| Complete story |
| Financial contributions
are sought to help further defray the cost of the
trip for individual Redcoat members. Those wishing
to help support the Redcoats as they represent
UGA in China may make contributions to the Arch
Foundation, designated for the Redcoat China Tour,
in care of Jeffrey Delk at the Hugh Hodgson School
of Music, 250 River Rd., Athens, GA 30602-7287. |
|
The University of Georgia Redcoat Band, recognized recently with
the Sudler Trophy as one of America’s top collegiate marching
bands, will make a two-week concert tour of China this spring.
A 250-member ensemble will travel to five Chinese cities May
15-27 at the invitation of the U.S.-China Cultural and Educational
Foundation.
The tour includes concerts in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Suzhou,
and Nanjing. The Redcoats and their directors will have opportunities
to interact with their musician counterparts at Sichuan University
and Nanjing University and will give marching performances in
several stadia.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students
to participate in what may be UGA’s most unique study abroad
experience,” says David Romines, director of the Redcoat
Band. It was through Romines’ professional association
with Song Yang of the U.S.-China Cultural and Educational Foundation
that the invitation came to pass.
“The Foundation in recent years has invited smaller groups,
such as a wind ensemble from the University of Kansas, but this
will be the first time a full American collegiate marching band
has made a tour of China,” Romines said.
While some of the costs are being underwritten by the Foundation
and private sponsors in both China and the U.S., each Redcoat
also will pay $1,600 in airfare. “Our expenses once on
the ground in China are covered by our hosts,” Romines
says, “but it is our responsibility to cover travel costs
over and back.”
The trip for the Redcoat Band, which is a component of the Hugh
Hodgson School of Music, has been approved by UGA’s Office
of International Education as a “non-traditional” study
abroad program, bringing the trip under UGA study abroad guidelines.
The university already ranks eighth among American universities
in the number of students who study abroad annually. The Redcoats
are drawn from across the university representing a cross-section
of UGA academic disciplines.
“This is unique in my experience,” says Judith Shaw,
associate vice president for international education and director
of UGA’s study abroad program. “I don’t know
of another university that has sent this large a group of students
on a two-week trip to China, much less a full-blown marching
band with all its equipment and uniforms. One of the institution’s
signature organizations will be traveling as a wonderful ambassador
of the university.”
“I am very pleased to have the Redcoat Marching Band representing
the University of Georgia and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music
through this extraordinary trip,” says Donald R. Lowe,
director of the music school. “It is a wonderful opportunity
to share a portion of our culture with another country and to
provide our students with an invaluable educational experience.
We look forward to similar opportunities for our faculty and
students in the future.”
Financial contributions are sought to help further defray the
cost of the trip for individual Redcoat members. Those wishing
to help support the Redcoats as they represent UGA in China may
make contributions to the Arch Foundation, designated for the
Redcoat China Tour, in care of Jeffrey Delk at the Hugh Hodgson
School of Music, 250 River Rd., Athens, GA 30602-7287.
Competing
in a Global Economy
The University of Georgia is at the forefront of the globalization
movement in higher education with a wealth of opportunities for
international experiences. Our students are flocking to study-abroad
programs, thriving on the challenges inherent in confronting a
new cultural environment. More and more, students on campus are
also making choices that reflect an understanding of the importance
of global awareness—from living in a residence hall-based
language community to starting a radio program in another language
to minoring in a foreign language. These experiences, whether at
home or abroad, influence how our students perceive the world and
their place in it. We’re producing graduates prepared to
be world citizens—well informed, culturally sensitive and
technologically sophisticated. They’re ready to take on the
challenges of our global society, and they’ll be equally
at home whether in the Peach State or the Republic of Georgia. |
