Asami Hagiwara

BM Piano Performance (Minor in German + Business) 2009

Academic Year 2007-2008 in Vienna

As a classical music major, I knew I wanted to study somewhere in Europe during my undergraduate years. Once I found out about the Austria-Illinois Exchange Program (now IiVP), I knew this was the right fit for me because of its well-organized focus on language and cultural training, as well as its flexibility in adjusting the curriculum to each student’s specialization.

My year in Vienna had a huge impact on my musicianship. Vienna is the city of music, where many significant composers lived and concerts of the highest refinement take place every evening. I felt constantly inspired by attending these magical concerts, meeting other musicians, and simply walking around the city.

I completed my academic training with a DMA at the University of Iowa and now serve as Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Minnesota Duluth. My recent performance appearances include concerts in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and the U.S. As an American-Scandinavian Foundation research fellow, I also spent a year at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland).

Looking back, I feel extremely lucky to have had this life-changing opportunity to live in this beautiful city; I know my dedication to my profession deepened greatly during the year. As a piano professor now, I encourage my students to study abroad in Europe because it transforms a student’s commitment to music. I am grateful for Dr. Bruce Murray’s support and mentorship while I was adjusting to live in a new city, learning a new language, and reshaping my musicianship.