Project Jumpstart empowers and supports entrepreneurial, innovative thought and action among Jacobs School of Music students as they prepare for a meaningful life in the arts.
We offer presentations, workshops, discussions, networking events, conferences, and publications on innovation and entrepreneurship. Central to these initiatives are partnerships with student groups and ensembles, Jacobs School departments, the IU Bloomington community, as well as organizations and creative individuals in the City of Bloomington and beyond.
Keep in touch with all of the exciting things happening with Project Jumpstart by following us on: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
THE 2020-21 PROJECT JUMPSTART TEAM
SPENCER LAWRENCE BOYD
Contact Spencer | spencerlawrenceboyd.com
New Engagement Specialist, Spencer Lawrence Boyd, is incredibly excited to be a part of the Project Jumpstart team. He is a third-year doctoral student in voice performance and has been an associate instructor in voice with IU Jacobs since Fall ’19. In the performance world, Spencer has sung leading opera roles including Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Don José (Peter Brook’s adaptation: La tragedie de Carmen), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), and Vincent (Gounod’s Mireille), among others. Other highlights in his career have included Henrik Egerman (A Little Night Music) with Broadway conductor Andy Einhorn, the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Louisville Orchestra conducted by Teddy Abrams, and a number of fulfilling oratorio, recital, and concert performances. Spencer has performed several excerpts from other leading roles such as Il duca di Mantua (Rigoletto), Faust (Faust), Des Grieux (Manon), and Tom Rakewell (The Rake’s Progress) across the United States.
Spencer has taught voice at two Ohio public school districts in addition to a number of private music organizations across the country. At IU he has the opportunity to teach a class voice section for non music majors and fulfills duties for the Voice Department in other capacities as well. Spencer holds a Master of Music in performance from Kent State University in Kent, OH and a Bachelor of Music in performance from Chapman University in Orange, CA.
KARI NOVILLA
Contact Kari | karinovilla.com
Kari Novilla is beginning her senior year at the Jacobs School of Music as a harp performance major studying with Elzbieta Szmyt, Chair of the Harp Department. As a Barbara and David Jacobs Scholar and Dean’s Scholar in the Hutton Honors College, she currently serves as the harp representative for the Student Representative Committee, the harp technician for the IU Harp Department, and as an undergraduate representative for the Performance Coordinating Committee.
Kari has won numerous awards and accolades, with solo performances and engagements at the Tennessee Theater, Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A., the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and in Oslo, Norway. Kari continues to delight audiences through engagement with social platforms and with her repertoire of classical, jazz, and harp + electronic music.
As an established event chair and fundraiser producer, Kari continues to pursue her love of music both in the performance setting and as an advocate for charitable causes. Kari is excited to use her knowledge of social media and marketing strategies in hopes of helping musicians develop their unique image to the world. After being a part of Jumpstart the past two years, she is eager to bring her ideas and enthusiasm to the Project Jumpstart team as the Communications Specialist once again.
ELIZABETH YAO
Contact Elizabeth | elizabethyao.com
Elizabeth Yao is a doctoral piano candidate at IU, in the studio of Distinguished Professor André Watts. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington, graduating magna cum laude with a double bachelor’s degree and honors in music. After finishing her master’s at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she was selected as an ensemble member for the San Francisco Symphony Adventures in Music program, which enabled her to perform for thousands of students across the San Francisco public school district and to develop a deep passion for community engagement and outreach. Elizabeth has been a teacher at the Indiana University Young Pianists pre-college program since 2017, and has also taught as an Associate Instructor for the Indiana University Secondary Piano program. As a soloist, Elizabeth has won prizes and distinctions at the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Collegiate Scholarship Competition, the Lima Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Young Artists Competition, and the Ladies Musical Club Award Tour Competition.
Beyond being a dedicated teacher and performer, Elizabeth has also enjoyed creating connections and educational experiences for musicians through administrative roles for SFCM, the IU Piano Academy, and the MTNA collegiate chapter at IU, and she looks forward to continuing to serve the Jacobs community through her role at Project Jumpstart.