The AZORES Blog
The Way Back Home & The Paper Edit
The Azores crew woke up early on March 22nd to a bright, sunny day! We packed our last pieces, checked our equipment, and headed to Lajes Airport, about 20 minutes from our hotel in Angra do Heroísmo. On the way, we took in our final views of the green grass, farms,...
Our Final Day Of Adventure In The Azores: Day 6
Our time in the Azores has been filled with incredible experiences, and our final full day was no exception. Some of our team set out on an early morning adventure, heading up Monte Brasil for a scenic hike. Getting to the trailhead was an adventure in itself as we...
And That’s A Wrap: Day 5
Day five marked our final day of production. We started the day at breakfast at our hotel, and discussed the feature of our team in the newspaper of a local Azorean publication, Jornal Açoriano Oriental. Before heading out for the day, we delegated segments of our...
Discovering Terceira and a Chat with the Mayor: Day 4
Our last day in Ponta Delgada began bright and early. We gathered in the lobby, ensuring everyone had the right gear. Once all the breakfast boxes were handed out, we boarded the bus and set off for our journey to Terceira, our second and final island. We arrived...
Lakes, Gardens, and Violas: Day 3
Bright and early, a small crew headed out to interview Hugo Raposo, a viola and guitar maker. At his workshop in Ponta Delgada, he showed everyone his unfinished works, so they got to see the inside look—literally. He spoke about his inspiration to build violas and...
Interview with Rafael Carvalho and Afternoon Adventures: Day 2
We began day two with a very important interview with one of our story subjects, Rafael Carvalho, the master of the Viola da Terra. Starting the day off strong with a great breakfast, of course, at our hotel here in Ponta Delgada with gorgeous, sunny weather. We then...
Our Journey to the Azores, São Miguel Beaches and Museum: Day 1
On Saturday, we began our journey to The Azores at Newark Airport. The crew met at our terminal to check in together before our overnight flight, where we encountered our first hurdles. Upon checking in with our airline, half of the class was informed our carry-on...
Understanding Music’s Role in Cultural Sustainability at The MET
On Wednesday, March 6th, a small crew of our students, accompanied by producers and directors Dr. Maria Luskay and Professor Lou Guarneri, visited the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art (or the MET) to gather important details on music’s relationship to cultural...
Cultural Sustainability: Keeping Traditions Alive in a Changing World
Cultural sustainability is about preserving and passing down traditions, customs, and cultural identity to future generations. From indigenous practices to historic architecture, every piece of cultural heritage matters in shaping the world around us.
Exploring the Heritage of the Viola da Terra
Our 2025 documentary will take us to the Azores Islands, an archipelago 1,600 kilometers off the coast of mainland Portugal. The traditional music native to the Azores is directly linked to its cultural heritage; thanks to the uniqueness of the region's primary...