Through music, Eva Louise Tatum ’27 simultaneously loses and finds herself in the moment.
“I've always had a passion for performing,” says Tatum, a prospective music and marketing major from Nashville, Tennessee. “When I picked up a French horn for the first time, I felt like the entire world was quiet for a second when I started playing. And I was like, this is the coolest feeling ever. I love this.”
And at Trinity, her music scholarship gives her the opportunity to pursue that passion for music, while also developing a set of skills that will help her flourish beyond the performance hall.
“I would not be here without my music scholarship—I would not have been able to afford it,” Tatum says. “Trinity has been wonderful in making sure that I am able to go to a school that I really love and have a well-rounded experience.”
Yes, part of that experience is music: Tatum is a talented vocalist and French horn player who is loving life in Trinity’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Singers choir. “Music gives me a way to express myself, but the joy I feel after a performance comes from the audience,” she says. “Hearing the way the music touched each person and their favorite parts of a show is what makes everything worth it for me.” So, she’s grateful she can continue her musical education at Trinity.
Eva Tatum '27, an accomplished performer, has starred in musical theatre productions such as Curtains.
Yet, another draw of her music scholarship is its flexibility. Tatum doesn’t have to be a music major to receive the award, which means she can explore other fields, too.
“I came [to Trinity] knowing that I wanted to be a business major, but didn't really know what realm that would sit in,” Tatum says. “Tentatively, my major is [going to be] marketing. I really enjoy it and the topics we're covering are interesting and engaging for me.”
And, to be honest, Tatum also says that not having to major in music takes some of the pressure off of her musical journey, too.
“I am grateful that I don't have to be a music major, because, currently, that is not where my passion lies for a future job,” Tatum says. “I'd love to do music, but it is important that I keep my drive to perform, and I am still figuring out if that will include a major.”
Applying for a music scholarship was so streamlined that Tatum actually says she was surprised to learn that she’d gotten an award.
“I am going to be honest, I didn't really even know I applied for it,” Tatum says. “There might have been an extra essay involved, but I know I just sent in my music and my vocal auditions, and I had gotten good responses from Trinity faculty, and then I found out that I was offered the scholarship.”
In short, if you’re talented and interested in Trinity University, opportunities like music scholarships will present themselves to you.
And while Tatum is just a first-year, she’s already seeing opportunities beyond the musical world present themselves, too.
She’s looking forward to joining Trinity’s unique Greek Life community, where there are no national fraternities or sororities (and Bid Day takes place in the spring, to give first-years the space to settle in during their opening semester).
“I found some sororities that I really, really enjoy being around,” Tatum says. “The girls are all so nice and loving, and they care about each other, which is great. And actually, a couple of them are in some other clubs that I'm doing, so I'm able to connect with them through that as well.”
Tatum also enjoyed wakeboarding with Trinity’s student-run Outdoor Recreation organization. “The next free weekend I have, I'm going to go again,” she says. “They do a lot of volunteer stuff, and I'm going to sign up so I can be more involved in the San Antonio community as well.”
As Tatum’s musical passions continue to develop, her social and support networks keep growing. She’s looking forward to finding summer internships and going on one of Trinity’s many study abroad opportunities.
“I was able to find a way to truly thrive here,” Tatum says. “This is just an incredible place.”
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