Her Story
About Julie
Julie Poklewski is the Founder and CEO of Opus11 School of Music, an inclusive music education organization dedicated to serving neurodiverse learners and students of all ages and abilities. She has worked in music education for over 25 years and is a classically trained pianist with degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. Raised in a family of classical musicians, Julie grew up immersed in piano, opera, and concert performance. Her parents, both pianists, met while completing their studies in the former Soviet Union in the country of Georgia, shaping a deeply musical upbringing that influenced her lifelong path in music.
Julie’s passion for teaching began early when her mother asked her to support students preparing for examinations while she was away on a concert tour in Spain. That formative experience sparked a lasting commitment to music education, which she carried throughout her career while maintaining a private piano studio of 15 to 30 students for two decades. A pivotal moment came when a student encouraged her to think more intentionally about the limits of time in one-on-one teaching. That reflection led her to embrace the concept of growth in music education “crescendo versus diminuendo” and inspired her to expand her impact beyond individual instruction.
In December 2021, during a period of global change, Julie founded Opus11 School of Music, consolidating her private studio into a single location with a vision for scalable, inclusive music education. What began as one studio has since grown into a thriving multi-location school serving over 300 students and families, from toddlers to adults in their 80s. Opus11 offers private lessons, group programs, ensembles, camps, and community events designed to make music accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all learners. Outside of her professional work, Julie enjoys relaxing at the beach and reading. Looking ahead, she is committed to expanding Opus11’s reach and deepening its community impact, continuing her mission to bring music into more homes and foster lifelong connection to the arts.
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 - it's either crescendo or you 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 and families. 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 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.
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