UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

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WELCOME BACK TO THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC

WELCOME BACK TO THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The School of Music is excited to welcome new and returning students back to campus. This page includes COVID-19 policies specific to the School of Music, links to campus resources for learning, teaching and safeguarding our musical community this fall.

Please check back here regularly. We will update this page as new information becomes available.

Welcome Back to the School of Music

Trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard discusses...

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Trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard discusses his latest album and the upcoming opera "Fire Shut Up In My Bones" at The Metropolitan Opera. Link in Bio ⬆️ On Monday, 9/27 when the curtains rise, the professor of Global Jazz Studies at the School of Music will make history as the first Black director to create a mainstage Met production, performed at the prestigious and historic institution. Blanchard is also featured on the cover of BOTH the September issue of Opera News... ...AND the October issue of Jazz Times! Join us in congratulating Blanchard on this incredible achievement and celebrating this profound moment in history. @terence_blanchard @ucla @metopera @opera.news @jazztimesmag #ThisIsUCLAMusic

@ucla 📣 Let’s hear it for the #1 public ...

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@ucla 📣 Let’s hear it for the #1 public university, 5 years in a row! 💙 🐻 💛 Visit the link in bio for full announcement + details. #1UCLA

Southeast Asian music ensembles have been ...

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Southeast Asian music ensembles have been prominent in UCLA’s Ethnomusicology program since its beginnings in the 1950s. Central to the program was the novel idea of bi-musicality: that researchers of foreign music ought to learn to perform in the traditions they study. Join the Fowler Museum at UCLA on September 13 at Noon (PT) for a presentation by Supeena Insee Adler, curator of UCLA's World Music Instrument Collection, and Ph.D. Candidate in Ethnomusicology, Otto Stuparitz on ensembles from Bali, Java, Philippines, and Thailand—among the first Asian ensembles established at UCLA. Learn about the history of these instruments, including the spectacular, ornately decorated Mon gong circle exhibited at the Fowler now; and discover how they continue to enrich the lives of students, faculty, and community members.

Make sure you register to vote by Aug. 30th to ...

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Make sure you register to vote by Aug. 30th to vote in California's upcoming Recall Election and make your voice heard. As an added bonus, getting registered to vote in California NOW will also help towards completing the residency process. Learn how to vote, what will be on your ballot, and other important resources: Link in Bio ⬆️

⭐️ Alumni Spotlight ⭐️
Congratulations...

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⭐️ Alumni Spotlight ⭐️
Congratulations to @UCLAAlpert alumnus and Alumni Board Chair Ryan Svendsen '10 who worked as the music supervisor for the recently released feature film The Protégé, starring Michael Keaton, Maggie Q and Samuel L. Jackson. Check out Ryan's work and watch this action-packed film, in theaters now!

“We needed music...more than ever before,” ...

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“We needed music...more than ever before,” said Natasha Pasternak (@natashapasternak), songwriting lecturer in the music industry program at @UCLAAlpert, while reflecting on songs that spoke to the upheaval of 2020 and the rising hope of 2021 in the curated playlists created by her and Professor of Global Jazz Studies Arturo O’Farrill (@pianitis), Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music and the Wind Ensemble Conductor Travis J. Cross (@travisjcross), and the SOM’s Inaugural Dean Eileen L. Strempel (@uclamusicdean). The 2020 playlist consists of songs that range from Céline Dion’s “All By Myself” and “This is America” by Childish Gambino, to Thom Yorke’s “Suspirium” and “Four Questions” by O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Cornel West, which Strempel found deep inspiration in from her beloved colleague. The 2021 playlist looks at the year of reemergence from BTS’s “Dynamite” to Alain Pérez’s “Shorcito” that will make you want to dance whether standing or sitting, and “Hunting Season” by Hands & Teeth, giving you all the feels of looking forward to meeting people and partying. To hear the full 2020 and 2021 playlists, click the links in our bio ⬆️.

Huge congratulations to Music alumnus Ryan ...

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Global Jazz Studies major Sophia James’s ...

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Global Jazz Studies major Sophia James’s (@Sophiajamesmusic) first ever EP “Stand Beneath the Sky” is out now on Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes. ⠀
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The EP is a direct reflection and translation of how James has experienced feelings of love, loss, pain and hope from the past couple of years. ⠀
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“I’m particularly proud of this EP because it is the most deeply honest, authentic work I’ve ever let myself share with the world; with you,” said James. “I hope it brings you peace, hope, or healing of any kind.”⠀
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James is also going to perform a live virtual acoustic interactive concert on Saturday, July, 31 at 5 p.m. PT. ⠀
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To learn more, click the link in our bio.

⭐️ Alumni Spotlight ⭐️⠀
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⭐️ Alumni Spotlight ⭐️⠀
Congratulations to @UCLAAlpert alumnus Philip Graulty M.M. ’05 on the release of his debut solo EP, “Won’t You Help To Sing?”⠀
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Graulty’s work was created in response to the murder of George Floyd and is a collection of hymns and protest songs serving as a call to action against racial injustice. The second piece titled “Breathe” is an original composition dedicated to the memory of George Floyd.⠀
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“The suite’s title is borrowed from the chorus to Marley’s anthem,” said Graulty. “The question it poses is an invitation for us to not only sing these songs of freedom, but to embody their messages through our actions. Won’t you help to sing?”⠀
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To listen to this moving new album, click the link in our bio ⬆️.⠀
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#ThisisUCLAMusic

Have a safe and restful Fourth of July. ⠀
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Have a safe and restful Fourth of July. ⠀
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May we continue to be independent free thinkers, respectful of one another and be the change we want to see. 🇺🇸

Join us as we honor Distinguished Professor of ...

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Join us as we honor Distinguished Professor of Ethnomusicology A.J. Racy as he retires from @UCLAAlpert following a 40+ year career of teaching, performance and research in a special virtual reception celebrating his many accomplishments on Wednesday, June 30 at 5 p.m. PT. ⠀
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“The things I will miss most after retirement include the peaceful ambiance of the UCLA campus, the guest lectures on various related topics and world music performances at university venues,” said Professor Racy. “I will also miss many colleagues and staff, as well as the undergraduate and graduate students with whom I have worked.⠀
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We will miss Professor Racy and thank him for being an integral part of our UCLA community! 💛 💙 ⠀
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In honor of his expansive career and dedication to student success, the School of Music has established the A.J. Racy Scholarship in Ethnomusicology to support graduate and undergraduate scholars in their studies. ⠀
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To learn more and to attend his upcoming reception, click the link in our bio ⬆️.⠀
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#ThisisUCLAMusic #Ethnomusicology

2021 Virtual Commencement All-School Ensemble ...

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2021 Virtual Commencement All-School Ensemble Performance 🎓. At @UCLAalpert’s 2021 virtual commencement celebration 🎉 students from the departments of music, ethnomusicology and global jazz studies joined forces for a breathtaking performance of “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free” by Nina Simone and “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” by Stevie Wonder. We hope you enjoy this inspiring rendition of both tracks by our School of Music students. #ThisisUCLAMusic #Ethnomusicology #GlobalJazz #Music #MusicIndustry #Musicology #Graduation2021

Join us for the “End of Quarter Showcase” for ...

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Join us for the “End of Quarter Showcase” for the spring quarter of 2021 Saturday, June 12 at 7 p.m. PT. Organized by the Undergraduate Student Advisory Board, the concert brings together student performances and collaborations from across departments and ensembles at @UCLAAlpert. The event will feature projects that students have worked on this quarter and throughout the year.⠀
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Tune in to hear from performers across the School of Music, and come celebrate the end of the quarter and school year! 🙌⠀
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To view the program and to watch the concert, click the link in our bio ⬆️. #ThisisUCLAMusic #UCLA #Music

Join us as we celebrate the class of 2021 🎓 in ...

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Join us as we celebrate the class of 2021 🎓 in our virtual commencement celebration today, Friday, June 11 at 4 p.m. PT. The event will feature student speakers and performers, as well as keynote remarks by GRAMMY nominated violinist and recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award Regina Carter (@regina_carter_violin). 🎉💙⠀
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Watch the event on our commencement webpage at the link in our bio ⬆️. #ThisisUCLAMusic #Graduation2021 #UCLAGrad #Graduation

Meet Sarah Yocute who will graduate 🎓from ...

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Meet Sarah Yocute who will graduate 🎓from @uclaalpert with a B.A. in Global Jazz Studies. Yocute has enjoyed her experience studying under expert faculty and among her talented peers. Following graduation, Sarah hopes to continue exploring her passion through her own compositions and among the growing community of artists in which she now finds herself. “I love how open and broad this program and area of study is,” said Yocute. “It has given me the space to explore the sounds and musical environments that my heart gravitates towards.” Sarah will perform a unique rendition of the UCLA alma mater as part of our 2021 virtual commencement celebration on Friday, June 11 at 4 p.m. PT. To stream the event, click the link in our bio ⬆️. #UCLA2021 #Commencement #ThisisUCLA #Music

We are proud to highlight the release of ...

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We are proud to highlight the release of “Reimagine: Beethoven and Ravel” by @UCLAalpert Head of Piano, Inna Faliks (@innafalikspiano) and Navona Records (@parmarecordings). The project features six of our amazing UCLA faculty composers including Peter Golub, Mark Carlson, David Lefkowitz, Tamir Hendelman (@tamirhendelman), Ian Krouse (@ian_krouse) and Richard Danielpour, as well as composers Paola Prestini (@paolaprestini), Timo Andres (@timoandres) and Billy Childs. ⠀
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“This project, which responds to Beethoven's Bagatelles op. 126 and Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, has been four years in the making, originally meant to mark Beethoven's 250th but now out as a pandemic project, recorded long distance, between UCLA and NYC, using both midi and audio,” explained Faliks.⠀
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The single, Billy Childs’ “Pursuit” reimagine’s Ravel's “Scarbo” and is inspired by current events, which is out now on all platforms in anticipation of the album’s full release on June 11.⠀
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We are excited to Reimagine Beethoven and Ravel as we listen to Falik’s brilliant new work 💙. ⠀
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Learn more and listen at the link in our bio ⬆️. ⠀
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#ThisisUCLAMusic #Music #Piano

Meet esteemed School of Music 2021 commencement ...

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Meet esteemed School of Music 2021 commencement speaker, Regina Carter (@regina_carter_violin). Carter is a GRAMMY nominated violinist and is a recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award. A prolific musician, she has been widely recognized for her musical style, spanning multiple genres including jazz, R&B, Latin, classical, blues and others. Carter has expanded artistic possibilities through her work while opening doors for female jazz musicians as artistic director of the New Jersey Performing Arts All-Female Jazz Residency, a unique summer immersion program designed for aspiring female jazz professionals. “Our talented young musicians and scholars are more important than ever as we navigate this unique time in our history. Their creativity and resilience have the power to unify us and facilitate much needed healing,” Carter said. Experience Regina Carter’s keynote address and join us as we celebrate our @uclaalpert graduates at our upcoming virtual commencement on Friday, June 11 at 4 p.m. PT. Stream the event live via the link in our bio ⬆️. #UCLA2021 #ThisUCLAMusic

Meet undergraduate student commencement speaker ...

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Meet undergraduate student commencement speaker Liv Slaby 🎓. ⠀
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Liv will be receiving her B.A. in Musicology with a minor in Theater. While at UCLA, she wrote and directed with HOOLIGAN Theatre Company, competed with Club Gymnastics, and held leadership positions in Active Listening Club, MUSE undergraduate journal for music studies, Veg Bruins, and the UC Animal Studies Initiative. This year, she served as a member of the School of Music’s inaugural Undergraduate Student Advisory Board. Following graduation, Liv hopes to pursue an MFA in theater directing, allowing them to create work at the intersection of art, scholarship and activism. She also hopes to develop a vegan home baking business.⠀
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Join us as we celebrate Liv and all @UCLAalpert 2021 graduates at our upcoming virtual commencement celebration. Stream the event live on Friday, June 11 at 4 p.m. PT. Link in our bio ⬆️. ⠀
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#UCLA2021 #ThisisUCLAMusic

Join us Wednesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. PT as we ...

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Join us Wednesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. PT as we welcome renowned dancer 💃, choreographer, and actress Ayodele Casel (@ayolives) for an engaging conversation with Department of Global Jazz Studies Chair, Steven Loza moderated by professor Hitomi Oba (@hitomimusic) as part of the final event of this year’s “Still Waiting” speaker series. ⠀
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Casel will discuss her origins in theater, love for storytelling, and will explore how both have shaped the narrative nature of her work and its roots in the expression of identity, culture, language and communication.⠀
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To learn more and to register for the event, click the link in our bio ⬆️.⠀
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#ThisisUCLAMusic #Dance #Choreography #AntiRacism

Meet graduate student commencement speaker Breena ...

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Meet graduate student commencement speaker Breena Loraine 🎓. A vocalist, songwriter and musicologist specializing in film and television music, Breena has secondary research interests in opera and early music. Breena will earn her Ph.D. from UCLA’s Department of Musicology, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Early Modern Studies from UCLA’s Center for 17th- and 18th-Century Studies. Her dissertation, “‘Hollywood’s New Power Players’: Music Supervisors and the Post-2010 Culture of Music Supervision and Sync,” draws on methodologies from musicology, ethnomusicology, media studies and business theory. She blends scholarship with practical experience in the industry by incorporating analysis of industry trends with reflections from her fieldwork and interviews. Join us as we celebrate Breena and all @uclaalpert 2021 graduates at our upcoming virtual commencement celebration. Stream the event live on Friday, June 11 at 4 p.m. Link in our bio ⬆. #UCLA2021 #ThisisUCLAMusic #Musicology

@UCLAalpert on Instagram

‘Zoom for the piano’ helps professor record new CD during pandemic

It took many hours online to bring Inna Faliks’ ‘Reimagine: Beethoven & Ravel’ to life

Arturo O’Farrill Joins Universal Music Group’s Blue Note Family, Releases Upcoming Musical Work and Discusses Future Plans

Arturo O’Farrill is a five-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist, global jazz studies professor at UCLA and the associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

School of Music Faculty Named Distinguished Professors

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is proud to announce the promotion of two of our faculty members to the rank of Distinguished Professor: Peter Kazaras and Ian Krouse.

Redefining the Music Industry with Internship Opportunities

Madison Dorsett, music performance major with a music industry minor at the School of Music, aims to redefine the music industry through her internships and the non-profit she helped create called Chromatic Brass Collective.

Anti-Racism Action Committee Guides Change Through Speaker Series

In January 2021, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music launched the Still Waiting speaker series, with the goal of facilitating much needed dialogue about the racial reckoning that has occurred across the nation.

School of Music Celebrates Distinguished Ethnomusicology Professor A.J. Racy

This spring, distinguished professor of ethnomusicology A.J. Racy will retire from the School of Music following a 40+ year career of teaching, performance and research with the nation’s premier and only freestanding Department of Ethnomusicology.

Ethnomusicology

Ethnomusicology
The study of musical traditions from around the world through hands-on performance training and academic study.
Music

Music
The study of Western classical music with specializations in performance, composition, conducting, and music education.
Musicology

Musicology
The scholarly study of the histories, cultures, and critical interpretations of music and music-making.

Global Jazz Studies

Global Jazz Studies
A cross-disciplinary curriculum pairing music performance, studio instruction and musicianship courses with African American Studies.
Music Industry

Music Industry
A practical program helping students discover and prepare for music-related careers though coursework, events, and internship opportunities.

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