feet, I completely fell in love with it.
The complete change of scenery has been so refreshing. I grew up in London until I was about eight, and then we moved north in 2013, living near Kirkby Lonsdale. Now, moving back to a city has given me a completely different perspective, and I have loved every minute of it.
In terms of how it has shaped me, I think it has allowed me to become more of my own person. At Sedbergh, you are surrounded by people who model wonderful values every day. Once I was living independently, I realised just how important those values really are, particularly kindness.
People often have a certain idea about New York, but I have found the opposite. If you are lost, people will happily stop to help you find the nearest subway or point you in the right direction. There is a real sense of community beneath the pace of the city, and that surprised me.
It has also made me much more direct. People tend to communicate very honestly and get straight to the point, and I have definitely picked that up myself. In a city where everything moves quickly, you learn to make decisions with confidence and keep moving forward.
That is probably the biggest contrast with Sedbergh. Life there is calmer, surrounded by incredible countryside, and people naturally take more time with one another. New York has a completely different energy, but both places have given me something valuable.
Sedbergh gave me the values and confidence to step out into the world; New York has challenged me to become more independent and discover who I am beyond school.
You touched on something I wanted to ask you about. When we spoke three years ago — I asked which of Sedbergh’s values resonated most with you. I’m not going to tell you what you said then. Which resonates most with you now: humility, ambition, resilience or kindness?
I think, for me personally, it is kindness. All four are important, but kindness really doesn’t take much. It is a choice, and if you are not choosing to be kind, then what are you doing?
I think it matters especially in the current climate. The world can feel disorientating, and people are sometimes unsure what to think or how to respond. But if you can begin your day by being kind to someone, you can make a real difference and make their day a little better.
It is the small things that often matter most. So kindness would be my answer.
You once told me you loved sport, particularly tennis. Do you still play?
I do! Someone literally messaged me today asking if I fancied a game of tennis, so yes, I still love it.
Living in New York has made me realise that sport isn’t nearly as accessible as it was at Sedbergh. In New York, you can’t just decide to head out for a game in the afternoon. My days usually run from 9am until 11pm, with very few breaks, so when I do get some free time, it’s tempting just to go back to my room and switch off. But over the past year, I’ve realised how important sport is, not just physically but mentally as well. When I left Sedbergh, I thought, “I’ve done my sport. I can take it a bit easier now.” I still ran occasionally and played the odd game of tennis, but nothing like I used to.
What I discovered was that my body—and probably my mind too—had become so used to being active that it really missed it. Regular exercise wasn’t just something I did at school; it had become part of who I was.
So this coming year, I’m determined to make more time for it. Whatever else is going on, I know I’ll be happier if I get outside and keep moving.
You had more than one excellent option for where to study. Was there a moment when you knew you had made the right choice in attending Juilliard?
I think Juilliard is unlike anywhere else. Every institution has its own strengths, but what makes Juilliard so special is that it doesn’t try to make everyone the same. They have a clear structure and incredibly high expectations, but they also encourage you to develop as an individual artist. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.
The opportunities are extraordinary. One day I walked out of an acting coaching session, put my headphones on and quite literally walked straight into Martin Scorsese. I apologised, carried on walking, then suddenly realised who it was! It struck me that moments like that are part of everyday life at Juilliard. You’re constantly surrounded by people at the very top of their profession.
Within Vocal Arts, we regularly learn from internationally renowned performers such as Denise Graves and Lawrence Brownlee through coaching sessions and masterclasses. There is an incredible culture of sharing knowledge, and many of the world’s leading performers have come through the institution.
More than anything, though, Juilliard has shown me that hard work really does open doors. Everyone there has worked incredibly hard to earn their place, and once you arrive, the work doesn’t stop. In many ways, it makes even more sense because you begin to see where that effort can take you.
Whether it’s performing in concerts, taking part in masterclasses, meeting industry leaders or simply learning from the people around you, opportunities appear all the time. It’s an environment that constantly challenges you to grow, and I’ve never doubted that I made the right decision.
Has there been anything that’s really surprised you about studying at Juilliard?
The biggest surprise has been discovering just how much there is still to learn.
Before I arrived, I felt well prepared. The Music Department at Sedbergh gave me an outstanding foundation, and by the end of Sixth Form I thought I had a good understanding of my craft. Looking back, I realise that was only the beginning.
When you arrive at Juilliard, you quickly discover there are layers upon layers to everything you do. You begin exploring technical, musical and artistic ideas that you didn’t even know existed.
It’s not that you suddenly realise how little you know; it’s that you become aware of just how deep the subject really is.
That has been incredibly exciting. Within a month or two, I found myself thinking, “I know so much more than I did just a few weeks ago.” The pace of learning is extraordinary, and you’re surrounded by people who constantly challenge you to improve.
One thing I would say, though, is that Sedbergh prepared me well for that next step. When I joined in Year 9, the Music Department was already producing exceptional singers, musicians and school productions. Arriving at Juilliard, I never felt out of my depth because of the education I’d received. What surprised me wasn’t the standard—it was the sheer depth of the discipline and how much more there was to discover.
That’s probably been the biggest revelation. The more you learn, the more you realise there is still to learn, and I think that’s what makes it such an incredible place to study.
What has been your proudest moment so far at Juilliard?
Getting into Juilliard was an incredible moment in itself. I had worked towards it for a long time, so receiving the offer was a huge source of pride. But looking back, I think my proudest moment actually came once I was there.
This year, we performed Falstaff in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, and for a while I wasn’t sure I would be able to take part. I had some health issues during the year, and there was a real possibility that I would have to step away from the production and hand my role to someone else.
That was incredibly difficult because we had all worked so hard, and I didn’t want to let the opportunity pass. I spoke to doctors, followed their advice and focused on getting myself back to full fitness. Thankfully, everything came together at the right time, and I was able to perform.
Standing on that stage was one of the proudest moments of my life. Not simply because it was Juilliard, but because there had been a point when I genuinely thought it might not happen.
Looking back, I think Sedbergh had a lot to do with the way I approached it. The resilience I developed at school taught me not to give up when things became difficult. People kept telling me there would be other productions, and they were probably right. But this one mattered because it was this production, this cast and this moment in my life. I didn’t want to look back wondering what might have happened if I had stopped trying.
That experience reminded me that resilience isn’t about pretending things aren’t difficult. It’s about finding a way through them.
I’m incredibly proud that I was able to do that and walk onto the stage knowing how close I’d come to missing the opportunity altogether.
What skills did you learn at Sedbergh that have stayed with you?
I’ve actually thought about this a lot while I’ve been back [at Sedbergh].
I think Sedbergh is much more than a school. If you really take on board what it’s trying to teach you, you realise it isn’t just about sport and it isn’t just about academics. It’s about the person you become after you leave. The teachers say that all the time and, as a pupil, you think, “What a load of nonsense. How is running on the fells or doing sport going to help me in the real world?” But once you leave, you realise exactly what they meant.
One memory I often come back to is running over Winder. It was one of those miserable days when the rain was pouring, the wind was relentless and I spent what felt like ages completely alone on the fells. Every step would have been easier if I’d stopped, but I just kept going. I remember finishing the run and realising I’d come back ahead of some much older pupils. It wasn’t because I was necessarily the strongest runner. It was because I’d convinced myself I could keep going.
Looking back, that run taught me something I’ve carried ever since. Resilience can be built in the smallest moments. Every time you choose not to give up, you’re preparing yourself for much bigger challenges later in life.
That mindset stayed with me when I applied to Juilliard. I didn’t know anyone who had been there, and part of me wondered whether I was aiming too high. But another part of me simply decided to believe I belonged. Sometimes you have to back yourself before anyone else can.
Sedbergh taught me that resilience isn’t just about working hard. It’s about believing you can keep moving forwards, even when you’re tired, uncertain or completely out of your comfort zone. Looking back now, I realise those lessons started long before I ever boarded a plane to New York.
Out of 10, how happy are you with the choice you made?
Infinite. Infinite out of 10.
I honestly couldn’t be happier. Going to Juilliard and moving to New York has been the best decision I’ve ever made. It gave me the chance to step completely outside my comfort zone, start a new chapter and discover a whole new way of living.
If you ever have the opportunity to experience another country or another culture, I’d say take it. There’s so much of the world to see, and there’s something incredibly exciting about building a life somewhere you’ve never been before.
Looking back, I also think boarding prepared me for that more than I realised. Living away from home, learning to be independent and becoming part of a close community meant that moving to America felt exciting rather than intimidating. Those skills stay with you long after you leave school.
A lot of my friends took different paths after Sixth Form. Some went on gap years, others started apprenticeships or university in the UK. I wanted to go to America, so that’s what I did, and I haven’t regretted it for a second.
I’ve met incredible people, had experiences I could never have imagined and learned so much about myself. I’ve still got two years left at Juilliard, which is exciting in itself, and I honestly can’t wait to see where the journey takes me next.