Major: Music Education
Hometown: North Kingstown, RI
Note: Read more about Elise here!
What makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI unique?
The College of Arts and Sciences fosters creativity, collaboration, and individuality. Every student who graduates from the music department is vastly different, and the faculty supports and encourages those differences. They don’t try to mold you into a cookie cutter version of what they think a student who graduates from the program should be. They embrace your own interests and values as an individual, and help guide you to the best opportunities that support YOU and your specific journey. The faculty truly go above and beyond to equip you with the skills you need to enter the working world independently and confidently. There is a clear respect for your unique capabilities, and I’ve found that the College of Arts and Sciences has a perfect balance of challenging while also nurturing the students. The skills I’ve been taught go beyond the classroom, and I feel the musical, professional, and personal connection I have to the faculty in my department has made my experience at URI different from anywhere else.
What accomplishments and/or activities are you most proud of while at URI?
I am most proud of starting a treble chorus at URI. My junior year, I started a choral ensemble called “Voces Excelsis”, which means “High Voices” in Latin. Not only am I proud of the challenging repertoire we performed, but I am most proud that we created a space of belonging, acceptance, and empowerment within our department. Especially in the music industry where women are so often pit against each other, it was humbling to know that as a group, we were creating a safe environment where we embraced our own strength and potential, while hopefully encouraging others to do the same. Voces Excelsis is offered as an official ensemble students can take for credit at URI!
What, if any, research projects, internships, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI? How did they enhance your education?
I have gone abroad twice while at URI. I was able to get scholarships for both of my trips through URI. In the Summer of 2018, I went to Kenya for a month, and taught music at a school in Nairobi. In the Summer of 2019, I worked as an intern in South Africa at the Casterbridge Music Development Academy, a music nonprofit focused on reaching adolescents who come from many different backgrounds and providing them with skills and resources to become entrepreneurs in the music industry. I learned immensely about what it takes to work at a nonprofit, and was able to see firsthand the beauty and challenges that come with doing this kind of work.
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
My liberal arts education has allowed me to connect with people from many backgrounds, sexualities, and walks of life. I have learned that there are so many ways I can use my own creativity to connect with people who, on the outside, are vastly different from me. The liberal arts has helped me put my values into practice, as well as learn about the values of others. It has allowed me to learn how to use my voice, while also listening to the voices of others. Yes, I’ve learned musical techniques and have gained skills that help me progress in my own professional development, but what I value most about the liberal arts is that you see the ability the arts have to touch and impact all people.
What’s next?
After graduation, I am most interested in finding jobs under the social justice umbrella. Music can and does play a vital role in many social justice movements, and I am excited to explore those options.