Hello! My name is Jamie Bland. I’m from a little town in England called Petersfield, near the south coast. I’m a Junior, and although I’m currently undeclared, I’m planning on double majoring in Music and Computer Science.
I feel like music fills my life. I’m in jazz ensemble, jazz combo, orchestra, brass quintet, choir, Plus One a cappella, and almost every moment if I’m not making music, I’m listening to (or adding to) one of my Spotify playlists.
I’m really excited to be able to explore the cities with like-minded friends and to be able to experience and immerse ourselves in the diverse cultural worlds of these countries. Being able to explore the varied musical worlds and its deep link to the cities’ cultures is fascinating to me.
I’m really excited to go to Vienna, as I’ve been to Prague and Paris briefly before, but Vienna will be new for me. The New Year’s concert is especially exciting for me, as I’ve sometimes watched video clips from these concerts. They always look incredible, so I’m really looking forward to being able to experience it myself!
Music is deeply ingrained within society. It can be heard everywhere, being piped through speakers whilst shopping, cheerful jingles during TV advertisements, and even the chimes of the Chapel, proclaiming the time to the entire campus. Music is intrinsically linked deeply in the culture of the world, varying from country to country, and even having diverse variations city to city. Learning about this variation is, at least to me, incredibly important in learning more about the tapestry of varied cultures that makes up the world.