Rooted in Creativity: Ilsey ‘04 & Nico Juber ‘00

Oakwood alumnae and sisters, Ilsey ‘04 and Nico ‘00 Juber have each forged inspiring careers in music and theater. Though their creative paths have taken different shapes, both trace their curiosity and collaborative spirit back to their time at Oakwood. Below, they share reflections on their time in school, insights into their current work, and the journeys that led them to where they are today.

GRAMMY-nominated and BMI Award-winning songwriter and artist Ilsey Juber  has collaborated with some of music’s biggest names and penned multiple multi-platinum hits including “Nothing Breaks Likes a Heart” by Miley Cyrus & Mark Ronson, “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco, “Mercy” by Shawn Mendes, “All Night” by Beyonce, and “Justified” by Kacey Musgraves. Her one-of-a-kind voice and lyrical style blend pop, folk, and alternative influences and have made her a sought-after collaborator in the industry. Ilsey recently released her debut album From The Valley via Elektra Records with multiple collaborations from Bon Iver.

Nico Juber is an award-winning musical theatre writer whose work blends pop-driven theatricality with sharp, heartfelt storytelling. Her work has been on stages across the U.S. and in London, and she was named to the Broadway Women’s Fund’s Women to Watch on Broadway list. Nico has developed projects with institutions like New York Theatre Barn, IAMA Theatre Company, and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed. Her original musical, Millennials Are Killing Musicals, received an Off-Broadway developmental production with Out of the Box Theatrics, a cast album on Yellow Sound Label & Brainstorm Records, and will have its world premiere at The Colony Theatre in Los Angeles in May 2026. She is also the co-writer of Winner (with Joe Barros), recently seen at UC San Diego ArtPower in collaboration with Blindspot Collective, with a concept EP released on Theatre Barn Records. Nico is a Drama League songwriting contest winner and a NAMT Challenge award recipient.

Can you share more about your current career and how your experience at Oakwood helped prepare you for your path to achieve it?

Ilsey: I am a singer and songwriter, as well as a songwriter for other artists. I began writing songs as a student at Oakwood, where some of my earliest performances took place at Town Hall and The Arts Fair. Oakwood gave me the freedom to explore all of my musical interests. I actually started as a drummer, playing percussion in the orchestra and drums in the jazz band. Learning how to make music with others was the key to my future collaborations, shaping how I approach collaboration, arrangement, and storytelling in every project. 

Nico: I write and produce musicals. I haven’t always done this professionally. Finding my way back to the arts is like rediscovering who I was at Oakwood.  As many creative pursuits as possible marked my time at Oakwood, including photography, drama, chorus, and more. I even recorded an album for my senior project, and assumed I’d stay on a creative path. At 19, while at school at Tufts University in Boston, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and quickly realized I needed a corporate job to get benefits and stability. Thankfully, I’ve been in remission for 23 years, but this put me on the path of a long career in high-tech marketing. I was good at it, but I had my Millennial existential crisis seven years ago, and my first musical fell out of my brain. Now I’m doing this full-time. Oakwood provided me with a solid creative foundation and the confidence to try different things, pick up skills along the way, and tune in to when the universe starts pointing me in a different direction.

Did you have a favorite class or teacher at Oakwood that influenced your career path and that affected how you approach your career in general? 

Ilsey: I took creative writing in my senior year with Nathan Clum. We did these free writing exercises at the beginning of class, and it really opened up something for me creatively. It was a sort of intentional flow state that I find I still use in my songwriting. 

Nico: I have to give a shout-out to Rich Brunner, because (clearly) our production of The Music Man was a pivotal, foundational moment in my youth. He and (at the time) Lee Lavery gave us a lot of opportunities to try things in theater, from writing to directing. My time in chorus and Choraliers with Rich also gave me a solid musical foundation that I carried with me, as well as the confidence to get up and perform – even though I now prefer musical theater actors to perform my songs. And now, as an Oakwood parent, my daughter Asher has Rich for performing arts, which is a huge full-circle moment. 

What do you love most about what you’re doing now? 

Ilsey: I recall, as a child, imagining that if I could spend every day making music, I’d be the happiest person alive. The music industry, with all its intricacies, can be a wild emotional roller coaster. Yet, at the end of the day, being able to create music, especially alongside so many amazing friends and collaborators, is truly all I’ve ever dreamed of. As a songwriter, I have the privilege of working with a diverse array of singers and musicians across genres, and I love the challenge of stepping outside my comfort zone to explore new musical terrains. It is an honor to bring out the best in artists, to shape melodies and lyrics, and to craft songs that feel greater than the sum of their parts.

Nico: I get to make people sing and dance. I tell original stories about women that haven’t been seen on stage before. I get to make people laugh. Between writing and the business side of producing, all parts of my brain get to light up at the same time. Plus, my kids think I’m cool. What could be better?

What insights or advice can you share with young creatives interested in pursuing careers as singer-songwriters or in musical theater production?

Ilsey: In music, finding a community is essential. Even if you write and record alone, having people you can collaborate with, who share in the creative journey, adds immeasurable value. Authenticity is at the heart of it. Discover what is most true to you, and amplify that voice. Don’t make music to fit a cultural trend or expectation. Instead, create your own culture, let your work shape the culture you want to belong to.

Nico: Pursue your passion, but don’t forget to pick up lots of skills along the way. You don’t know where life will lead you. Try lots of jobs, even if they’re not your true calling. You have no idea how helpful experience in sales and marketing is for growing and pitching a creative project. Take an improv class and learn to think on your feet. Practice the art of being a good collaborator and receiving feedback. Be kind to everyone. Theater karma is real. 

Is there anything that you participated in at Oakwood that isn’t directly related to what you do now, but helped you explore/become the person you are today?

Ilsey: I was on the softball team and, just like collaborating in music, learning how to work with others and bring out everyone’s individual strengths was so valuable to me. 

Nico:  I took AP Physics and performed terribly on the AP exam, but it showed me that it’s okay just to love learning about something, even if I’m not good at it. 

Is there anything you wish you had been told as a student about how your academic experiences affected your career choice or the profession you ended up pursuing? 

Ilsey: I think this is something I had to learn on my own, but it could be useful to hear if you’re on your academic or creative journey. There is no right way. There is no single path. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, both in my career and in my personal life, is that you can’t always predict what will bring you the most happiness or the greatest success. It’s important to pay attention to the direction the universe points you in. Stay flexible with your dreams and allow yourself to explore opportunities that present themselves, even if they look different than what you originally envisioned.

Nico: I double majored in Philosophy and Psychology in college. Truly, nothing I learned in college directly prepared me for any of my careers, except that I learned how to think, how to write, and how to make bold choices based on things I’m curious about. Study things you love and get your work experience outside of school. 

Did you have any strong female mentors throughout your career?

Ilsey: Jody Gerson, CEO of Universal Music Publishing, was one of the first people in the industry who believed in me as a songwriter. She really guided me in my early career, and I’m so grateful to her. 

Nico: Catherine Gray and her wife Debra Smalley came on board as early Co-Producers and mentors as I started my fundraising journey. Did you know that women only get 2% of venture capital funding, and less than 1.9% of charitable giving goes to women and girls? Through them, I learned how women support one another across the business, arts, and nonprofit sectors. 

What is a professional highlight of your career, either currently or in the past? 

Ilsey: I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a lot of incredible albums over the course of my career. Releasing my own album in 2023 was definitely a highlight for me. The opportunity to do something completely on my own terms and in my voice felt like a full-circle moment. More recently, working on the latest Bon Iver album this year was a huge highlight. I’ve been a fan forever, and it was a dream come true.

Nico: Having André De Shields sing one of my songs at a Drama League event. The Wiz! I still can’t believe that happened. My show, Winner, was recently performed at a high school in New Jersey. It’s a story about two girls in a secret relationship during their senior year, set in 1999, and I learned that multiple students felt comfortable enough to come out as queer after being a part of the show. It’s important to remember that theater can have a meaningful impact on lives. 

Do you have a favorite moment or a fun memory to share from your time at Oakwood?

Ilsey: I really loved performing in the old senior parking lot at lunch and trying out songs for my friends. It was such a special time. 

Nico: Ask Rich about the performance of “Honey Bun” from South Pacific. 

What are you most proud of from your Oakwood experience?

Ilsey: I’m proud of just being myself and making a mark on the school with my music.

Nico: Building an enduring community as a student and beyond. As a member of the Alumni Council (and the person behind @OakwoodGroupText), and now an Oakwood parent, my Oakwood experience is far from over (and never has to end).