EDMOND — The University of Central Oklahoma Centre for Global Competency has a new strategy when it comes to strengthening partnerships with universities in other countries.
They draw in the crowds with a performance by Kyle Dillingham, a violinist and vocalist and one of Oklahoma’s musical ambassadors.
“I do music of all different styles of music and culture,” Dillingham said. “Music can open doors. It can bring people together closely and quickly. If you know their music, you’ve gone beyond the connection of knowing the language.”
Dillingham partners with UCO to represent the state and the university whenever he goes on tour overseas as a soloist or with his band, Horseshoe Road. He also performs at UCO whenever the school hosts delegates from different countries.
“When Kyle comes into a university, it makes people really excited,” said Dennis Dunham, UCO director of International Services. “We’re bringing Kyle in to really strengthen those relationships.”
In return, Dillingham said the partnership gives him the chance to expand his network for future international tours with his band. Dillingham and Brad Benge, guitarist, bass player and drummer and the other member of Horseshoe Road, recently returned from a Goodwill Tour in Thailand, which was sponsored by the U.S. embassy.
“For some of them, it was maybe the first time they experienced this type of music,” Dillingham said.
While there, he started relationships with people in five cities.
“He does more than play. He interacts,” Dunham said. “They (audience) begin to associate these good feelings with the university.”
In October, he will return to Thailand and North Korea with Dunham to seek new relationship opportunities. Dunham also will sign a memorandum with Thailand to discuss an exchange agreement.
Dunham said when he goes to universities in other countries to promote an exchange program with UCO, he might interact with a handful of people.
“When I go with Kyle, I get an audience,” he said.
The centre currently has exchange agreements with China, India and France and has signed memorandums with Malaysia, Italy, Spain and Korea to make plans to seriously discuss an exchange agreement.
UCO sent their first exchange students to a university in La Rochelle, France, this semester. Dunham said exchange students from the same university will attend UCO next semester. He said one benefit of the program, is that UCO students can attend school in another country but still pay UCO tuition.
Dillingham, who was vacationing in La Rochelle this summer, was able to perform an uplifting concert for the school as it signed an exchange agreement with UCO and celebrated its 75th anniversary. Dillingham said he was able to give an in person image of Oklahoma.
“I think it’s pretty rare where cooperations like this exist,” he said.
Dunham said UCO President W. Roger Webb will present Dillingham with an award of appreciation for his special contributions to UCO sometime in the future.
Horseshoe Road released a new album, “Reel to Reel,” June 3. The band will perform with the Edmond North High School orchestra Oct. 3.
Dillingham said they will play the world premiere of a brand new Romance for violin and orchestra by Edmond composer, Callen Clarke. The piece titled “Normandie,” was inspired by the launching of the Normandie from St. Nazaire, France, in 1932. At the time it was the largest and fastest ship ever built.
Dillingham said he will fly to France Sept. 22 to present the piece to the mayor of St. Nazaire.
FOR MORE information about Horseshoe Road, visit horseshoeroad.net.
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