Abigail Washburn Comes to Colorado College by Qiu Chang Wu

The Asian Studies Department had the pleasure of hosting a Q&A with the lovely Abigail Washburn ‘99, one of the earliest Asian Studies major graduates and an award winning banjo player and singer.  A group of over 30 Asian Studies students all packed into the living room of the Asian House, sharing conversation over an authentic Chinese dinner.

Abigail shared her experiences in college and the serendipitous adventure subsequently afterwards. In her college years, she had gone on the first semester abroad program to China that Colorado College offered. She talked about taking classes in China and looking at all the amazing architecture from the preservation of ancient structures to building of modern ones. Despite these sights, she said that she was unable to make firm connections in the country due to the language barrier. This catalyzed her return to China the following year, as she put it a “mission to go back and make connections I couldn’t make.”

On this subsequent trip, she spoke fondly of the moment she had met an old woman named Lao Huang. Lao Huang had dropped her handkerchief as she passed by and Abigail having seen the incident, picked up the handkerchief and chased after her to return it. Lao Huang, in gratitude invited her house for tea. Abigail says Lao Huang was the first person who she made a connection with in China and the “first person that made me feel like I was allowed in China.”

This trip made a lasting impact on her view of China and shaped her career goals. After she graduated from Colorado College in 1999 with an East Asian Studies major, she had taken time off traveling around the country with a bluegrass band. During that period, she had worked at a local city hall and realized that she wanted to go into law. She decided to apply for graduate schools in China to become a lawyer and work on international law. However, weeks before she was to leave for China to pursue graduate school, she performed at a music venue in Nashville, Tennessee and was offered a record deal.

Even as a musician, she continues to incorporate her love for China in her work. She has written many songs in Chinese and have done tours around the country of China. When asked how she is approached as an American musician in China, she said that “Music breaks down borders.” She described specifically one tour she had done with an old Chinese Erhu musician. This man had always had a scowl on his face as he did not acknowledge the legitimacy of these visiting Americans. After she followed and accompanied his tune, eventually weaving traditional Appalachia motifs into the pieces, the man finally smiled at her and acknowledged her presence and her work.

A student brought up the political conflicts between China and America and asked her how she reconciles the interesting relationship between the two countries. In response, she said “music and culture is louder than politics and economics” and that although one may not make a lasting change in China, “making cultural exchanges could have an impact on China.”