Finding the Music Within: Jean-Baptiste Doulcet Inspires Doherty High Students
What does it take to build a global career in classical music? For top string and ensemble students at Doherty High School (D11), the answer came straight from French pianist and composer Jean-Baptiste Doulcet.
Ahead of his performance in the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s season-opening concert, Scheherazade, Doulcet joined Center for Future Audiences Director Joye Levy for a morning of performance and mentorship. He immediately captivated the auditorium with a brilliant, improvised performance inspired by “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by an open discussion about his journey, his creative process, and how he overcomes self-doubt when performing.
A standout moment came when Doherty student Iris bravely took the stage to play. Doulcet provided live, masterclass-level coaching—offering glowing praise and working through specific passages using singing and vocal modeling to help shape her phrasing and dynamics.
To wrap up the session, a student asked Doulcet how he knew he wanted to pursue music professionally. He reflected that while he has many passions in life, he ultimately realized that music was something he simply could not live without.
Connecting world-class artists directly with local classrooms is at the heart of our mission, and we are grateful to Jean-Baptiste Doulcet and Doherty High School for an inspiring morning!