The M. Paula Survilla Collection of World Instruments

Explore the world of music right here on campus!

Authenticity:

The instruments are meant to be representatives of their types; it was not possible to obtain all authentic examples. So, for example, the didgeridoo is made of synthetic material, not wood--but a wood didgeridoo is cost-prohibitive for our budget, and would also require more care (and incur more fines if damage occurred). The highest quality as appropriate to a lending item was chosen in each case; the collection is meant to inspire interest and we hope it will do just that.

Curriculum support:

The primary courses this collection supports are IS201 World Music, MU 252, and Music Therapy fieldwork.

About the collection's namesake:

Photo courtesy Eric Wachmann

Dr. Maria Paula Survilla was many things: a Wartburg music professor for 24 years, a respected ethnomusicologist, the executive director of the Center for Belarusian Studies, a creator and purveyor of whimsy with her knitbaahpurl company, a dancer, a true colleague, and a friend. She was taken from us too soon in April of 2020 due to the development of a sudden, rare condition, but her spirit lives on in all she inspired to love music and the world more mindfully.