Umbra Alumni Events and Reunions
Back to Perugia! Umbria Jazz Festival Reunions
Since 1973, Perugia has hosted the Umbria Jazz Festival every July and has been known to be one of the most renowned jazz festivals in the world. Each year, it attracts over 200,000 people and takes place throughout the streets of Perugia for a length of ten days straight. In the past, artists, including Miles Davis, James Brown, Tony Bennet, Prince, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, and many more have taken part in this popular festival.
Summer Reunion 2017
This summer, it was great to welcome some of our Umbra family members back from the United States. Past students from fall 2011, fall 2012, and summer 2012 came together to enjoy Umbra’s 3rd annual alumni reunion (July 7-12) at Punto di Vista, a venue that not only offers a delicious aperitivo, but also an incredible view of Assisi. Gazing out into the distance, the alumni acquainted themselves with one another and shared numerous entertaining stories about Umbra professors, staff, and friends. They also talked about some of their travels during their time studying abroad as well as shared plans for the rest of their time in Perugia during the Umbria Jazz Festival (July 7-16), including shows from Kraftwerk, Funk Off, Huntertones, and others.
A special highlight from our reunion event came from one of our alumni who proposed to his then-girlfriend, also an alumn, in the same apartment complex she lived in during her time at Umbra. Many best wishes to you both from all of us at Umbra!
Summer Reunion 2016
It was another successful Umbria Jazz Alumni Reunion (July 12-17), now in its 2nd year. After getting themselves situated and taking a day to revisit some of their old hangout spots, students from both the Spring 2013 and 2014 semester met at one of Perugia’s most frequented locals called Umbrò for an aperitivo organized by Umbra Staff.
They sat on the terrace underneath the sun enjoying the cool Perugian breeze. They shared a little bit about themselves and talked about their fondest memories of studying abroad in Perugia. They took the rest of the week to relax and enjoyed watching some of the free shows the festival had to offer. A few of them even took advantage of their time in Italy by visiting the local wineries, the beautiful Trasimeno Lake, and other parts of the Umbria region.
Summer Reunion 2015
During the summer 2015 reunion, alumni from all over the States were overjoyed to win the first-ever Umbria Jazz Reunion Contest. The winners happily packed their bags and headed back to Perugia to reunite with their fellow study abroad alumni and attend the 43rd Umbria Jazz Festival (July 14-19).
After settling into their apartments, the alumni came together to enjoy an aperitivo and sit at one of Perugia’s most frequented terraces. They toasted to their past and future days in Perugia while enjoying the beautiful view of the Umbrian hills. After, they moved on to that night’s events and continued to live the jazz of the festival, which highlighted the collaborations of a variety of artists, including Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Danilo Rea and Ramin Bahrami, and Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil just to name a few.
Connecting back home! Reunions in the States
After students return home, a strong and unique bond is formed in Perugia that only those who have studied here can appreciate. For that reason, Umbra staff members and/or Umbra Alumni started organizing reunions all across the States to reconnect.
Perugia Reunion 2016
In the spring of 2011, a group of girls from the East Coast and one from Italy met at the Umbra Institute and became the closest of friends. After their program ended, they made it a point to meet up at least once a year to catch up and reminisce about the good old days. Five years have passed, and they finally made their way back to Perugia. As they got off of the Pincetto Minimetrò stop, located in the city-center, and walked up to Corso Vannucci, they were welcomed by the sounds of one of Perugia’s well-known characters, whom the girls like to call “Piccolo Amore”. At that moment, they realized that Perugia felt as much as home to them now as it did to them during the spring of 2011. Their two-day visit consisted of reliving some of their old memories and making new ones. They met with faculty, staff, and old friends; enjoyed the many marvelous views in Perugia; and took advantage of the beautiful weather by soaking up as much of the sun as possible at some of Perugia’s most popular outdoor eateries.
Boston Reunion 2015
The Boston Reunion took place on a beautiful clear spring night in May. The alumni gathered together from various areas of Boston and there was even a special guest who traveled all the way from New York to meet with his fellow alumni. Several of the staff members, including Mauro, Zach, and a former colleague Lindsey were able to participate in this event. They ate cheesy nachos and paired with a delicious beverage all the meanwhile rehashing old memories and enjoying a few laughs together.
Denver Reunion 2015
Train Station?! Why not?! During the winter of 2015, alumni from 2003-2014 and two of Umbra staff members chose to hold this reunion at the newly renovated Denver Union Station, due to its eclectic array of the city’s top restaurants, bars, and shops. Alumni from the University of Denver, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and those from other universities who recently moved to Denver, joined together at Terminal Bar to network and make new friends.