Over spring break, a group of Whitworth music students traveled 6,200 miles for a cultural exchange tour in Taiwan. The ten day trip included students’ performances, visits to cultural and historical sites such as old concert halls, museums, statues and temples, and opportunities to connect with local Taiwanese communities.
The trip included students from the Whitworth Symphony Orchestra and Choir. They visited cities across Taiwan, performing in venues such as the Chimei Museum and schools for children with disabilities. The tour gave students the chance to experience Taiwan’s rich and vibrant culture while showing local Taiwanese communities Whitworth’s musical talent.
One of the most memorable stops was the Hui Ming School for the Visually Impaired, where Whitworth students collaborated with local musicians for a joint concert. Miriam Hamstra, a senior violinist and elementary education major, shared how powerful the experience was.
“I was so touched because, even though we had so many barriers to communication, we were still able to connect on the most human level through the art of music.” She shared, “at the very end of the concert, about two hundred voices joined together to sing ‘Tomorrow Will Be Better.’”
Moreover, Hamstra added, “I guess I learned in a new way how to love music not for how polished it is but for how it connects people across mental, physical, linguistic and cultural differences. I know it is cliché to say, but music really is the ‘universal language.’”
Ella Davis, a third-year environmental science major and soprano in the choir, described the visit as unforgettable. “We shared our music with them, and they also shared their music with us,” she said.
The tour also challenged the ensemble throughout this trip. Davis noted that students performed while sick and outside their comfort zones, which helped them grow as individuals and as a team. “Especially the latter performances, many of us were sick. Despite these various challenges, we still performed to the best of our ability, being able to support one another and ultimately still present music to our audiences,” Davis said.
Bailie Jansons, a senior music major and violinist, also reflected on how deeply the performances affected her, particularly at Hui Ming. “It was a beautiful experience to witness the students’ joy,” she said. “One of them cried when we hugged goodbye. That moment reminded me that music doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be real.”
Reflecting on the general impact that the Taiwan tour had on Whitworth students, Jansons shared how the experience brought the ensemble closer together by the end of the trip. “It feels like we became a more unified group after having this experience together,” she explained.
“I think musically, what I took away from this is that music is really about connection and sharing. It’s not about how perfectly you play something — it’s about using music to be with people, to interact and connect, and to meet people you wouldn’t otherwise get to meet. You can create something really beautiful out of those connections,” Jansons said.
In addition to the performances, the Whitworth students explored Taiwan’s history, cuisine, temples and natural monuments. Students visited Alishan National Park, rode the Alishan Forest Train through ancient cypress forests and participated in a tea leaf picking experience.
