Student Spotlight: Em Buyea

How did you decide to come to Tufts and study music at Tufts? 
I started playing saxophone in 4th grade and have wanted it to be a part of my life ever since. When I first came to Tufts, I joined the Pep Band and thought that would be the extend of my college musical career. But the group was so much fun that I started joining more ensembles and taking classes, leading me to eventually declare a music, sound, and culture major.

Tell us about your favorite music course so far. 
My favorite music course at tufts was Contemporary Composition with John McDonald. I took the course as a Junior who had never explored composition before, and with John’s guidance, I was able to explore this new area of music. In my first semester I was able to write and play in a saxophone quartet.

What are you involved in at the music department? 
I am an alto and soprano saxophone player in the Tufts Jazz Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Pep Band. I am president of the Wind Ensemble and a Vice President of the Pep Band. I’ve played in senior recitals and worked for a year and a summer at the Music Department Main Office with Abe.

What are you involved in outside of the music department? 
Outside of music I am also a community health major, where I got the chance to intern with Cambridge Health Alliance. I am also a founding member of and director of communications and social media for the Tufts Diabetes Link Chapter. You can also catch me dancing in Tufts Burlesque!

What are you listening to at the moment? 
I've been listening to a lot of The Chicks. Growing up my dad would play a lot of their music and talk about how great it was. I've recently started revisiting their music as an adult, and their three-album run from 1998-2002 ("Wide Open Spaces", "Fly", and "Home") is fantastic. Their song "A Home" is a personal favorite of mine, and I've always preferred their cover of "Landslide" to the original.