Influential Woman · Music Education
Julie Poklewski
Founder and CEO, Opus 11 School of Music
Campbell, CA 95008
Her Story
About Julie
Julie Poklewski is a music educator, arts leader, pianist, and the Founder and CEO of Opus11 School of Music, an inclusive music education organization serving students of all ages, abilities, and learning styles.
With more than 25 years of experience in music education, Julie has built her career around a belief that meaningful musical experiences can shape confidence, connection, and a lifelong relationship with the arts. A classically trained pianist, she holds degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy and has taught extensively throughout her career.
Julie was raised in a family of classical musicians. Her parents, both pianists, met while completing their musical studies in the former Soviet Union in the country of Georgia, and she grew up immersed in piano, opera, and concert performance. Her own path as an educator began at a young age, when her mother asked her to work with students preparing for examinations while she was away on a concert tour. What began as an early teaching experience developed into a lifelong commitment to music education.
For two decades, Julie maintained a private piano studio while gradually expanding her work into educational leadership and arts advocacy. She later served as Executive Director and a Board Member of the San Jose International Piano Competition, helping support opportunities for pianists and young musicians through performance and educational initiatives. Her work in the nonprofit arts community continues to reflect her interest in connecting accomplished artists, emerging musicians, students, and audiences.
In 2021, Julie founded Opus11 School of Music with a vision of creating a more inclusive and expansive model of music education. What began as a single teaching studio has grown into a multi-location school serving more than 300 students and families, from young children to adults in their 80s. Opus11 offers private instruction, group programs, ensembles, camps, performances, and adaptive music education, with a particular commitment to welcoming neurodivergent learners.
Today, Julie’s work extends beyond teaching individual students to building communities around music. Through Opus11 and her involvement in nonprofit arts leadership, she is focused on creating meaningful connections between education and performance, expanding access to high-quality musical experiences, and developing opportunities for established artists to inspire and mentor the next generation.
At the heart of her work is a simple goal: to help more people experience music not merely as something they study, but as something that becomes a lasting part of their lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a highly sensitive person myself and wanting for others to be able to feel the same degrees of sensitivity. I grew up in a family of classical pianists and was immersed in music from childhood, which shaped who I am. My parents had a lot to do with it - they met while doing their degrees in the former Soviet Union and created this musical environment for me. I think it's about wanting others to experience the joy and values in music that I grew up with, and being able to bring that sensitivity and care to the families I work with.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from an elderly woman who told me that at one point, I may want to consider changing my schedule and doing something a little bit different, otherwise I'd never see my kids. All the working hours, all the teaching hours happen from 3 to 7 p.m. That advice made me think about scaling my business. In music, there's this term where you either have to grow or you go - crescendo or diminuendo. That conversation led me to realize that if I could teach just on my own 15, 20, 30 students, then I could only impact that many families. But if I grew my business and scaled it, I'd be able to reach way more families than that and still instill in them the values in music that I grew up with. That advice completely changed the trajectory of my career and led me to open Opus 11 School of Music.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field would be to not be afraid to open a business and to not be afraid to do the hard thing. The possibilities become ultimately endless, both financially and in the impact that you make in the community. You learn so many communication skills, you get to work with people, and you get to see your work directly impact people on a daily basis. You get to bring joy to so many people. Don't let fear hold you back, because that's what would most likely keep someone from pursuing this path.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of our biggest opportunities is growing our team of exceptional teachers. At Opus11, we look for people who are not only outstanding professionals, but also warm, engaging personalities who genuinely connect with their students. That combination is rare, so finding the right people can be a challenge—but every great teacher who joins us strengthens our community and helps us bring the Opus11 experience to more students.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are ethics, honesty, keeping your word, and respect. Those are the biggest ones. What matters most to me is that what you think and what you say and what you do are always in alignment. That consistency and integrity in thought, word, and action is fundamental to how I operate both personally and professionally.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.