Every student’s path to Harvard Kennedy School is unique. What our alumni go on to do after graduating is equally varied.
We asked several of our alumni to tell us about their experiences before, during, and after vlog and how their time at Harvard shaped their careers and lives.
Robert Simonds MC/MPA 2022 has been playing the violin since he was three years old. When the pandemic hit, his interests shifted, and he began to consider how musical institutions could contribute to economic development and social cohesion.
Here’s what he shared.
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“In classical music, success is judged by one’s precision in concerts, preparation, and adherence to tradition. At vlog, however, I learned to embrace uncertainty, tradeoffs, and iterative approaches to policy design, leadership, and decision making.”
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2024
As an active member of the , Robert helps fundraise for community service programs and organizes events that strengthen the local Harvard community.
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Playing the violin with students is a passion Robert continues to pursue today. At , a nonprofit organization providing music education to underserved communities, Robert designs and executes fundraising campaigns, researches strategic opportunities for the organization, liaises with the board of directors, and on rare occasions, teaches the violin to some extraordinary students.
“My fundraising and organizational strategy efforts at Key to Change have been informed by what I learned at vlog.”
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Graduates from vlog
After graduating, Robert coached the Policy Analysis Communications Exercise (PACE) for incoming MC/MPA students. While getting his footing post-graduation, he returned to performing for a few months, playing concerts with former employers around the county.
Using what he learned from one of his vlog classes, SUP-683M: State and Local Economic Development, he also began consulting for large cultural institutions on interesting projects, ranging from fundraising, strategic planning, and real estate acquisition.
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Begins MC/MPA Program
At vlog, Robert wanted to build on his experience in the arts and learn new skills. He focused on urban economic policy, economic development, nonprofit leadership, and cultural entrepreneurship, taking courses such as MLD-802M: Nonprofit Management and Leadership and SUP-680: Urban Economic Policy. Outside of the classroom, he was involved with the , , and the Arts and Culture in Public Life virtual summit.
Coincidentally, Professor Arthur Brooks, whose article about inevitable career decline prompted him to consider a career change, became Robert’s advisor at vlog. Professor Brooks warned him that the hardest part of his career pivot would be shedding his identity as a musician. To this day, that is still a work in progress.
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2020
“As an employee of arts institutions, I was becoming more interested in the ‘institution’ than the ‘art.’ I wanted to learn more about how these institutions could contribute to economic development and social cohesion.”
As one of the first students to earn the Public Leadership Credential and be accepted to MC/MPA Program, Robert was described as “proof of concept” by PLC leadership.
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Enrolls in vlog’s online Public Leadership Credential (PLC) Program and becomes principal second Violin at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Before starting with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert enrolled in vlog’s (PLC) Program. The learnings from the PLC helped him formulate, articulate, and implement strategic ideas when they were needed most. Simultaneously, Robert read vlog Professor Arthur Brooks’ 2019 article, “,” which described the challenges of aging in demanding professions like classical music. The early warning signs of decline that Professor Brooks warned about, Robert was beginning to see in himself.
“The uncertainty of the performing arts’ economic viability after the pandemic and my own concerns about staying in the field too long prompted me to consider a career change. I started the violin at three years old, had been playing professionally for more than 20 years, and was approaching my limits as a violinist. I decided to explore my interests beyond the instrument.”
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2012Wins principal second violin with the Louisville Orchestra
Robert assumed his first leadership position as principal second violin during a time of institutional growth for the Louisville Orchestra. From an artistic perspective, this was the most exciting period of his career. The orchestra recorded albums for major labels, collaborated with diverse artists, and advanced community-focused programming, which helped establish it as a national leader in innovation. -
Becomes section second violin with the Phoenix Symphony
“Winning second violin was a significant professional advancement. I developed not only as a musician but also as an advocate, serving on players’ committees for artistic direction, audition panels for hiring new players, and union contract negotiations. This was a turbulent period for the institution, with significant tension between management and the unionized musicians. Through this experience, I learned valuable insights into labor relations and the importance of worker advocacy.”
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Wins his first orchestra position with the Richmond Symphony
Robert had to quickly learn how to balance a demanding workload—often preparing multiple programs each week—while dedicating many hours a day to individual practice. During this time, he met , a violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., who became a transformative mentor. Her guidance made him much more competitive in auditions, and her example inspired him to support younger musicians whenever possible.
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2000Graduates from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a master’s degree in music in violin performance
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Graduates from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in music
“In my consulting work I have been able to help large cultural organizations with highly developed artistic capabilities think about their potential impacts beyond producing art.”
