CEO and Executive Director of Tianjin Juilliard Steps Down

Tianjin Juilliard School (TJS) announced that with the stepping down of Brose, both Wei He and Katherine Chu will see their own roles expanded. Wei He will now serve as CEO and artistic director of the school while Katherine Chu will become the dean.

Brose's intention for stepping down, as he had explained in the school's official press release, was to move back to the U.S. to join his family — but he will continue with the school by serving on the TJS Advisory Council.

Damian Woetzel, president of Juilliard, thanked Brose for his service in developing TJS and “paving the way toward an even brighter future for our campus in Tianjin.”

Furthermore, Woetzel was “delighted that Wei He and Katherine Chu will continue to lead the school to greater heights through strengthening our artistic partnerships in the region, spearheading lifelong learning initiatives through our educational programs, and broadening access to Juilliard’s rich tradition of performing arts education in Asia.”

Wei He has also been with the school since its inception starting as the inaugural artistic director and dean. He will now oversee the 300-strong TJS community of staff, faculty, and students in his new position, as well as serve on the school’s violin and chamber music faculty on a limited basis.

Katherine Chu, who joined TJS in 2020, is head of the collaborative piano department and has been serving as interim associate dean for academic and student affairs. She will fill crucial roles in faculty management, institutional relations, academic and student affairs, and performance activities and operations as dean of TJS.

TJS first welcomed its inaugural Pre-College students in 2019. Since then, the school has also welcomed a diverse community of graduate students and faculty from across China and 11 countries around the world. TJS has also launched two music festivals, presented more than 120 performances in Tianjin and on tour throughout East Asia, and created a series of engagement initiatives in the local community.