Herb Alpert School of Music

Herb Alpert School of Music
Name	Herb Alpert School of Music
Established	2007
Type	Music school
Parent	University of California, Los Angeles
Dean	Sharon Johnston
City	Los Angeles
State	California
Country	United States
Campus	Westwood, Los Angeles

Herb Alpert School of Music is the music school of University of California, Los Angeles, located in the Westwood, Los Angeles campus of the University of California. Founded with support from musician Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, the school integrates classical music performance, jazz studies, ethnomusicology, and music technology within a public research university. It serves undergraduate and graduate students and collaborates with regional institutions including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

History

The school emerged from departments that trace back to early music instruction at University of California, Los Angeles and formalized as a named school through philanthropic support from Herb Alpert and The Herb Alpert Foundation. Its development involved faculty from departments such as the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Department of Musicology, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Department of Ethnomusicology, and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Department of Jazz Studies, aligning with institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Getty Center. Key milestones included curricular expansions influenced by figures associated with Leonard Bernstein, collaborations with ensembles like the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and programmatic initiatives inspired by global musicology research at centers such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of Ethnomusicology.

Academic Programs

Programs span undergraduate and graduate degrees with coursework and research tied to professional fields exemplified by alumni who have worked with organizations like the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. Degree offerings encompass performance concentrations in classical music and jazz pedagogy, composition degrees with links to composers associated with the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Pulitzer Prize for Music, ethnomusicology programs reflecting scholarship akin to that at the School of Oriental and African Studies and music technology curricula comparable to those at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Interdisciplinary options include collaborations with the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, the UCLA Herb Alpert Faculty of Musicology, and exchange projects with conservatories such as the Juilliard School and the Royal College of Music.

Faculty and Administration

The school's faculty roster has included scholars and practitioners connected to figures and institutions like Elliott Carter, John Adams (composer), Herbie Hancock, and ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the World Youth Choir. Administrative leadership interfaces with UCLA governance bodies including the UCLA Academic Senate and funders such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and private foundations tied to patrons like Phyllis Wattis and Doris Duke. Visiting artists and professors of practice have come from organizations including the Metropolitan Opera, the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and from composer collectives linked to the American Composers Forum.

Facilities and Performance Ensembles

Facilities feature recital halls, recording studios, and rehearsal spaces used for ensembles that perform in venues across Los Angeles such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Royce Hall. The school supports ensembles including chamber groups associated with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, jazz combos tied to the Blue Note Jazz Club tradition, early music consorts with connections to the Early Music America network, and ethnomusicology ensembles that collaborate with institutions like the Getty Research Institute. Recording and production labs integrate technologies developed in partnership with entities such as Dolby Laboratories and research initiatives referencing methods from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Acoustical Society of America.

Admissions and Student Life

Admission pathways mirror competitive conservatory processes seen at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory, with auditions, portfolio reviews, and interviews; applicants come from preparatory programs like the Colburn School, the Idyllwild Arts Academy, and specialized magnet schools such as Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Student life intersects with campus organizations like the UCLA Student Association, performance series modeled after the Lincoln Center calendar, and internship pipelines with employers such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and major studios including Warner Bros. and Universal Music Group.

Notable Alumni and Contributions

Alumni have pursued careers as performers, composers, scholars, and producers collaborating with entities like the Metropolitan Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Times-profiled performers, and award organizations including the Grammy Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Graduates have held positions at academic institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and University of California, Berkeley, and have contributed to film and media projects for studios like Disney and Netflix. The school's research and creative output has influenced cultural programs affiliated with the Getty Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and community arts initiatives across California.

Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Music schools in California