Waynesburg U. Music Instructors to Participate in International Music Initiative

Waynesburg University part-time instructors of music, Camilo Jauregui Rubio and Jeremy Olisar, will travel to Bogotá, Colombia, in June to participate in “Bridging Cultures Through Music – ‘The American Band.’”

“Bridging Cultures Through Music” is an international program designed to share a comprehensive approach to American band music through both practical instruction and cultural education. Jauregui Rubio and Olisar will join a four-person team of music educators conducting a week-long interactive and collaborative workshop with students and directors of Tocar y Luchar, an after-school band program serving underprivileged students in grades 6-11. The program is operated by Cafam (Caja de Compensación Familiar), a Colombian organization that improves the quality of life for citizens through social development initiatives.

"We are very pleased to be able to carry the values of the University in our suitcases and to work with children and young people who find themselves in different sociopolitical and economic situations, and to share from our experiences the beautiful Sound of American Bands while working hand in hand with the idea of creating more bridges between Waynesburg and other institutions," shared Jauregui Rubio.

During the program, Jauregui Rubio and Olisar will engage in a variety of educational and performance-based activities. They will lead daily band rehearsals focusing on traditional American marches, jazz and contemporary pieces. Additionally, they will conduct sectional workshops for brass, woodwinds and percussion, and provide individual mentoring sessions for adult directors.

The cultural education component of the initiative will include a study of the historical context behind traditional American band music, an analysis of modern American composers and their influences, and an exploration of diverse musical traditions in American band repertoire. There will also be interactive sessions examining the cultural significance of different musical styles.

Participation in this initiative provides numerous benefits to Waynesburg University’s Department of Fine Arts and its students. The program will expand the Department’s repertoire library with traditional Colombian band music, offer professional development opportunities for music faculty and enhance international visibility for the University’s fine arts and music programs. Additionally, this experience will foster cultural competency and cross-cultural appreciation through musical study.