By Robert Baker
Marching band is community. It is family. It is life.
Just ask Joel and Karen Fierberg.
Music alum Joel Fierberg marched at UCLA from 1978 to 1982. His younger brother Ira marched in the 1980s. And so did their father, Walter, who marched during UCLA Football’s 1954 national championship season. Ira and Walter marched in a couple Rose Bowl parades.
“We’re three generations of marching band alums,” said Joel. “Well, not three generations exactly. Three of us from two generations. Marching band was important to all of us.”
The Fierbergs want others to have that experience. And so, Joel and Karen made a gift to the Marching Band. Not just any gift—the largest single gift the band has ever received. Half a million.
Half a million means new uniforms. A new marching band practice tower. A new machine to accurately paint lines on the band’s game day practice field. It will also name the Band Room in Schoenberg Hall. But the gift is more than new stuff. It gives the band a foundation. It gives marching band director Justin McManus the resources to build the culture he envisions—and gives the Solid Gold Sound room to grow.
“The Solid Gold Sound is a special community where thousands of members have flourished, grown, and experienced UCLA in a way that’s hard to put into words,” said McManus, who is both director and assistant professor at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. “It is an honor to carry forward the legacy built by former students, faculty, and staff to the next generation of Bruins. Joel and Karen’s gift is more than a transformative financial investment in the program; it represents the love and passion they share for UCLA and improving students’ lives. We are eternally grateful for their trust and partnership.”
Joel knows something about that. He’s been a member of the UCLA Alumni Band for over forty years. For thirty he’s been their music director. He was an active student as well. Inspired by his Mira Costa band teacher, Fierberg studied music education at UCLA. Besides performing in the marching and varsity bands, he played in the symphonic band and in the pit orchestra for UCLA productions of The Wizard of Oz and Company. He was president of UCLA’s chapter of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Music and community were and are a big part of his life.
“A great university is built not just by what happens in its classrooms, but by the communities people carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Michael Beckerman, Dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. “Joel and Karen understand that. This gift is an investment in that community, and in the generations of students who will become part of it.”
The marching band first brought Karen and Joel Fierberg together.
Well, almost.
“We were both students at UCLA at the same time,” said Karen. “I was an anthropology major, and I had a lot of reading. Every Friday I would grab a sandwich from the student store and then head over to Powell Library where they had these little study carrels. And I would sit there and try to concentrate on my studies. And in my right ear, I would always hear this stupid marching band practicing.”
The marching band was down the hill at the stadium on Fridays, preparing for game day. Joel was marching with the tuba. And that was as close as they would come to meeting while they were students. Probably for the best, Karen said with a laugh. “I was way too cool back then.”
They met on a blind date a decade later and married shortly after. Karen, a musical person with a great ear (but not a musician herself), has enjoyed the excursions to musical theater and alumni band events.
The Fierbergs’ gift is recognized with a dedication of the band room in the Schoenberg Music Building, home of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. It is an appropriate spot: Joel played bassoon in the UCLA Symphonic Band. For four years he came to know the room intimately.
Deciding to give such a gift took time. Joel credits Justin McManus, hired in July 2025, for providing some inspiration.
“I wrote Justin right after he was hired,” said Joel. “I’m thinking: he’s got a new job, he has to prepare for football season, I figure I might hear from him next Spring. But he reached right out. He said ‘let’s get together.’ And so we did. And what was supposed to be a one-hour dinner turned into a three- or four-hour dinner. We were just so comfortable together. We had so much in common.”
Joel played clarinet, then bassoon and marched with the tuba. Justin played clarinet, then bassoon and marched with the tuba. Joel has had a leadership position with the UCLA Alumni Band. Justin values the marching band’s connection with the UCLA Alumni Band. Joel’s father’s name was Walter. Justin’s father’s name was Walter. Joel was adopted. Justin was adopted.
“It was like we were living parallel lives,” said Joel.
For Justin McManus, the feeling was mutual. “We share a passion for the Solid Gold Sound, both its rich history and its bright future. And we speak the same language about so many things.”
Karen met Justin too. They were both impressed. They loved Justin’s vision of building a vibrant culture for the marching band. They loved his enthusiasm and energy in realizing it. And they knew he needed financial help.
“We have to credit Amanda,” said Joel, speaking of Amanda Court, the School of Music’s executive director of development. “She listened to what was important to us and was always incredibly responsive. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to help us achieve our goals.”
For the Fierbergs, the gift is more than just naming a band room or buying new uniforms. It’s about legacy. It’s about making sure generations to come get a chance at a great experience.
Because marching band is community. Marching band is family. And marching band is life.