EC Wisconsin News

Misaki Miyagawa, a Lakeland University graduate and staff member at its Japan campus, recently fulfilled her long-held wish of joining an American university marching band. Miyagawa, who is from Yokohama, Japan, visited Lakeland’s Wisconsin campus with colleagues from the LUJ staff to experience what students encounter when transferring.

Miyagawa has a background in music dating back to her time at Kanto Gakuin Junior & Senior High School in Japan, where she focused on percussion and participated in the school’s renowned marching band. She competed five times in the Japanese National Competition as part of a band that has secured six national championships.

“My high school has the oldest marching band in Japan, so while I felt a responsibility to perform well, I never forgot to enjoy playing,” Miyagawa said. “Because through that performance, we could move the hearts of many people.”

After completing high school, Miyagawa enrolled in Lakeland’s English for Academic Purposes program at its Tokyo campus with plans to transfer to Wisconsin. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these plans by restricting travel between countries.

Last week, during her visit to Wisconsin, Miyagawa was surprised by Jonathan Feld, Lakeland’s Senior Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, and Evan Chancellor, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands. They presented her with a Lakeland marching band uniform and invited her onto Taylor Field to play snare drum.

She shared a video of the event with family members in Japan. Her mother and grandparents responded emotionally.

“It was a big surprise for me,” Miyagawa said. “Though I couldn't actually become a band member, standing on the field wearing the uniform was one of my dreams, and this opportunity made it come true. It felt just like I had become a band member. I can't thank those who helped with the big surprise enough.”