This term in Oxford has felt both surreal and grounding all at once. Between one-on-one history tutorials dissecting the history of Black music, as well as my music composition sessions refining my compositional techniques, I’ve been pushed academically in ways I’ll carry with me long after I leave. The tutorial system has sharpened my writing, challenged my assumptions, and deepened my understanding of how scholarship and creativity can coexist.
Outside the Bodleian’s shadow, I’ve traced other histories across the UK—standing beneath the Radcliffe Camera at golden hour, visiting Birmingham (including the legendary Black Sabbath Bridge), exploring Manchester’s music scene, and walking through Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare’s legacy still feels alive. From Westminster and Big Ben to quiet footbridges and cathedral stained glass, each city has added its own special place to this journey.
With my tutorials concluding in about a week, a new chapter begins: independent travel. I’m planning visits to Copenhagen, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and beyond—eager to keep learning not just from books and scores, but from streets, museums, people, conversations, and soundscapes across Europe.
I’m incredibly grateful to the Honors Program for making this experience possible. This opportunity has expanded my academic focus, deepened my artistic ambitions, and reminded me why I study history and music in the first place: to understand the world more fully—and to contribute something meaningful back to it.- Joshua Donophan
