As graduation swiftly approaches, Music major Jason Garland has made time to look back and consider how much he’s changed since beginning his degree at VCUarts.
“I have grown so much as an artist and human being,” he says. “The people, the knowledge, and the experiences, I wouldn’t trade for the world. Without my experiences here, I would not be the person that I am today.”
Garland has been set on studying music since elementary school. Of course, the typical trials of growing up didn’t always cater to his interests.
“I only picked up trombone because I was super embarrassed about singing at a time when my voice was super high because, you know, puberty.”
That perceived setback, however, placed him on a unique path. Today, Garland sings and plays trombone, an unusual combination that has allowed him to analyze his talents through two perspectives.
“Playing trombone and singing in choir are awesome because they’re so different yet so similar,” he says. “A lot of the knowledge that I’ve gained from one can be applied to the other! Also, you can combine an unnecessary number of trombones and make a trombone choir, which is cool.”
With the Music program, Garland has had opportunities to travel all over the world to learn and perform. He’s been to Cartagena, Colombia, twice with small and large brass ensembles; visited New York with the Commonwealth Singers; attended the American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., with the VCU Trombone Choir; and has even opened for Glass Animals and Local Natives with his band Bonne Chere. “The department is full of surprises, honestly.”
After graduation, Garland plans to continue his education by applying to graduate school. He also wants to devote time to personal projects, and to further self-improvement.
“It’s a little scary to know that I have to leave the comfy womb known as VCU,” he says, “but my teachers have given me a lot and will always be a phone call away if I need anything.”
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