TAMIU Annual Report 2021

Dr. Emily Vanchella, visiting music faculty member in TAMIU’s College of Arts and Sciences, first heard the sitar on the popular Beatles song, Norwegian Wood . Since then, her appreciation and interest in the instrument has only flourished. “Once I started actually started learning to play the sitar, the music theory and the instrument’s significance in Hinduism and Indian spirituality also added this whole other level of appreciation to me,” said Dr. Vanchella. For Vanchella, the opportunity to impart knowledge and appreciation of American music from the 1960s has also been a source of great joy. “I am so excited to be teaching here at TAMIU and just getting to share music and how much I love it, particularly American popular music and even more, in particular, the music of the 60s… that is the music that is closest to my own heart,” said Vanchella. For avid American music aficionados who may be unfamiliar with non-Western music, Vanchella has some words of advice. “Take what your ears know about Western music and just set it aside for a second, and see if you can approach the music on its own terms,” said Vanchella. Vanchella earned a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of California – Santa Barbara, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Agnes Scott College. Enjoy our recent conversation with Dr. Vanchella at go.tamiu.edu/vanchella  or give a listen to a recent sitar performance at go.tamiu.edu/sitar VISITING MUSIC FACULTY MEMBER BRINGS SITAR MUSIC TO TAMIU “I would say train and work hard, find good mentors -- they may not be in your field -- and take some calculated risks.” – Dr. Torregosa. “Be willing to apologize but do not apologize for being who you are. Be ready to take on challenges, but do not challenge yourself to prove to others.” -- Dr. Hong. Their expanded stories can be found here: go.tamiu.edu/whm-deans D r . J e n n i f e r C o r o n a d o D r . C l a u d i a S a n M i g u e l D r . M a r i v i c T o r r e g o s a D r . B a r b a r a H o n g FACULTY 18