Wayne State University issued the following announcement on July 16.
For nearly three decades, Chris Collins’ musicianship has led him around the world. From Italy and Japan to South Africa and Scotland, Collins has seen it all. But early on, he realized the intrinsic value of engaging these cultures through music and language.
“It helped me better understand some of the cultural realities of communication and the arts,” said Collins, Valade Endowed Chair in Jazz, professor and director of jazz studies at Wayne State University. “In my case, it was about experiencing the jazz and cultural influences in different countries to find out what their artistic priorities are. These experiences continue to enlighten me. Over the years, I was able to develop my own perspective on the world — politics and everything else — based on firsthand experiences and how I engage with individuals.”
Collins has performed at jazz festivals around the globe, released albums, been credited on film soundtracks and won numerous awards — including the Brusoni Award in Italy, which he was the first American to receive. It would have been easy to continue being a professional musician first, with a teaching gig to fall back on.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Wayne State University
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