KATHLEEN TESAR

Education Consultant

Following a 15-year career as an orchestral violinist performing professionally in the U.S., Venezuela, and Italy, Kathleen Tesar has spent over 25 years working in higher education. Her training included earning degrees in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music (BM) and the Catholic University of America (MM), as well as earning a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education

Kathy worked at The Juilliard School for nine years as Associate Dean for Enrollment Management. She retired from that position in 2025. Prior to her time at Juilliard, she served as the Associate Dean at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles and Director of Admissions at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester.

Always interested in sharing knowledge, Kathy co-authored the book College Prep for Musicians (Bosler, Greene, Tesar, 2018) and has published articles on the College Prep for Musicians website, as well as for Classical Singer (CS Music). She has presented on applying to college as a performing arts major to numerous audiences in the U.S. and abroad.

Happily based in sunny Southern California, Kathy is currently working on the second edition of College Prep for Musicians, writing articles for the College Prep website, and working with Blueprint Enrollment Consulting to design training for music admissions professionals, with plenty of time to read all the books she didn’t have time to read while working full-time.