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A violin player herself, senior Lily Milkis originally majored in music education in hopes of eventually teaching string instruments.
As she immersed herself in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, she found herself drawn not only to performance, but to the intricate behind-the-scenes work that brings orchestras to life. Now, as she prepares to graduate, Milkis has carved out a unique path that blends her passion for music with the business acumen necessary to run world-class ensembles.
Milkis is pursuing a Bachelor of Music with an outside field in business, a program designed to allow music students to integrate another area of study into their education. For her, that outside field has been instrumental — literally and figuratively — in shaping her career aspirations.
“I didn’t realize how applicable music was to other areas of study, and I also didn’t realize how applicable other areas of study were to music,” Milkis said. “It’s really kind of changed the way I thought about everything, and it’s made me ask a lot more questions.”
Milkis’s curiosity led her to explore orchestra operations, a field she has gained hands-on experience in through multiple roles, including her summer job at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival and School. As an operations assistant, she managed seating auditions, coordinated student recitals and oversaw logistics for six major concerts.
“It was a really interesting way to explore the intersection of what I’m studying through being immersed in a very, very busy summer festival setting,” Milkis said. “Aspen is one of the biggest orchestra festivals in the world, so to get to work there was very cool.”
Her experience at Aspen built upon the skills she had developed through her work with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra during the academic year. She helped facilitate auditions and managed logistical details for performances — tasks that gave her a competitive edge when applying for the Aspen position.
“One thing I talked about in my interview [for] Aspen was that I had already helped facilitate auditions,” Milkis said. “It’s a lot of transferable skills, and I’m very grateful to have been able to intern with the CCO while I was still learning about what I wanted to do.”
At the college, Milkis took on another key role: student orchestra manager for the college’s symphony and chamber orchestras. Ho-Yin Kwok, director of orchestras at the college, said that in addition to playing violin in the ensembles, Milkis has been a necessary component in ensuring their smooth operation.
“Every orchestra has lots of moving parts — personnel, rehearsals, logistics,” Kwok said. “Lily essentially worked as a student employee and helped me operate these orchestras. She’s in charge of scheduling, attendance, set-up, even tour logistics. She just has [a] top-notch work ethic.”
Beyond her technical skills, Kwok said it is Milkis’s confidence and composure that set her apart.
“When you are responsible for so many people, you need to have that confidence,” Kwok said. “She is calm, composed and confident, and that is what makes her successful.”
Milkis has also found strong mentorship outside of the music school. Ted Galanthay, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, became an unexpected supporter after having her in class for business statistics. Galanthay said he quickly took notice of her drive and commitment.
“She seems like the type of person where, when she says she’ll do something, she does it,” Galanthay said. “She sees things through until they’re done. And it’s that type of character that gets things done for the benefit of others.”
Galanthay became one of Milkis’s biggest advocates, ultimately nominating her for the Presidential Scholar Award through Phi Kappa Phi. When she won, she became the first music major in many years to receive the honor.
“I like to see folks who’ve worked hard, folks who’ve given back, get recognized,” Galanthay said. “I was ecstatic when she won.”
Milkis’s passion for music extends beyond performance and management — she is also deeply committed to making classical music more accessible. As treasurer for the American String Teachers Association at IC, she has focused on administrative strategies to expand opportunities for students. As president of the college’s violin studio student organization, she has worked to facilitate guest artist visits and master classes, ensuring that students have meaningful connections with professionals in the field.
“One big career goal of mine is to make classical music more accessible because it’s awesome and I think more people should know about it,” Milkis said. “There’s a lot of potential to connect music with different fields and bring it to new audiences.”
Milkis’s ability to see connections between disciplines has also influenced her volunteer work. She has been actively involved with Smile Train for most of her life, a nonprofit that provides cleft lip and palate care worldwide. Born with a cleft lip herself, Milkis has leveraged her background in music to create innovative fundraising campaigns, including sharing classical music playlists to raise awareness and donations.
As she looks ahead to her next steps, Milkis will return to Aspen this summer for another season of orchestral operations. With the experience she has gained, Milkis said she is confident in her ability to pursue a career that fuses her love for music with the leadership and logistical skills she has honed in college.
As Kwok reflected on Milkis’ journey, he said he believes Milkis exemplifies the best of what Ithaca College has to offer.
“I think Lily is just the prime example of how we want our students to make use of our college resources,” Kwok said. “She found the flexibility the school can offer, and she pivoted. She found her passion and ran with it.”
Galanthay said with her dedication, adaptability and vision, there is little doubt that Milkis will continue making an impact in the world of orchestral operations.
“If I were to give Lily one piece of advice, it would be to trust herself,” Galanthay said.
This student profile was written for publication in the 2024-25 Year in Review.
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