UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is a professional school within the University of California, Los Angeles dedicated to the study and performance of music, ethnomusicology, and musicology. Established as an independent school in 2007 and renamed in 2016 following a transformative gift from the Herb Alpert Foundation, it consolidates the university's distinguished music departments into a single, comprehensive institution. The school is renowned for its integration of performance, scholarship, and composition within a major research university, fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

History

The school's origins trace back to the founding of the UCLA Department of Music in 1947, which later expanded to include the pioneering UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology, established in 1960. For decades, these departments operated separately, building strong reputations in their respective fields under leaders like Mantle Hood, who founded the first American program in ethnomusicology. In 2007, under the leadership of then-UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale and Dean Timothy Rice, the departments were merged to form the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture's music unit. A landmark $30 million donation in 2016 from trumpeter and philanthropist Herb Alpert and the Herb Alpert Foundation led to its renaming as an independent school, significantly enhancing its endowment and programmatic scope.

Academics and programs

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum through its three academic departments: the UCLA Department of Music, the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology, and the UCLA Department of Musicology. Degree programs range from the Bachelor of Arts to the Doctor of Philosophy, with specialized offerings in performance, composition, global music studies, and music education. Unique interdisciplinary initiatives include the Music Industry minor and the Center for Musical Humanities. Performance ensembles are central to the curriculum, including the UCLA Philharmonia, the UCLA Jazz Ensemble, the UCLA Wind Ensemble, and renowned world music groups like the Javanese Gamelan and Mariachi de Uclatlán. The school also hosts the annual UCLA Spring Sing competition.

Faculty and notable alumni

The faculty comprises internationally recognized artists and scholars, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Roger Reynolds, Grammy Award-winning percussionist Michele Rosewoman, and ethnomusicologist Steven Loza. Past faculty have included luminaries such as composer John Williams and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Distinguished alumni span the music world, from classical artists like conductor Gustavo Dudamel of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and violinist Midori Goto to jazz greats like saxophonist Kenny Burrell and composer Gerald Wilson. Popular music figures include members of the band Linkin Park, singer-songwriter Randy Newman, and film composer James Newton Howard.

Facilities

The school is primarily housed in the Schoenberg Music Building, named for composer Arnold Schoenberg, which contains classrooms, practice rooms, and the Schoenberg Hall performance venue. Key performance spaces include the historic Royce Hall and the state-of-the-art Ostin Music Center, made possible by a gift from Michael G. Ostin and named for his father Mo Ostin of Warner Bros. Records. The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden provides an outdoor setting for some performances. The school also manages the Ethnomusicology Archive, one of the world's largest collections of field recordings and international music traditions.

Affiliations and partnerships

The school maintains a deep collaborative relationship with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its music director, alumnus Gustavo Dudamel, including the UCLA Philharmonia's residency at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It partners with major cultural institutions like the Getty Museum, the Hollywood Bowl, and the GRAMMY Museum. Global exchange programs are facilitated through the University of California Education Abroad Program and partnerships with conservatories worldwide. The school's research and public outreach are further supported by its affiliation with the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Music schools in California Category:Educational institutions established in 2007