L’équipe Mécénat a eu la chance d’accueillir Kaela Kellogg durant les mois de février et mars pour préparer la venue du comité de pilotage du Cercle International ainsi que l’International Week qui aura lieu en septembre 2025. Venue tout droit de New-York, elle répond à vos questions dans sa langue native et vous fait part de son incroyable jeune parcours.

What is your current position within the Theatre?

I am an intern for the Patrons, Events, and Partners Department. I primarily help with the International Circle, and with preparing English documents.

What has been your career path?

I am an American high school graduate currently on a gap year before college. Both of my parents work in the musical field (my mother is a professional pianist, and my father is the president of Young Concert Artists in NYC), so I have a greater classical music education than most. I spent this past fall teaching English as an au pair in China, I teach piano and music theory to children online, and I am spending the spring semester in Paris before college. I also love to write fiction and have a few short stories published in online publications.

Why did you choose to do an internship here?

I wanted to learn about what goes on behind the scenes to make the arts possible. As someone who loves creative writing and grew up in the classical music world, I know that there are many limitations for those who seek out a creative livelihood in our modern climate. Doing an internship at the TCE is providing me with useful work skills, adding an impressive name to my resume, and giving me a backstage understanding of one of the most important classical music venues in Paris.

What event has made the biggest impression on you at the Theatre?

I thought the Diner sur Scene was magical. The staging, food, and performance were all lovely, of course, but it was the logistics that caught my attention.

As a member of the Patrons, Events, and Partners team, I got to see how much hard work everyone put in, how many details required care and attention, how many last-minute problems arose and were overcome, and how much cooperative, passionate spirit was needed to pull it off.

I will always remember how warm, inviting, and abuzz the dinner was: the entire room was filled with a sense of community and a genuine love for classical music.

Who do you work with on a daily basis?

I work every day with Teresa Dziurda, who is my direct supervisor. She and Julia Neugebauer (our department head) are most of the workforce behind the International Circle’s events.

What is the first piece of music you remember hearing in your life?

My father, who was originally a composer, had a piece premiered here at the Theatre des Champs Elysees eighteen years ago, while my mother was pregnant with me. The piece is Mozart’s Hymn, and it was written for a string orchestra in celebration of Mozart’s 250^th anniversary. While it’s not the first piece I remember… it may be one of the first pieces I ever heard. How incredible to think that I’ve come full circle!

What was your favorite moment at a concert?

I was really affected by hearing the piece Kintsugi by Salina Fisher at my teacher’s concert a few years ago. It was a solo recital by Lun Li, an incredible Chinese-born violinist on the roster of Young Concert Artists. Compared to the other pieces, which were more conventional and had room for liveliness and depth of emotion, Kintsugi felt more fragile and unearthly to me. It was my favorite piece on the program.

What's next on your career path, and perhaps your “dream job”?

I will attend university in the fall, where I intend to study Psychology and Philosophy. As mentioned previously, I love to write, and I would love to publish a book in the future. Besides that, I hope to take a little more time to explore my options at college and learn more about the world, before choosing a career.

What is the Cercle des Mécènes to you?

A way that music lovers from all over the world come together to make music possible. In our world, a single artist or director’s passion is not usually enough to propel them to the highest heights of music. But with the help of a supportive community like the Cercle des Mécènes, I believe that incredible things are within reach.