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Auburn students bring music, cultural connection to Japan

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The Auburn University Department of Music recently traveled across Japan on a concert tour, where members of the Auburn University Symphonic Winds performed and engaged in cultural exchange opportunities from May 8–17.

Led by Director of Bands Rick Good and Associate Director Corey Spurlin, the ensemble presented performances in Tokyo, Hamamatsu and Kyoto, including collaborative concerts with Japanese high school ensembles. The tour provided students with opportunities to share music internationally while building connections with fellow musicians abroad.

“No rehearsal can prepare you for the moment you share a stage with musicians from the other side of the world, and watching our students rise to that moment, night after night, was something truly special,” Good said. 

In Tokyo, the Symphonic Winds performed joint concerts with Komadai High School at Fussa City Hall and Matsudo High School at Matsudo Civic Hall. In Hamamatsu, students participated in a musical exchange with Hamamatsu Shugakusha High School, and the tour concluded with a collaborative performance alongside Tokai University Osaka Gyosei High School near Osaka.

“When an Auburn student and a Japanese high school musician walk away from a performance as friends, having created something beautiful together without a shared spoken language, you're reminded of exactly why music education matters,” Good said. “This tour was about so much more than performance. We want our students to graduate as world-ready musicians who understand that their artistry has the power to build bridges across cultures, and Japan gave us a vivid, unforgettable lesson in exactly that.”

Beyond the concert stage, students experienced many aspects of Japanese culture and history throughout the trip. Activities included visits to historic and cultural landmarks such as Meiji Shrine, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera and the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji. Students also participated in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and taiko drumming experience, explored Tokyo DisneySea, and visited Yamaha Innovation Road in Hamamatsu.

Maggie Tonsmeire, first chair flautist, reflected on her experience.

“Language may be a barrier between people, but music is not,” Tonsmeire said. “Traveling to Japan with the AU Symphonic Winds was an incredible experience that provided an opportunity to reach across cultural barriers and find something uniquely in common. I will never forget this experience or the students we worked with.” 

The group was accompanied by Department of Music Chair Doug Rosener and College of Liberal Arts Dean Jason Hicks. The tour highlighted Auburn’s commitment to global engagement through music, performance and cultural learning.

Tags: Community, Outreach and Engagement Students International Initiatives Arts and Culture Music