Joicy Pereira de Carvalho - Rhodes, Greece

It was a great opportunity and experience to do a concert and sing in front of the Greek Audience at the Palace of the Grand Master of Knights of Rhodes in Greece. The location was amazing, the people were warm and friendly, and the crowd was excited about the concert. I collaborated with Apostolos-Angelos Konstantakis, a Greek Pianist and current Master’s student at BGSU, performing an interesting, diverse, and challenging repertoire consisting of art songs by multiple composers and arias from operas.

I met a lot of journalists who promoted the event and organizers/managers for future concerts. I and the pianist presented the program and talked about the event on two local television channels and a radio station.

By receiving this grant from BGSU, I had the opportunity to visit Greece and perform in such an inspiring and historical site that motivated me to pursue my studies even more and develop my career as a performer and vocalist. This event allowed me to build a beneficial network and become a more confident and experienced professional musician/performer. It was an unforgettable experience.

Dominic Gomez - Joel Hoffman's Composition Prgram in Incheon, Korea

My time in Korea was an experience I would not trade for the world. While there, I had the privilege of studying with Dr. Joel Hoffman, a distinguished composer who taught at the University of Cincinnati and studied under notable figures such as Elliott Carter and Easley Blackwood. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from Dr. Hoffman was his concept of “listening spaces.” This idea suggests that if you know someone well enough—their taste, opinions, and approach to music—you can imagine listening to a piece from their perspective. 

This program was far more than just a study abroad experience. It was a time of artistic growth, cultural exchange, and personal connection. I left Korea with new tools for composition, a deeper understanding of how culture shapes performance, and a renewed sense of how collaboration can enrich creativity. Most importantly, I returned with perspectives that will continue to shape my music for years to come.