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Since eighth grade, when undergraduate Nora Barpal began playing the euphonium, she anticipated making a career playing the baritone brass instrument. When she came to CU Boulder and saw the many music career possibilities available to her, Barpal changed her mind. And then changed it again.

She started as a performance major at the College of Music, became interested in vocal coaching, then becoming a music director, and is now focused on theater management. The twists and turns in her career path left her confused about how to proceed toward a new career during her final semester before graduating.

Barpal turned to the Entrepreneurship Center for Music (ECM) to help her chart a new course that did not focus on the euphonium.

Her journey illustrates how the ECM helps students find their passion and can transform how they move forward in their careers. Now a senior, Barpal is learning skills for developing and managing her music career at the ECM, which offers academic courses and mentorship opportunities.

鈥淭he more I thought about it, I realized that music performance (with the euphonium) wasn鈥檛 the right path for me,鈥� she said.

Barpal was taking an entrepreneurship class from Associate Professor Jeffrey Nytch, director of ECM. The center offers classes for credit, internships and a Certificate in Music Entrepreneurship, as well as evening career workshops and individual mentoring.

There are always some students who have a clear notion of where they want to go after graduating, but most face a degree of uncertainty and apprehension, Nytch said. Music students face a unique challenge if they no longer want to pursue a career as a professional musician.

鈥淢any students have literally spent their entire lives preparing for a specific outcome, so discovering that鈥檚 not what they want brings up a lot of feelings: failure, loss, guilt,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can work with students to help define goals and give them tools to achieve them.鈥�

When Barpal met with Nytch to talk about a career change, they discussed her interests and passions, and a new picture started to emerge. Nytch arranged an internship for her with the Boulder Dinner Theatre (BDT), where she is now a paid employee.

At BDT, Barpal experienced the many sides of keeping a dinner theater operating smoothly, from being a hostess and line cook to working the box office and running the spotlight.

鈥淚t gave me direction on becoming a music director,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started taking voice lessons, because I believe in being as well-rounded as possible. But I don鈥檛 have the professional piano skills needed to be a music director. After two years of piano lessons, I realized I just don鈥檛 have the knack for piano, unfortunately.鈥�

So, she pivoted again, this time toward another of her passions鈥攖heater. Over Thanksgiving break, Barpal evaluated her skillset in administration, production and arts management, and came up with a new plan.

鈥淢y journey is changing again,鈥� she said. 鈥淧rofessor Nytch taught us that it鈥檚 OK to change our mind. He looked over every r茅sum茅听I sent him and gave me feedback. He truly believes in us and helps us hone in on our skillset to find what will make us successful.鈥�

In addition to working at BDT, Barpal is also working for the Eklund Opera as assistant stage manager for the production of Sweeney Todd听and is production assistant for the New Play Festival in the theater听and dance department.

Barpal will graduate in May with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in euphonium performance and a minor in theater. So far, she has been accepted to Drexel University听and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland, for their master鈥檚 programs in arts, festival and cultural management.听

鈥淭hrough this process I have learned that I could not possibly live without a career in the arts and that I can do anything with enough determination, passion, caffeine and support from mentors,鈥� Barpal said.