The list of College of Music and Performing Arts faculty who teach abroad is extensive, both through Belmont and through personal opportunities.
Commercial Voice Instructor James Wigginton, for instance, just returned from teaching in Poland in July after receiving a personal invitation earlier in the year, preceded by a teaching stint in Argentina in March and a Belmont-sponsored trip to Munich in May. Over the course of his career, he has led more than 50 international programs.
Professor of Music Dr. Ted Wylie, one of the founders of Belmont’s Maymester program in 1993, has spent the years since leading trips to the Balkan States including Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and more.
And that hardly scratches the surface.
Associate Professor Dr. Paulo Oliveira has been teaching abroad for the past 12 years and is currently on his annual trip to Brazil, moving between the two passions in his life: education and performance.
“Maintaining a balance between these activities is crucial to me. I find that teaching and performing complement and enrich each other in many ways,” Oliveira explained. “These activities abroad expand my horizons in unique and diverse ways. For instance, I might find myself teaching a lecture in Rome after exploring historical sites like the Colosseum or the Vatican or teaching young students in a remote countryside shack in Argentina. Each experience holds its own priceless value, just like the performances.”
Most recently, Oliveira and Wigginton have been working together on both Belmont and personal development trips such as their involvement with Músico a Músico, a group of professional musicians and music teachers on a mission to train and inspire young musicians worldwide. The organization travels to various countries providing free musical instruction and performances.
Wigginton has been involved with the organization for some time, but wrangled Oliveira into participating this spring, and they traveled to Argentina to teach and perform during Belmont’s spring break. “Now Paulo is on the board,” Wigginton laughed. “And we’ve already got two more trips booked for next year.”
Wigginton added, “These trips are just very beneficial for me bringing back a worldview that I can share as well as helping me get the Belmont name out there to build our reputation for excellence and intercultural connection. We have had several people come to attend Belmont because of these classes, and I’ve taken students with me on other trips to teach and perform. Everyone is enriched when we bring in other cultures; there’s so much we can learn from each other.”
In May, the duo traveled to Italy for Belmont’s Maymester program to help students study the intersections of art and music.
Wigginton created an original music history course for Belmont’s Maymester program titled “Plainsong to Pop: Tracing the Lineage of Western Music” which takes students to Italy to explore the origin of pop music while immersing themselves in other cultures. There’s a lot to be learned – whether from the trip itself or from a faculty member teaching vocal lessons who has had that experience – about how to connect with audiences from other cultures.
When the Fall semester begins, Oliveira said he is eager to share all the professional experiences he gained during the summer with his students. “Engaging in international experiences provides me with a broader perspective on music and education beyond the confines of the University environment,” he said. “It equips me with valuable tools to better prepare my students for their professional lives after graduation. As a music teacher, I strongly believe in staying active in the music industry and keeping up-to-date with the challenges and opportunities it offers. This knowledge can then be shared with my students, motivating and inspiring them.”