(Press release)

WACO, Texas (July 17, 2009) – A recent Baylor University music graduate from Copperas Cove has become the university’s sixth recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 2009, bringing the total number of Baylor students who have received the honor to 20 since 2001.

Robert J. Moore, who earned his bachelor’s degree in music education/instrumental music from Baylor in May, was selected for a Fulbright to Nepal. He will begin his studies in the South Asian country in September.

The Fulbright is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, offering fellowships for graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year.

The program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program has provided thousands of students — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Under the tutelage of Dr. Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi, a performing sitarist and lecturer at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, Moore will analyze music education in Kathmandu and the surrounding hill areas within the context of Nepali national ideals that value development, inclusiveness and the promotion of a national identity

“I chose Nepal initially because I realized that the Central/South Asia region would probably be the hardest for me to get to on my own,” Moore said. “I sent out several emails to musicians and researchers in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and I got a great response from a researcher in Nepal who offered to help me through the whole application process. I subsequently found a project that would be great in relation to music and the specific political and cultural situation in Nepal.”

Moore said his goal is to provide Nepali music educators and administrators with a study that could help inform future educational efforts.

“Given the proven power of music to unite and mobilize communities all over the world, a successful system of music education can be a powerful tool for building national identity, promoting national unity and sustaining Nepal’s unique musical cultures,” Moore said.

As a high school student in Copperas Cove, Moore took clarinet lessons from noted Baylor music professor Richard Shanley and following graduation continued his studies with Shanley at Baylor. His freshman year, he learned about the Fulbright program when fellow Baylor music student Victor Chavez received a Fulbright to study in Paris under celebrated clarinetist Guy Deplus.

In addition to Shanley, Moore credits other faculty members for his educational success: Betsy Vardaman, associate dean for special academic projects in the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Will May, dean of the School of Music; Dr. Garrett Cook, professor of anthropology; Dr. Tom Offit, assistant professor of anthropology; and Dr. Alfredo Colman, assistant professor of academic studies, who specializes in ethnomusicology and music history.

“Every one of those teachers helped me individually, on their own time, outside of class, and I will keep in touch with them as friends for many years to come,” Moore said.