Valdosta State University and the Business College of Shanxi University in Taiyuan, China, were awarded a grant to establish an American Culture Center at Shanxi University. Focused on creating innovative cultural exchange and academic collaboration, the center is designed to introduce the Chinese people to the United States, including its culture, government, language, legal and economic systems, values, and more. As part of this cultural program, the seven-member Valdosta State University (VSU) Honors Jazz Combo introduced the unique sounds of the American art form of jazz when it traveled to China this past March. The VSU Honors Jazz Combo features the most talented jazz students at VSU and one of its members was Drew Gilliland of East Cobb, a physics major pursuing a Bachelor of Science who plays alto saxophone. Drew Gilliland is a 2016 graduate of Walton High School and was a member of the Walton marching band, concert band, and jazz band.
While in China, the VSU Honors Jazz Combo performed a series of concerts and delivered a seminar on the importance of creativity and innovation in music. The VSU students also had an opportunity to collaborate with Chinese musicians in a performance.
Drew shared, “My favorite part of the trip was when the jazz combo was invited to play at a jazz club in the city. This is the only jazz club in the entire city of Taiyuan so I felt honored to be playing there. The performance was well received and we had the opportunity to play with the local jazz musicians.”
This article originally appeared in the May issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 45. Click here to view the digital edition.
