This fall, Scripps College welcomes Dr. Roberto Andreoni as part of the unique Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program. An active composer and professor of music, Andreoni also serves as the director of the Institute for International Education of Students (IES) program in Milan, Italy.
Like Virgil and Beatrice guide Dante through his visions, Andreoni hopes to immerse students in Italian culture with his course “Sacred Music and Spaces in Italy.” He also leads a class on “Contemporary Italian Music and Literature,” which he hopes challenges both him and his students.
“One of my passions is to communicate,” says Andreoni, noting he doesn’t normally teach literature. The interdisciplinary approach of his lectures, through engagement of language, music, architecture, and the written word, reflects the globally-minded liberal arts education Scripps College students typically receive during their four years on campus.
The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings scholars from around the world to teach courses at U.S. colleges and universities for up to one year. While doing so, the program keeps the needs of the host institution in mind, and also allows the visiting scholar to grow and develop their lecturing skills. In 2009-2010, only 46 institutions took advantage of the program.
Andreoni’s presence at Scripps College is possible thanks to Professor of Italian Sara Adler and Professor of Music Hao Huang. Both were familiar with his work as a composer and his wide-ranging academic interests and sought to bring him here.
On November 21, music students and faculty will give a performance dedicated to Andreoni’s compositions. The event will be held in Balch Auditorium at 3 p.m.