Q&A with Thomas Kernan: New Jacobs School outreach initiative takes performances on the road

One of the added benefits of taking Jacobs performance ensembles on the road is to help prepare artists for international careers; as they travel, they gain real-world experience performing in different venues. It also works to strengthen collaboration between IU campuses and offer rich cultural experiences to diverse Hoosier communities.

Our work around the state continues with a production of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at IU Southeast’s Ogle Center with Thomas Wilkins, Henry A. Upper Chair of Orchestral Conducting, on the podium and Marietta Simpson, Distinguished Rudy Professor of Music, as the narrator.

Thomas Kernan, the Ted Jones Assistant Dean for Artistic Operations at the Jacobs School, is partnering and collaborating with arts leaders around the state to share performances throughout Indiana.

The new initiative will give Indiana University Jacobs School of Music ballet, opera, and instrumental students real-world touring experience while providing Hoosier communities with cultural opportunities and entertainment. Jacobs world-class performances will be visiting audiences in every corner of the state.

Ahead of the initiative’s first road performance—an opera adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park in February at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis—Kernan talks about the program’s greater goals and vision for audiences across Indiana.

Question: Can you tell us about the goals behind this new outreach initiative?
Answer: When Abra Bush arrived as dean of Jacobs about three years ago, she noticed the volume of activity we were already doing across the state. Our music education faculty had some excellent outreach efforts, such as the Jacobs Virtual Academy, which was already active in several regions. So, when my position was created to oversee our performance, ensemble, and production portfolio, the idea was to strengthen both on-campus and off-campus efforts.

Our goal is to train artists who aren't limited to just one venue but are prepared for international careers. It’s important for students to gain real-world experience performing in different settings. It’s about offering realistic training for students and making Jacobs' work accessible to people across the state.

Q: Can you talk more about how this benefits communities across Indiana?
A: We’re collaborating with each partner campus to understand what musical or artistic activities would be most helpful locally. For example, Jacobs did a chamber music performance in Kokomo a few years ago, and it was very well received. Now there's interest in having more regular events that connect with alumni or local community groups.

At IU Southeast, they have a phenomenal facility, the Ogle Center, where the Louisville ballet and symphony sometimes perform. So we’re bringing a family concert there in February: “Peter and the Wolf,” conducted by our faculty member Thomas Wilkins. We couldn’t fit it into our Bloomington season, so this was a great opportunity to bring it elsewhere.

At IU East in Richmond, Chancellor Dennis Rome is already building connections between the campus and the local arts scene. He joined the board of the Richmond Symphony, where many of our students and alumni already perform, so there's a shared interest in supporting these local institutions and encouraging more cultural activity.

In short, we’re tailoring each collaboration based on what works best for that campus and community.

Q: So, is the idea primarily to focus performances at IU’s regional campuses?
A: That’s where we’re starting. These campuses often have performance spaces and communities we can work with. If it ends up being more helpful to expand beyond IU campuses, we’re open to that. And if we find a campus is overburdened by the logistics, we’ll adapt. The key is to be flexible and supportive, both for Jacobs and for each host site.

Q: Is the opera at the Madam Walker Legacy Center the first performance in this initiative?
A: Yes, it is. We’re presenting “Mansfield Park” by English composer Jonathan Dove. It’s based on the Jane Austen novel and is part of our celebration of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth in 2025.

We're opening it on Valentine's Day weekend here in Bloomington, and it will be at Madam Walker the following weekend. When we had the opportunity to pair a Victorian romance novel for a Jane Austen anniversary on Valentine's Day weekend and take it on tour, that was like stars aligning.

It’s a chamber opera, which translates well from the large stage at the Musical Arts Center here in Bloomington to the more intimate space at the Madam Walker. So our students get two very different performance experiences: one in a grand hall and one closer to what the composer likely envisioned.

Q: For community leaders in Indiana who may be interested in hosting or partnering with Jacobs, what’s the best way to reach out?
A: The best point of contact would be our development team. They’re already engaged with leaders across the state and can connect interested parties to the right people within Jacobs. Whether it’s proposing a project or just starting a conversation, they’re a great first step.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like people to know about this initiative?
A: Yes: Jacobs is very interested in hearing ideas.

We often get pitches like “I’ve composed an opera; will you perform it?” and we’re open to those. But we're just as interested in hearing from orchestras, ballet companies, museums, or community groups about what they're planning.

One great example was in Richmond, where the chancellor, symphony director, and a local museum curator were all talking together about how Jacobs could contribute to what they’re already building. That kind of collaboration—community driven, with Jacobs supporting—is exactly what we hope to do more of.

“We’re absolutely eager to hear from individuals who are thinking about ways to foster and grow thriving artistic communities across Indiana so we can see how the Jacobs School can be a partner.”