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Ryan Laird on WNYC.

With us now is the president of the Juilliard School.

You know the place right near Lincoln Center.

You know the worldwide reputation.

Damien Wetzel.

And it's not just the Juilliard School of Music, as people may think of it.

They also do dance and drama education.

And he is here to talk about the school, performing arts education generally, and access to music and other

performing arts education. One of President Wetzel's dreams, I'm told, is to make Juilliard tuition

free. President Wetzel, thanks so much for joining us. Welcome to WNYC.

Thanks so much, Brian. Great to talk with you again. It's been a little while, and it's great

to touch face. Yeah. And just to make the segue from the politics that we usually talk about

on this show.

You were once a member of President Obama's committee on the arts and humanities, right?

And what was that?

What was the context of advising a president of the United States,

which is a political position, not a, you know, creative arts position per se, advising the president of the

United States on the arts?

Well, in a word, it was thrilling, I will say. I served for eight years on that committee

alongside a huge range of artists from Yo-Yo Ma and Kerry Washington to Chuck Close and

others. And the whole idea was and the president

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