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Michael Uy
“Few musicologists have looked into the economic or political conditions in which music is composed. I see my study of music and political economy as my unique contribution to the world.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA
- Four-year College or University: University of California, Berkeley
- Graduate School: University of Oxford
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Arts / Music / Performance, Finance / Economy, Government, International Economic Development, International NGO/Relations, Nonprofits, Public Policy, Public Services
- Other Interests: Church / Religious Organization, Environmental Science, Foreign Languages / International Study, Languages, Religion, Tutoring / Mentoring, Volunteer Work
Biography
PROFILE: Michael Uy was passionate about music from a very young age. Born into a family of singers and painters, he started piano and voice lessons when he was five, and viola lessons when he was nine. In his senior year of high school he became highly interested in politics; once in college, he decided to combine music and politics in a unique academic pursuit.
While studying at University of California, Berkeley, Michael became fascinated with the music of British composer Benjamin Britten. “What I found most interesting about Britten is how he was able to use opera as a form of social commentary.” Britten’s music has been especially important to Michael as he continues to lead “a personal fight for LGBT rights despite societal and religious pressures against it. Volunteering and supporting LGBT rights in my community and in my church allows me to synthesize social interpretations of Britten’s music with personal experiences of dealing with issues of discrimination.” Michael’s goal is to continue the study of Britten’s music at University of Oxford.
INSPIRATION: Michael’s grandfather has had a big impact on his life, teaching him “the values of discipline, hard work and charity.”
ASPIRATION: Michael plans to focus on the sociology of music – the interaction between music, politics, economics, and society. After obtaining a Ph.D. in the field, he plans to teach musicology, write, and perform.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Michael is a long-time volunteer with the Pacific Center for Human Growth, where he has supported LGBT rights and promoted AIDS awareness. He has also volunteered with The Harmony Project, a nonprofit in Los Angeles dedicated to providing free music education to children from low-income backgrounds.
ACCOLADES: Michael is a Regents and Chancellor Scholar at Berkeley. He undertook his senior thesis as a Haas Scholar on the Baroque violin and improvisational performance practice. He received a Stronach scholarship to undertake a year-long project in Venezuela analyzing their music education program, “El Sistema.”
INTERESTING FACT: Michael speaks Fukien (a Chinese dailect similar to Taiwanese), Tagalog, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.
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