Brendan McGovern, a double major in History and Music (Jazz Studies) has been awarded a 2017 Bonderman Travel Fellowship. Bonderman Fellowships offer a unique opportunity for University of Washington graduate, professional, and undergraduate students to engage in independent exploration and travel abroad. Created in 1995 through a gift from David Bonderman, who earned his undergraduate degree in Russian from the University of Washington in 1963, the program aims to introduce students to cultures, peoples, and areas of the world with which they are not familiar.
According to the Bonderman program website, "Music has always been an integral part of Brendan’s life. Whether playing saxophone, clarinet, or flute in solitary meditation, or actively interacting with different musical communities, Brendan will use music as a guide during his Bonderman Fellowship. He seeks to understand its role in different societies, and how this is reflected in the cultures, religions, politics, and laws of each place he visits. Ultimately, he hopes that his journey will show him how music can promote positive social change and inspire people. Brendan’s travels will take him to Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Argentina, Ghana, South Africa, and Indonesia."