Hi, my name is Izzy Wright, and I am a third-year Music Education Choral/Vocal major at California State University, Long Beach.

From June 8th through June 26th 2026, I have the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Florence and Rome through the program Music and Visual Arts in Italy. During this course, we will study the artistic and musical treasures of two of Italy’s most celebrated cities while immersing ourselves in their dynamic cultural heritage.

As a choral/vocal music education major this experience means everything to me. Italy is one of the epicenters of Western classical music a place where composers, architects, sculptors, and painters shaped the artistic traditions that still influence the music I study and perform today. This course will explore the interrelationships between visual art and music in Western culture, comparing the artistic methodologies of master painters, sculptors, and architects with some of the most important composers in history.

I have spent years studying this music through textbooks, recordings, and sheet music. To experience it firsthand to stand in the spaces where it was created, performed, and preserved is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This trip would also be monumental for me because it would be my first time traveling outside of the United States. The opportunity to not only leave the country for the first time but to do so in pursuit of my education and passion, makes this both a personal and academic milestone. It represents growth, courage, and stepping into spaces I once only imagined from afar.

This journey is deeply personal to me. As a first-generation college student who grew up in foster care, opportunities like this were never imaginable. Travel, cultural immersion, and global education were things I experienced only through books and the internet.

As a student pursuing classical music (a field where representation still matters) being able to study in one of the birthplaces of this art form represents growth, access, and possibility. This opportunity means expanding beyond what was placed in front of me and proving that spaces that once felt out of reach can be entered, learned from, and contributed to.

Studying in Italy is not just about seeing beautiful places. It is about investing in my education and becoming the best music educator I can be. I plan to bring what I learn back into the classroom by sharing not only the music and history of Italy, but also the importance of cultural exploration, artistic connection, and global perspective with my future students.

To make this opportunity possible, I am raising funds to cover:

• Remaining Program Costs: $3,120

• Round-trip Airfare (as of 3/2/26): $1,200

• Food & Daily Expenses: $1,200

Total Goal: $5,520

Any contribution, no matter the amount, brings me closer to this transformative experience. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page would also mean so much to me.

Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting my journey. Your encouragement, prayers, shares, and contributions truly mean more than I can express.

If you would like updates during my study abroad experience, please feel free to reach out to me. I would love to share what I am learning and experiencing along the way.

Your support is not just funding a trip, it is investing in my education, my future students, and a dream that once felt far beyond my reach.

With gratitude,

Izzy Wright