A Study Abroad Immersion and Reflection of American Liberal Arts Students in Cyprus

Ensemble tours abroad, with a liberal arts focus, provide a rich, unique, and highly educational opportunity to make music while experiencing the history, people, language, and culture of another country. Pre-tour preparation, however, requires research and a trusted relationship between the director and the host to ensure that the musicians in both countries enjoy the same degree of excitement and desire to learn from one another. The following article is research that was conducted for an American college wind ensemble tour to Cyprus. In addition to reviewing several books and journals, the authors listened to hours of classical, folk, and popular Cypriot music that provided a wealth of historical knowledge in addition to a comprehensive introduction to the aural history of Cyprus. The article includes a brief history of Cyprus, the history and development of music, song, dance, and music education in Cyprus, a brief history of wind bands in Cyprus, and the reflections of the students who participated in the tour.