{"id":8503,"date":"2022-10-14T09:35:15","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T14:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=8503"},"modified":"2022-10-14T09:35:15","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T14:35:15","slug":"relationships-built-at-uw-stevens-point-send-alumnus-on-a-musical-world-tour","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/relationships-built-at-uw-stevens-point-send-alumnus-on-a-musical-world-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Relationships built at UW-Stevens Point send alumnus on a musical world tour"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Zachary Finnegan, 2018 UWSP alumnus, performed on trumpet at Madison Square Garden recently as a member of singer Michael Bubl\u00e9\u2019’s band.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On July 2 of this year, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 2018 alumnus Zachary Finnegan found himself on the grounds of Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, England, playing trumpet for a crowd of 11,000. It was raining, but as the first song began, the clouds parted and a full a rainbow appeared above the crowd.<\/p>\n

It was his first show as a band member for the first leg of singer\u00a0Michael Bubl\u00e9\u2019s \u201cHigher\u201d tour,<\/a>\u00a0with 17 shows in 30 days, all held at castles, manors, stately homes and cricket grounds in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Rainbow
Finnegan\u2019s view as he plays to a crowd and a rainbow at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, England.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat it was overwhelming is an understatement,\u201d Finnegan, a Weston native, said of the experience. \u201cI lead the band out on stage and I walk out to 11,000 fans screaming. It was so emotional; I couldn\u2019t believe it. It was a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the horn section of Bubl\u00e9\u2019s 37-member band, Finnegan went on to perform for crowds from 9,000 to 26,000 during the U.K. tour and at a number of U.S. venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York City.<\/p>\n

How he got the gig takes him back to his days at UW-Stevens Point, and the advice of his mentors, music faculty members Mathew Buchman and Brent Turney.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about the relationships you build,\u201d Finnegan said. After his junior year, the jazz studies and music education major was encouraged by Buchman and Turney to apply for the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute. At the time, he couldn\u2019t afford the prestigious opportunity for musicians held annually in Brevard, North Carolina, so Buchman helped him secure funding through an OSCAR Travel Grant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent two weeks playing music in the woods in North Carolina, and met lots of people there. Many of these folks are some of my closest friends today. We have stayed in touch over the years,\u201d said Finnegan. \u201cMusic has a way of continuously bringing people back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

From his connections made many years ago at the Brevard Jazz Institute, one of Finnegan\u2019s colleagues is now in the Bubl\u00e9 band. When the band was in need of a trumpet player, he recommended his friend and within a week, Finnegan got a call, sent in an audition and was hired to join Bubl\u00e9 and his band for his upcoming world tour.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Zach
While not performing, members of the band had time to see historic sites such as Stonehenge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI really owe my friend a lot,\u201d said Finnegan, \u201cas well as those who pushed me in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZach was the president of the Jazz Society for two years and he always took direction and suggestions to heart,\u201d said Buchman. \u201cWhen I introduced him to the OSCAR grant program and explained how the funding could be used, he did the rest.\u00a0In addition to that, he cultivated the relationships he formed through that experience, and that\u2019s what made the difference. It\u2019s not what you know, but who you know, as the saying goes. We are so incredibly proud of Zach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZach was an amazing student and incredibly hungry to learn,\u201d said Turney, who recruited Finnegan at a high school jazz ensemble event in Madison. \u201cHe has so many soft skills in addition to his musicianship and artistry as a trumpet player.\u00a0He is driven, humble, builds everyone around him up and is a joy to be around.\u00a0We are so proud of Zach and will continue to champion his accomplishments in the Department of Music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finnegan will perform with Bubl\u00e9 and the band as the tour continues through the United States. Canada, South America and Australia through the end of the year, and then back to Europe in 2023.<\/p>\n

While performing regularly with a wind instrument can be physically demanding, Finnegan is enjoying the welcoming atmosphere of his fellow band members who know how grueling tours can be. He says that Bubl\u00e9 is down to earth, gets to know each member of his band and is immersed in what goes into each show.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is good at what he does and knows what works,\u201d Finnegan said. \u201cHe really cares about everyone\u2019s experience and brings out his best each night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Zach
Zach Finnegan teaches brass instruments to students at PCCC Arts in Chicago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When he\u2019s not on tour, Finnegan is based in Chicago, performing across the city as well as serving as a brass teacher for PCCC Arts, a non-profit that serves students in underserved communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really happy to be able to pass on knowledge that way,\u201d he said. \u201cAs someone who has been privileged to be in school for so long and learn from so many esteemed educators \u2013 it feels wonderful to be able to give back to the community where I live,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Since his graduation from UW-Stevens Point, Finnegan earned a master\u2019s degree in jazz studies at Indiana University, performed as a member of the hip\/hop\/jazz crossover group, \u201cClint Breeze and The Groove,\u201d and taught both privately and at high schools in the Chicago area. His future plans, outside of touring, include booking his own shows and tours, writing and recording music. Learn more at\u00a0www.zacharyfinnegan.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cUW-Stevens Point gave me so many skills through the jazz and music education programs,\u201d Finnegan said. \u201cBrent is one of the greatest trumpet players in the world \u2013 his name gets recognized everywhere I go. He taught me the fundamentals as well as different styles. Matt got me hooked on music and the music business. He taught me how to be a true professional. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with each of them. I wouldn\u2019t be where I am without their guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

UW-Stevens Point also gave him many opportunities to perform, start his own groups, put himself out there professionally and try new things. \u201cIt focused my development and made me into a band leader. I realized if I wanted to play, I had to make it happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t realize when you are 19 that the people you meet may help you pay your rent years down the road, and give you opportunities you many have never imagined for yourself,\u201d Finnegan said. \u201cI had the support of the entire jazz faculty, and have such fond memories of the connections, relationships and friendships I made while at UWSP.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Written by UW-Stevens Point<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/news\/relationships-built-at-uw-stevens-point-send-alumnus-on-a-musical-world-tour\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On July 2 of this year, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 2018 alumnus Zachary Finnegan found himself on the grounds of Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, England, playing trumpet for a crowd of 11,000. It was raining, but as the first song began, the clouds parted and a full a rainbow appeared above the crowd. It was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":8505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[95],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-8503","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-stevens-point"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/8503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=8503"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=8503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}