China Trip
calendar icon19 May 2014 user iconBy Brian Reetz
Honored. Blessed. Jaw dropping. Just a few of the adjectives a group of undergraduate students from the Glenn Korff School of Music used to describe their emotions when finding out they would be traveling to China to perform and represent the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Jazz Combo group includes Eric Hitt, Nicholas Johnson, John Kosch and Luke Thallas. Graduate student Masayoshi Ishikawa will oversee the group. They leave bright and early Tuesday morning, May 20.
“When I was first told about the trip my jaw dropped and it took a few moments to think about the magnitude of this great opportunity,” Hitt said, who plays electric bass. “It has been quite a whirlwind of a process, so I don't think it will actually sink in until we are in China.”
Kosch, who plays piano, says it means a great deal to represent UNL across the world.
“I am extremely humbled by the chance to represent something that is much bigger than me,” Kosch said. “I am very blessed to have received this opportunity, and I thank God and everyone who is making the trip possible.”
Johnson, who is the group’s percussionist, said, “I was stunned when I first heard we were going to China. I couldn't believe that such an amazing opportunity was just weeks away.”
For trombonist Thallas, he needed to get his schedule and mind all put together.
“My first reaction was to call my parents and tell them, because a.) I was too excited to contain myself, and b.) I had to reschedule some oral surgery to account for the trip,” Thallas said. “My second reaction was to start practicing for the trip immediately - it was my way of dealing with the shock of being offered such an incredible opportunity.”
For half of them, it will be the first time traveling outside of the United States. Hitt has traveled to the Bahamas and Canada, neither Kosch or Johnson have left the country before, while Thallas has travelled out of the country a couple of times – taking a family vacation to Cancun, Mexico when he was seven and another to the Cayman Islands when he was a senior in high school. When Thallas was in the seventh grade, he travelled with the People to People Student Ambassador Program to Australia for a couple of weeks - a very eye-opening experience, he said.
“I have never traveled out of the country before,” Kosch said. “In fact, I am a Nebraska native, and I rarely even leave the state. I’m still getting used to flying -- the first time I traveled by plane was two years ago. Now I have to fly to the other side of the globe! I’m terrified and excited all at the same time.”
As of late last week, their schedule of performances in Xi’an wasn’t yet finalized but it was shaping up including performance at the Science Hall and the Tea House.
“I see this trip not only as a great musical opportunity, but also as a chance to uphold the superb reputation of the Glenn Korff School of Music, and the University as a whole,” Johnson said. “I see this chance as an amazing opportunity that carries with it the greatest of responsibilities.”
Thallas added, “I am incredibly honored to represent the Glenn Korff School of Music and the University of Nebraska in China, specifically Xi'an - I cannot be more grateful for getting asked to go on this trip, and I can’t wait to experience this culture (and music culture) that I have so little experience with.”
While Kosch said, “The other guys that are going are some of the best musicians I’ve had the pleasure of playing with. I couldn’t ask for a more rewarding musical experience if I tried.”
Besides performing at different venues, the group will also have a chance to take in the sights and sounds of China.
“I am looking forward to exploring Xi’an’s opera museum,” Kosch said. “I am fascinated by music of other cultures, because it is beautiful in a way that I have never experienced. Chinese opera has affected generations of people in the same way that I am affected by jazz; as a musician, I feel the need to acknowledge the significance of that fact, as well as an obligation to discover more about this great art.”
Johnson added, “I'm looking forward to everything about the trip! From the adrenaline rush of the first take-off out of Omaha, to the joy of playing music live in such an amazing place. It is hard to pick one thing to be most excited about!”
While Thallas said, “I’m most looking forward to two things - experiencing the music culture, and seeing all the sights that the city and surrounding areas have to offer (terra cotta warriors, museums, the Great Wall, the list goes on and on!). I really hope that I get a chance to make music with the students there!
“I’m really excited to be traveling with such a talented group - especially under the guidance of Masayoshi Ishikawa,” Thallas said. “I’m also really excited to try the local food there!”
UNL Jazz Combo China Trip Blog
China Trip
As part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, select students of the Glenn Korff School of Music went to China.
We kept a blog: https://arts.unl.edu/music/news/china-trip
We also updated our Twitter: UNLSomusic or follow the hashtag: #jazzinchina2014
And our Facebook: UNL School of Music
Airport Selfie
We are at the Omaha airport waiting to board our flight to Detroit. Here is an #airportselfie at 5:24 am -- Eric Hitt
Ready to board
Sitting at the Detroit airport waiting to board our flight to Beijing at 12:02 pm -- Eric Hitt
We made it to Detroit! After a nutritious meal of airport McDonalds, we are off Beijing. -- John Kosch
Long flight is over
We can thankfully say the long flight is over! Trying to make our way around in Beijing without speaking the language was quite the adventure. However, we received a warm welcome from fellow Nebraskan Kaitlin Thomas, who treated us to a delicious meal of barbecue. Time to sleep and battle that nasty jet lag! -- John Kosch
Getting ready to perform
It's about 7:30 AM and I can't sleep - I don't know if it's jet lag, excitement, or both. We arrived here safe after almost 18 hours of flight yesterday, and got to enjoy some wonderfully spicy street barbecue last night with Kaitlin Thomas, a saxophonist studying abroad from UNO who's helping us get our bearings/show us around. We have a rehearsal scheduled today for noon (which would be 11PM on Wednesday back in Lincoln!), and then a big performance later tonight with our combo, which we've dubbed the NE Jazz Experiment. -- Luke Thallas
Parks alive with dancing and music
It is 9:45 am May 22 (8:45 pm May 21 in the United States) After having a wonderful breakfast at the hotel I am staying at, I just walked around the city by myself. Here are the pictures I took this morning. I think it was a big park right across the street from Jiaontong University. Many people are dancing together (some Thai Chi) and some are practicing instruments that sound and look like one of the traditional Chinese instruments, but I am not sure yet. It was a nice walk and can't wait for what we will be experiencing today. I am excited to have our first concert tonight. I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity! -- Masayoshi Ishikawa
First performance is a success
We just had our first performance at a science hall in Jiaotong University. All the musicians played wonderfully and the audience seemed to be enjoying the performance as well! Tomorrow we will be exploring the city during the day (visiting Muslim Quarter, Drum Tower and the bike ride.) In the evening, we are invited to a special dinner hosted by the American Exchange Center. It will be another great day! -- Masayoshi Ishikawa
Seeing the sights
We didn't have any performances on Friday, so we went sightseeing. We visited the Drum and Bell Towers, as well as the Muslim Quarter. Many interesting souvenirs were purchased, including some traditional Chinese musical instruments! Many of us were surprised at the Muslim quarter by street vendors who tried to haggle with us. They were very persuasive! I definitely ended up paying way too much for a couple pairs of sunglasses I didn't need. The cuisine here is delicious. The gang hit up a little bakery for pastries and tea in the morning, had dumplings for lunch, as well as an assortment of foods for dinner, including little fish (whose faces were still visible), duck, and an endless supply of noodles. Some of us struggled to use chopsticks, but by the end of the day we were pros. After dinner (at which we spoke with the lovely members of the UNK, UNO and UNL speech teams), we went out for the evening to explore the night life. It was certainly an experience trying to catch a cab in the rain in order to go dancing. However, aside from being a little soaked, we enjoyed every minute of fun facilitated by our intern friends at the AEC, Kaitlin Thomas and Sam Meier. Today we have another gig, so it's time to rest before we have to rehearse. It was nice to have a day of tourism, but I'm ready to play some music! -- John Kosch
Absolutely surreal experience
It's Tuesday morning in Xi'an and I'm sitting in bed listening to some tunes as I reflect on our adventure. Our excursion is coming to an end -- we essentially have one day before we're off to the airport. This has been an absolutely surreal experience. Everything is so different here! There is practically no air conditioning or cold beverages, but everything is ridiculously cheap, not to mention we are adored for the paleness of our complexion. People have asked to take pictures with us just because we are American! This has made our performances here very enjoyable. Yesterday we played at City College and we had people asking us for photos and contact info and saying how much they enjoyed our performance. We felt like celebrities! After the performance, we had the opportunity to teach some of the locals about jazz. It was rewarding to see their eyes light up as we explained the improvisatory nature of our music. It's been a blast sharing an art form we feel passionately about with people who have never experienced anything like it. We feel very appreciated here. Knowing that there is such a large pool of enthusiastic students interested in learning about jazz makes us very badly want to find a way to come back and teach. At the very least, we want to make the most of the time we have left. Our last performance is today, and we plan to play our hearts out! Wo ai Xi'an! -- John Kosch
Wonderful time connecting
We have been experiencing SO much everyday. I can't believe we have technically 1 more day today. Here is a little bit of an update of the trip. The Nebraska Jazz Experiment played a wonderful short concert at the American Exchange Center in Jiaotong University on May 24. It was an alumni event and Chancellor Perlman visited. We had a wonderful time connecting with many people who are UNL alumni as well as all the staff/interns at the American Exchange Center. -- Masayoshi Ishikawa
Bike ride with fantastic view
The bike ride was really fun. We rode our bikes for 2 hours in the evening. We could see the city from the wall. It was a fantastic view! -- Masayoshi Ishikawa
Back in the United States
It was a wonderful trip to China for this past week and came back to the States safely. I experienced so many things and it will take a while for my brain to digest. I am just so thankful that I had this opportunity.The musicians presented wonderful concerts. I am so relieved now to see everyone made it home safely tonight and saw their happy faces with their parents at the airport! -- Masayoshi Ishikawa