Abigail in front of Chaterhouse School
Author: Abigail Short | Majors: Music Performance, Music Theory, Music Education | Semester: Summer 2023
After 14 hours of travel and weeks of preparation, our flight landed in Heathrow Airport at 7:42am. This was the start of an intensive and life-changing experience in the United Kingdom. My name is Abigail short, and I am a current senior studying Music Performance, Music Theory, and Music Education. With these three degrees, I am preparing for the professional world of performance and higher education. I hope to not only perform for the public in chamber and orchestral settings, but also to teach flute and music theory at the collegiate level. During the second session of Summer 2023, I have the honor of returning to the British Isles music Festival to learn and create music with musicians and professionals from around the world. The festival had around 80 musicians from 18 different countries.
Last fall, I was fortunate to go to the festival; however, I got sick and was not able to fully experience the festival in large. I was able to gain information from the few days I had, but this year was leaps and bounds better than the previous. I am so thankful for the honors college and the study abroad office, as they helped me get another chance to fully experience a study abroad course, as well as this fantastic festival.
To say this experience was life-changing is a major understatement. I not only performed rigorous pieces with musicians I can now call friends, but I was able to see a glimpse into what my life could be like after I graduate from the University. I made connections with professors and performers from multiple countries, and many high-achieving music schools. We had long jampacked days filled with classes, rehearsals, coaching and individual practice that all led up to daily concerts for the public. While there, I prepared and performed 10 chamber works with varying instrumentation and writing styles. We learned ways to improve our tone and our technique, as well as ways to put chamber pieces together.
We also had some time in London to experience the history and culture that built the city. One of the best experiences I have had the pleasure of enjoying was the BBC Proms. We were able to witness this incredible performance from a private box suite, in which we had the perfect view of the Budapest orchestra and the rest of the concertgoers in Royal Albert Hall. The program was not only diverse in style but was also executed flawlessly. The clarity produced by the musicians during Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 left the thousands of attendees in silent awe. Hearing a professional orchestra of this caliber was not only inspiring, but it also has motivated me to work even harder to achieve my dream of performing. I have an even more tangible goal that seems all the more realistic.
As I return to my final year at the University, I will be applying aspects of this experience to every part of my life. My practice routine has changed to accommodate my specific skills, I have expanded my repertoire list, and I have made valuable connections that will last a lifetime. I was able to make friends with musicians from all around the world that I have continued to keep in touch with. The professors and professionals I worked with have given me an immeasurable amount of knowledge and advice that will help me not only on my personal skill, but also in my honors thesis. I have numerous sources that have decided to help me formulate my chamber music tactics and pedagogy of small ensembles. I will be applying all of the knowledge I’ve learned from this festival to my own chamber groups and my solo repertoire as I prepare for grad school and beyond.
To anyone that is interested in studying abroad, I have two words: Do it!! The friendships and professional relationships would leave me fulfilled, but beyond that, I was able to perform and expand my technical abilities beyond a point I thought imaginable in such a short time frame. With the help of the study abroad office and honors college, this experience has not only been life-changing, but more manageable mentally and financially. Their support has made this experience possible, and I would suggest reaching out to them if you are looking to study abroad.
This experience has shaped me as a person in ways that I can’t put into words. I have not only progressed in a professional setting, but the memories and friendships made will forever be cherished and I can’t wait to reconnect with them in the future.