(left to right) James Goldsworthy, Carlos Jurado, and Lois Laverty, professor emerita

Westminster Choir College of Rider University graduate student Carlos Javier Jurado of Pasto, Colombia has been named Westminster’s first Visiting Fulbright Scholar.

Selected by the Fulbright Scholar Program and the Ministry of Culture of Colombia, Jurado is one of five Fulbright-supported artists from his country to study in the United States this year. The goal of the program is to promote “mutual understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world.” Nearly 800 award grantees come to the United States each year for an academic year or term. Jurado, who is working toward a master of music degree, will stay until 2007.

“I am very happy to be here,” said Jurado, whose hometown is located near the border of Ecuador. “I want to express my gratitude to Rider and Westminster for accepting me. Everyone has made me feel at home. Westminster is the perfect place for me to master the art of choral conducting. I feel that a small, highly intense musical community would be my best option."

When Jurado returns to Colombia the summer of 2007, he will teach choral conducting at the Universidad de Nariño where he will work toward reestablishing a bachelor’s degree in music program with emphasis in choral conducting.

“I believe that choral activity is an ideal tool,” said Jurado. “Choirs can be created without major financial investment. I want to share what I have learned and take advantage of all that is possible. I am thrilled to be singing with the Symphonic Choir and the Westminster Choir.”

Hearing about Westminster from an Institute for International Education (IIE) advisor, Jurado learned more about the school and its faculty via the Internet. “I liked the fact that Westminster showed a lot of interest in my application. That was really important to me,” said Jurado. “My other reason for choosing Westminster was my interest in knowing more about Dr. James Jordan’s approach to choral teaching. At this moment, I am a student in Dr. Andrew Megill’s choral conducting class. This is an honor for me, and an excellent opportunity to learn from his technique. I have also learned a lot at Mr. Timothy Brown’s and Dr. Sun Min Lee ‘s Symphonic Choir rehearsals.”

In Colombia, Jurado studied conducting at EAFIT University in Medellin under the guidance of the noted Cecilia Espinosa. He has conducted the prestigious Coral Tomás Luis de Victoria in Medellin and the orchestra and choir at the Universidad de Nariño. One of the choir’s pieces at Universidad de Nariño commemorated the 100th anniversary of the University and was performed in the presence of the President of the Republic of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe.

“Music never wasmerely entertainment for me, it’s been the center of my life,” said Jurado. “I love my country. I want the people there to experience more fully the beauty and joy of music.”

Over the years, 13 Rider faculty members have received Fulbright Scholar Awards. Among the current faculty who are Fulbright Scholars are Pearlie Peters (English), Bosah Ebo (Communication), James Goldsworthy (Westminster piano and voice), Cengis Haksever (Management Sciences), Sigfredo Hernandez (Marketing), and Jonathan Mendilow (Political Science), Margaret Schleissner, twice (German), and Marilyn Quinn (Library).

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