Alumni Spotlight: Laura Stetler ’05
A conservatory-trained classical violinist and former trainer for the US Navy overseas, Laura Stetler ’05 brings diverse experience to her work supporting human performance. Laura is known for an adaptive, pragmatic approach with over 15 years as a military spouse and professional development experience, equipping her to understand and manage transitions. Laura completed her graduate studies at Goucher College in Administration and her undergraduate studies at New England Conservatory studying the connection between music, brain development, and learning.
Laura is a Success Strategist with Root Success Solutions (RSS) where she is is responsible for building relationships and designing ways to deliver RSS’s Calmpak tool for enhanced rest and relaxation into as many hands as possible. Laura is an advocate for good rest and its importance for our capacities, performance, and overall well being.
Why did you choose NEC?
I chose NEC for the individual instruction, the interdisciplinary approach emphasizing entrepreneurship, and...of course, the opportunity to live in the city of Boston.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at NEC?
My favorite memories are the friendships I formed while learning how to balance and prioritize competing demands with real program delivery. I often reflect on strategy sessions in between rehearsals, classes, and deadlines that were a precise prelude to effectively managing my work 17 years later and deepening those wonderful relationships.
Share a story about one of your favorite faculty or studio instructor.
Studying with Eric Rosenblith was full of artistry, mechanics, and vast vocabulary...usually with a nice cup of tea. He fostered an unforgettably holistic experience to every individual lesson, late night studio class, or performance.
There are three gifts from Eric Rosenblith I carry with me decades later: 1) time management, 2) vocabulary, and 3) afternoon tea. I can still see the kettle from which he would offer a cup of tea to settle the mind and body during harried and long conservatory days. While this warm ritual always seemed kind, there was a classic pragmatism behind it more fully seen with hindsight. Teatime was a chance to reset. He could invite kindness, efficiency, and space into small moments such as tea that have lasted with me. It made takeaways stick. An example is the word alacrity, which he used to describe crisp finger articulation in scales. Or his approach to slating hours of a typical week (e.g. sleep, meals, coursework, etc.) to know how much time was left to work on meaningful projects. He comes to mind often when I have a warm beverage in hand and am considering how to approach next steps.
How have your NEC experiences shaped your artistic approach?
My undergraduate training at NEC was instrumental in equipping me to integrate concepts across wellness, creativity, and peak performance with traditional musical skills of arranging and recording violin performance.
Do you have any advice for young musicians?
Take heart in the skills and strengths you are cultivating, even if they do not look like those of others! Important competencies develop underneath the busy activity - driving short term deadlines and performances that serve you well in the long term. Navigating these complex and competing demands early on will help you refine how you manage your contributions to any team or project you pursue in the future!
What have you been up to since graduating from NEC? What projects have you been working on?
I have integrated practical knowledge in administration as well as specialized training in entrepreneurship, finance, and the non-profit fields across arts organizations, higher education, government, and small business.
Most recently, I have been serving as a Success Strategist with Root Success Solutions (RSS). Our mission is to improve performance and quality of life, and I am responsible for building relationships and designing ways to deliver RSS’s Calmpak keyfob into as many hands as possible. The Calmpak keyfobs opens a library of spoken tracks on your phone that help you manage stress and anxiety, set and achieve goals, and sleep well so you can have better days. I used them this last year to train and successfully complete my first full marathon! Calmpak is now featured on several college campuses and hospitals where it provides access to techniques known to help with anxiety, stress, depression, blood pressure, and sleep quality.
About Calmpak:
Calmpak helps you live better by providing fast, easy access to audio + visual tracks that help your body and mind. Tracks include progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, breathing exercises, systematic relaxation, and cognitive behavior techniques, which are known to help improve sleep, focus, performance, and health. The portable keyfob provides a gentle reminder that you can live better.
A 20% discount is available to the NEC community. Use code NEC20 to receive 20% off. For every purchase made, Calmpak will donate 20% of the proceeds back to NEC.
Learn more about Laura:
Current Job: Success Strategist for Calmpak, Root Success Solutions (RSS)
Major: Violin Performance
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Class Year: 2005
Website: calmpak.org/our-story
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laurastetler