Australian Exchange Student Makes History in Longhorn Band

Editor's Note: This story is part of a series amplifying International Education Week (IEW), a nationwide initiative celebrating global education and exchange worldwide. Each year during IEW, Texas Global highlights internationally focused new stories and events held across campus throughout the week. 

When Charlotte Campbell first picked up a clarinet at eight years old, she never knew that one day she’d be marching in burnt orange fringe for 100,000 football fans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.  

What started as a seemingly normal semester abroad at The University of Texas at Austin soon became an unforgettable musical journey.  

Campbell, hailing from Sydney, Australia, is currently studying mechanical engineering at UT on exchange from the University of Technology Sydney. 

Alongside her passion for engineering, Campbell has performed as a clarinet and saxophone player her whole life, participating in her schools’ concert bands, ensembles and jazz groups.  

The U.S. College Experience 

Despite a deep love for her hometown, Campbell longed for “the American college experience” she had seen in movies and TV shows since she was young.  

“When I saw the pride that every UT student has for coming to this school, along with the community and the football,” Campbell said, “all of that was exactly what I was after.”   

UT’s classic American allure and stellar mechanical engineering program quickly won Campbell over, but the Longhorn Band sealed the deal with an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She had been heavily involved in her high school band but stopped playing once she got to university.  

“Once you finish high school, there isn't really an opportunity to keep playing,” Campbell said, “and they don't have marching bands [in Australia], so I’d never marched before coming here.”  

Falling Into Step  

After she was admitted to UT for the Fall 2024 semester, Campbell immediately set about preparing a preliminary audition tape to try out for the Longhorn Band. Having not played in three years and with no previous experience in marching, she knew that getting accepted would not be easy.  

Longhorn Band is already an extremely competitive organization, with only about 380 total spots available, and only 50 of those spots being for clarinets. Campbell's audition came just after UT joined the Southeastern Conference, ratcheting up the stakes even higher during the band’s 125th anniversary year.  

In addition, Campbell’s status as an exchange student added to the mounting difficulties. The band is known for its pristine marching sequences, creating complex formations depicting the iconic Texas Longhorn or the shape of the state itself, all while playing music in perfect synchrony. 

This style of marching is an American cultural staple that some kids learn at ages as young as middle school, whereas in Australia and most other countries this is uncommon or even unheard of.   

Nevertheless, Campbell persisted, re-teaching herself to play the clarinet in preparation for her audition. She prepared her audition clip and submitted it with fingers tightly crossed, trusting that she would learn to march if the opportunity became available.  

“I was politely warned that it was going to be difficult,” said Campbell, “but I told everyone at home, ‘I have to get in. I have to do it.’ ”  

And it worked! From the audition tape, she was invited to participate in “Band Week,” the weeklong audition process during which prospective members learn the music and marching sequences people see every Saturday at DKR.  

After learning the sequences, Campbell marched for the very first time — alongside other auditioners who had marched extensively in high school.  

“Marching and playing at the same time was a huge learning curve,” said Campbell, “but I cannot express my gratitude to the section leaders, teaching assistants and directors for their support in teaching me and wanting me to succeed.”  

A Family Across the World 

While getting to play in the Longhorn Band is a valuable experience in itself, what Campbell really values is the sense of community it has given her, the one that she had so admired about UT when deciding where to study in America.  

“I went from being timid and shy and not being able to relate to many [of the players] with musical experience, to them being my family,” she said. “I found a family on the other side of the world.”  

Campbell has found community not only in the Longhorn Band but also across the Forty Acres, feeling warmly embraced and welcomed by the University’s Texan culture.  

“I think the most surprising thing is how supportive and welcoming everyone's been,” she said. “My roommates, my professors, my teachers, my peers — everyone has been so supportive, to the point where I don't want to leave.”  

Although Campbell had initially intended to return to Australia after the fall semester, she now plans to extend her stay until May, so she can take advantage of an internship offer with Tesla, which is based in Austin.  

“I want to work within the engineering industry in project management,” Campbell said. “The benefits to me, in my coursework at UT and professionally in Austin, it's all just enormous.”  

Marching Toward Further Opportunities 

Playing in the Longhorn Band, Campbell has been able to experience band life in a way she never had before. She was recently invited to play in a smaller travel band that recently went to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a game against the University of Arkansas.  

She also recently traveled to Dallas for the renowned Red River Rivalry game between UT and The University of Oklahoma, where she saw another classic aspect of the U.S. university experience: rabid sports fandom.  

“It was really cool, seeing the rivalry in person and seeing the fans either with their horns up or down — it was awesome,” she said. She also marveled at the moment when U.S. Air Force fighter planes did a flyover during the national anthem, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers.  

Explaining Texas football and band culture to friends and family back home has proven difficult for Campbell, but they’re nonetheless fascinated by the theatrics.  

“I've called my family from the stands when they've got the drone show going on and fireworks,” she said. “It's the most insane thing!”  

Though Campbell’s story is unique, it echoes a common theme arising from nearly all study abroad experiences: Even after her time at UT comes to an end and she has to give back the fringe, all the benefits she derived will stay with her forever.  

“I took a chance auditioning; I took a chance applying for my internship; I took a chance moving to the other side of the world,” said Campbell. “It was nerve-wracking because you don't know if you're going to click with people. But it's built my confidence, and I've really been able to find myself in the best way.”