Name: Natalie Burrows
Major: Music
Minors: German & Honors Program
Hometown: Penfield, NY
Graduation Year: 2017
Favorite Girl Scout Cookie: Trios!
5 Things You Might Not Know About Natalie Burrows
- I have studied five languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, and American Sign Language. Next on my list is French!
- When I was in sixth grade, I met Steven Spielberg at Yale University. He was very friendly so I told him I really liked ET even though it actually scared me…
- During my junior year at Naz, I studied abroad in Berlin Germany taking language and cultural classes, participating in internships and traveling throughout Europe in Italy, England, Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic, and throughout Germany.
- My roommates call me Monica (from Friends) because I’m VERY clean and organized.
- In my free time I love to read. My favorite book is Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, I’ve probably read it about 20 times.
How have your experiences at Naz challenged your expectations about what college would be like?
I expected it to be a lot less personal than it is. From internships to going to professors’ office hours to help with my grad school search, all of the faculty and staff at Naz want to help you succeed.
What kind of internships do music majors participate in?
The Naz music program has wonderful connections with the Rochester Lyric Opera and the Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic where many students find opportunities to engage in the community and find internships. Personally, I participated in Italian Voice and Language program “Si Parla, Si Canta!”. I auditioned for the program with the help of my vocal professor and had the unique opportunity to live in Urbania, Italy and immerse myself in the language, music, and culture with extremely talented peer singers and renowned vocal coaches and performers.
I was also able to study abroad in Berlin, Germany during my junior year at Naz and engage in three different internships while I was abroad. First, I gave voice lessons to children and teens at an after school program called Haus der Jugend. I also worked for Landesmusikrat Brandenburg, the state music council that allocates funds and plans different programs for the area where I translated different pamphlets and flyers from German to English. At the time of my internship at Landesmusikrat Brandenburg we were working on a project for refugees, especially geared toward unaccompanied minors, to play music and sing in a series of workshops. Finally, I conducted research and did PR work for an anthropologist who uses music as a means of cultural education.
What is the coolest class you’ve ever taken in your major?
German Music History was the absolute coolest class I have ever taken because it was given in Berlin while I was studying abroad and with the class I got to attend operas and concerts. My favorite performance we saw was Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz at the Staatsoper, one of the three opera houses in Berlin.
What is your advice for incoming freshman in your department?
Seize every opportunity! Whether it’s taking a class in our department or out, doing a summer program, studying abroad, auditioning for an ensemble, or joining a club: DO IT!
What is your favorite thing about being a music student at Naz?
The PEOPLE are my favorite thing about the Nazareth Music Program. All of our professors are talented, knowledgeable, and eager to help us and the student body is a close knit group of talented musicians and great people.
