Students discover music as a universal language through Immersion Vanderbilt

For sophomores William Perez and Pierce Ruch, traveling to Colombia in June meant stepping beyond the classroom and into a week of music, friendship and discovery-an experience that broadened both their musicianship and their worldview.

The two Blair School of Musicstudents traveled with Associate Professor Thomas Verrier, senior band conductor and director of wind ensembles, to participate in the fifth annual Banda Sinfónica Integrada de Las Américas in San Roque, Antioquia. The international festival brings together student musicians from across the Americas to use music as a bridge between cultures.

Verrier has led cultural immersion experiences in Latin America for 20 years, introducing more than 50 Vanderbilt students to the region since 2009. These opportunities also connect to Immersion Vanderbilt, the university's undergraduate requirement that encourages students to pursue experiences that deepen their academic and personal growth. Verrier received a fall 2024 Provost's Faculty Immersion Grant, which partially funded this trip. With applications now openfor the fall 2025 cycle, the grant continues to support faculty-led projects that create immersive learning opportunities for students.

"Music is a universal language, and the act of making music together becomes the catalyst for deeper understanding," Verrier said. "It was a joy to watch William and Pierce push past their fear of making mistakes and embrace the experience fully."

First steps abroad

For Perez, a trumpet performance and human and organizational development double major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the trip marked his first time outside the United States. Ruch, a percussion performance major from Asheville, North Carolina, had previously traveled abroad only once.

Both acknowledged that they felt nervous initially. Neither is fluent in Spanish, but those concerns quickly faded. "I realized you don't necessarily need to understand the language to understand the music," Perez said. "The conductor's body language, a few key words-it was enough. Music filled in the rest."

Ruch added, "I was scared going into it, but once I got there, I felt immediately safe. People wanted to get to know me. In this beautiful town, playing instruments, I had the time of my life."

Learning through immersion

Rehearsals took place each day in San Roque's community center, where students prepared music representing the traditions of seven countries: Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, the United States and Colombia. Between sessions, musicians often gathered for informal jam circles, which gave Vanderbilt students the chance to improvise and learn by ear-an essential part of Latin American music-making.
For Ruch, that meant picking up traditional maraca techniques directly from Colombian musicians, adding new sounds and rhythms to his percussion repertoire. By the end of the week, the ensemble had formed a cohesive sound and strong sense of community that carried into two culminating concerts.

The students also embraced everyday moments such as climbing mountains, exploring town streets and playing pickup soccer games. "I played foosball with someone I had never met before," Ruch said. "We won seven straight matches before I even knew his name."

Perez marveled at Colombia's dramatic mountain landscapes, so different from what he had seen in Florida or Nashville, as well as the distinct approach to trumpet playing he encountered. "The style and feel were unlike anything I had played before," he said. "It opened my ears to new possibilities."

Breaking barriers, changing perspectives

Beyond the music, the trip challenged misconceptions about Colombia. "My parents were terrified of me going," Perez said. "But it wasn't nearly as dangerous as people hear. The people are extraordinarily kind and welcoming."

Verrier said this was part of the mission. "There's no better way to break down misconceptions than to provide a firsthand opportunity for students to see, listen and connect with people themselves."

A lasting impact

The experience left both students eager to travel again. Ruch proudly wears a braided bracelet in yellow, blue and red-the colors of the Colombian flag-which he bought in San Roque and has not taken off since the trip. He hopes to return next summer and dreams of traveling to Japan as well.

Perez shared that same eagerness to see more of the world. "Leaving the country is eventually part of being a musician," he said. "This trip made me aware of how welcoming people can be outside the U.S. I want to experience that again."

For Verrier, watching students grow musically and personally through immersive experiences remains the most rewarding part of his work. "When students step outside their comfort zones, they come back changed not just as musicians, but as people. Mission accomplished."