As our Music and Theatre students start to trickle back to Australia after spending most of November in the United States, tour leader Dr Derrin Kerr is already considering an invite to take a CQUniversity jazz group on a study tour to Cuba in the future...

He may need to check his timings, as jazz groups from Southern Utah University and the University of Texas at Brownsville are already planning reciprocal visits to CQUniversity in 2011.

Mackay-based Theatre student Jessica Borg joined the Rockhampton-based Music students for their USA experience

Meanwhile, student/pianist Stephen Kumar has been offered a place in the Masters program at the University of Louisville, where he would join CQUniversity graduate Luke McIntosh in this high profile jazz course.

Dr Kerr said a total of three academic staff, seven Music students and two Theatre students took part in the study tour of the United States.

As well as performing and taking part in workshops at Southern Utah University, the University of Texas at Brownsville, the University of Louisville and the University of Richmond, the group visited Chicago and New York to attend world-class music and theatre performances.

Our students were able to have masterclasses with world-renowned pianist Harry Pickins and leading jazz publisher and saxophonist Jamey Aebersold. They sat in on a rehearsal conducted by leading composer John LaBarbera and attended performances by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, the Cory Wilks Quintet and Bobby McFerrin (of Don't Worry Be Happy fame), as well as West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera.

Rockhampton-based Music student Sian Garde fronts a combo on the tour

"The main objectives were to further develop relationships with our existing international education partners, promote our exchange and study abroad programs and to build our international reputation as a quality provider of performing arts education," he said.

"The tour helped students to see how they fit into the broader professional community and put them into close contact with world-class educators, as well as providing high-quality performance experiences, with collaboration across the Music and Theatre disciplines."

Dr Kerr said students were buzzing about the trip and made comments including: "I'm excited about my future in music"; "the trip exposed me to huge opportunities for my career"; "the chance to workshop with people we read about in our textbooks was invaluable" and "to see we have teachers who more than match the overseas standard was a source of pride".

Highlights from the show at University of Texas, courtesy of Michelle Serrano from Collegian Photos  
Clockwise from left - after a Bobby McFerrin concert, at Southern Utah University and with staff of the University of Texas at Brownsville. LINK for larger images