Honoring Our Remarkable Female Graduates in the Music Sphere

In the ever-evolving world of music, a new generation of talented women is making their mark, and many of them can trace their roots back to prestigious music schools. Here are some inspiring stories of female alumni who are breaking barriers and making significant impacts in the industry.

Florentia Stassi, better known as FLORENTIA, entered elrow's Up & Coming Competition in 2021 and made history by becoming the youngest and the only female artist ever chosen as the elrow resident DJ. Her performances have graced major events and venues such as Jamie Jones' Paradise London at Drumsheds, Hï Ibiza for Eric Prydz Presents: CELL, Ushuaïa for ANTS, Amnesia Ibiza, Eastern Electrics Festival, The Warehouse Project for BBC Radio 1 & elrow, and Sziget Festival.

Kylie Parham, also known as Kyliente, is a tech house and peak-time techno artist who studied at our school in 2023. She is widely known as the "technymph," as her style combines hard-hitting techno basslines with the danceable vocals and groove of house. Kylie has performed internationally at esteemed venues and major festivals, including Groove Cruise Miami, Ultra Europe, and Area15. She also co-owns the dance music outlet Exron, one of the largest media organisations in the space and one of the few with an impressive 90% women employment rate.

Tailor Jae, another talented alumna, won a scholarship in 2019 for a Music Production & DJ Diploma course at our school. Her hard work paid off, as she has since recorded sets for HOR and Boiler Room and has guest mixes on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Tailor's debut solo track received recognition from DJ Mag and BBC 6 Music's Mary Anne Hobbs.

Our school, a hub for music education, offers degrees in various music-related fields, including DJing, music production, sound engineering, vocal performance, software engineering, radio, songwriting, and a foundation year. Short courses are also available in all these subjects. The school has achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Notable female alumni from music schools are making waves in the industry through diverse roles such as music supervision, performance, entrepreneurship, and education. For instance, Ricki Askin ('00) is a music supervisor who has worked with media giants like MTV and VICE, overseeing music for Emmy-winning series and managing music-led brand partnerships at TikTok. She now owns a consultancy focused on giving artists opportunities and promoting women’s leadership in the traditionally male-dominated music supervision field.

Lizzo, an alumna of music-related groups, rose to global fame as a singer, rapper, and flutist known for her uplifting and empowering messages. She co-founded female rap and R&B groups, collaborated on Prince’s album, and released critically acclaimed solo albums blending gospel, R&B, and positive lyrical themes about race, body confidence, and self-esteem.

Isyana Sarasvati, an alumna of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, was honoured with the NAFA Distinguished Alumni Medal in 2023 and included in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list. She founded her own music label, released music incorporating cross-media collaborations including with gaming, and performed at prestigious events like the Forbes Under 30 Summit Asia. She also collaborated internationally, such as with guitarist Marty Friedman, marking significant milestones in her decade-long music career.

The Eastman School of Music is actively celebrating female achievements with events like the 2025 "Celebration of Women in Jazz," hosting Grammy-winning artists such as Terri Lynn Carrington and promoting young women jazz musicians through workshops and performances, highlighting female leadership and talent in jazz music.

These alumni illustrate impactful contributions across music performance, production, supervision, business, and mentorship, challenging industry norms and uplifting women in music. Sophia Hadef, another alumna, took a course at our school that reshaped her perspective on music and its impact. Although she did not pursue a music career, the business-focused aspects of the course provided invaluable insights that later proved essential in her transition into the tech industry and procurement.

Halina Rice, another shining star, has released an acclaimed album titled REDUX. She completed a Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree at our school.

These stories serve as a testament to the transformative power of music education and the potential it holds for women in the industry. The future is bright, and these trailblazing alumni are paving the way for the next generation of female music makers.

Florentia Stassi, also known as FLORENTIA, attended our school and later became the youngest and the only female artist ever chosen as the elrow resident DJ, performing at major events and venues.
Kylie Parham, known as Kyliente, studied at our school and is a renowned tech house and peak-time techno artist who has performed internationally at esteemed venues and festivals, co-owning the dance music outlet Exron.
Tailor Jae, another alumna, won a scholarship at our school for a Music Production & DJ Diploma course, and has since recorded sets for HOR and Boiler Room, with her debut solo track receiving recognition from DJ Mag and BBC 6 Music's Mary Anne Hobbs.
In the realm of health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development, Sophia Hadef did not pursue a music career but found invaluable insights from the business-focused aspects of a course at our school, which later proved essential in her transition into the tech industry and procurement.