CATCHING UP WITH DEEANNE SCHROEDER HUNSTEIN H’57

“Hillsdale advanced my appreciation and love of music by the opportunities I had there. When I was in high school, I was in charge of a small vocal group that sang at assemblies. That opportunity boosted my confidence in my abilities to pursue the arts and was my first taste of managing singers.”

WE CAUGHT UP WITH DEEANNE HUNSTEIN H’57 TO SEE WHERE LIFE HAS TAKEN HER SINCE GRADUATING FROM HILLSDALE. DEEANNE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN NEW YORK CITY.

Q: Where did your education and career path take you after graduating from Hillsdale?

A: I attended the University of Michigan majoring in English. After graduation, I moved to NYC with ambitions to sing but decided instead to pursue a master’s in teaching from Harvard. I taught English at Hunter College High School, The Chapin School, and Spence for 20 years. I loved teaching; it was like performing and having an audience every day! After teaching, I managed musicians through Concert Artists Guild, an organization which empowers young artists through mentorship and performance opportunities. Managing artists was akin to being a teacher. I was inspired to found my own agency promoting mostly instrumentalists, which I did for many years.

My late husband Don Hunstein was staff photographer at Columbia Records for 30 years, and I now manage his photo library, which is sold in galleries around NYC, and I’m working on getting some of his work published. I remain involved in the arts as a volunteer.

Q:Was there a particular class that influenced your career choice?

A: I didn’t have a class that influenced me, but I loved learning chemistry, so much so that at one point I planned on becoming a chemist. I am very thankful for my background in science, because it helped me approach the arts and teaching with a different perspective.

Q: How has your involvement in the arts been influenced by your experiences at Hillsdale?

A: Hillsdale advanced my appreciation and love of music by the opportunities I had there. I loved singing in the Miracle Play. When I was in high school, I was in charge of a small vocal group that sang at assemblies. That opportunity boosted my confidence in my abilities to pursue the arts and was my first taste of managing singers.

Q: What made you decide to open your country home in Connecticut as a retreat for artists?

A: I was at a concert at Carnegie Hall and met a coach with Classic Lyric Arts, an organization that trains and mentors aspiring opera singers. He invited me to observe a working session, attend a fundraiser in NYC, and attend a workshop performance in the Berkshires. I was astounded by the quality of the artists. They were not only wonderful singers, but amazing actors. I love being around the vocalists and listening to them work. Classic Lyric Arts helps singers get the training they need to leap into the professional world.

Q: If you could give current Upper Schoolers one piece of advice, what would it be?

A: Don’t think you’re only going to have one profession in life. One of the great things about my career path was that I morphed from one position to another, not because I didn’t like what I was doing, but because I had new opportunities and could build on the skills I had attained from the previous opportunity. The most important thing is to love what you are doing.