Last modified: Monday, June 30, 2008
IU Jacobs School of Music welcomes 42 students from overseas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington's Jacobs School of Music recently welcomed 42 talented international students for the second summer session.
Besides intensive daily classes in English and their instrument of choice, these students will have a chance to shine in the series of choral and orchestra concerts traditionally held in the IU Summer Music Festival. Nearly 40 students will make the trip from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Through an entirely different program, five Haitian students will make the trip north from Loyola University in New Orleans, where they are currently studying.
Dean Gwyn Richards talks with a student from South Korea at a celebration welcoming students to the IU Jacobs School of Music. The Jacobs School recently welcomed 42 talented international students for the second summer session.
"The fact they have gotten this far is somewhat of a miracle," said Connie Glen, Jacobs lecturer and coordinator of the Department of Music in General Studies, speaking of the Haitian student program she helped organize. "They are just so dedicated to their art. Working in Haiti, it's very, very hard to be able to come to the USA."
Glen said the group consists of three violinists, a violist and a trumpet player. Each is enrolled in the second summer session -- two in master's level classes and three in undergraduate courses -- and all will perform in the IU Summer Music Festival.
"The Jacobs School of Music is sponsoring them, which is a very wonderful gift to these young students," Glen said.
Also receiving support are the 37 Korean students, who will visit campus for the second summer session as well. But their support comes in the form of small scholarships from the IU Department of International Affairs and the Office of Dean of the Jacobs School of Music, both of which are providing some startup money to encourage the program.
"I'm particularly delighted that the students from Ewha Womans University have come to the Jacobs School of Music because of the enormous interest in classical music in Korea," said Patrick O'Meara, vice president for international affairs at Indiana University. "Some of our most gifted world-class musicians have come from that country. This will consolidate our friendship with an important university. I hope to be in Korea with President McRobbie later this year to greet our alums, which is another dimension of the importance that IU attaches to that country."
Nearly 40 students from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea pose with IU Bloomington faculty during a welcome ceremony held outside Auer Hall.
According to Jacobs Associate Professor Alan Bennett, who organized the Korean program, the Jacobs School of Music has had many talented students from Ewha University in the past. Last spring, Bennett was asked by the dean of Ewha to attempt to bring students overseas for the summer to study with IU faculty on their major instruments, take intensive English language classes and get a full-time university experience in the United States.
"We are very happy to have these music students here from Ewha University," said Bennett of the Korean students. "They are full-time students in the Jacobs School as well as part-time students in the Intensive English Program and will participate in everything that the Summer Music Festival has to offer, including performing with the orchestras and choirs as well as presenting concerts of their own."
A series of campus performances is planned, including two in Auer Hall (July 24 and 30 at 8 p.m.) and one in Ford Hall (Aug. 7 at 8:30 p.m.) as well as three noon concerts in the International House across from the Musical Arts Center on the IU Bloomington campus on July 11, 18 and 25. All events are free and open to the public and will showcase these very talented students from Korea.
"It is a wonderful opportunity for all of them to get to meet the students and faculty at IU, and for all of us to learn something from them as well," Glen said.
Compostion major So Ri Kim, who is studying with IU Professor Don Freund this summer, is excited to be able to hear such a wide variety of musical styles and performances and says, "I am very glad to be here. I can hear every kind of music, and that will be good for my musical understanding."
