By Deep breath in. Lips tight against the mouthpiece. Fingers positioned on the trumpet’s valves— it’s showtime.
For decades, Long Beach State’s music program has shaped the careers of students, including accomplished alumni Richard and Karen Carpenter, setting an educational standard with its rich and impactful repertoire. The program’s legacy continues to inspire, as reflected in its multiple Grammy-winning alumni.
“One of the things I noticed when I came to visit was this culture of comradery and support for one another that was here and we continue to build on that,” Jermie Arnold, director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, said.
A staple of the program, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music has been a place where student creativity and artistic growth thrive, a place where an award-winning culture was established by the program’s original band and a place where creativity shined from the start.
First formed in 1949, program’s original band struggled with frequent leadership changes in the music program, leading to periods of instability. For some time, they lacked a Director of Bands and instead had five different conductors, all primarily hired to teach music education rather than to lead the band full-time.
Despite the bumps the first official concert was held six years later.
On May 10, 1955, student performers showcased a selection of wind instruments, including flutes, clarinets and trumpets.
While classical music was the focus of the original music performed, over the years the program has advanced to incorporate genres like jazz and marching band music. Genres that students like Josh Encarnacion, a 19-year-old first-year piano major, believe have brought great experiences.
“Having so many genres is great because it makes music accessible to everyone who wants to learn about it,” Encarnacion said. “The fact that the program provides so many different opportunities to explore those types of music guarantees that there will be something for everyone.”
Despite its musical milestones, the program faced significant challenges, relying on repurposed science halls for practice and as classrooms— both being makeshift spaces that are not ideally designed for music.
The groundbreaking of 1982 on lower campus led to this pictured construction of the music building in 1990, which is one of many progressions the Music Department made to advance its infrastructure. Photo credit: Long Beach Public Library Digital Archive
Ultimately, the construction of the BCCM main building in 2003 and the pavilion and plaza in 2007 meant students had a dedicated safe space designed specifically for their musical pursuits.
The state-of-the-art facility offers students practice rooms and student lounges.
“We have an outdoor eating area where students will hang out here pretty much all hours of the day,” Arnold said. “A whole bunch of them were up there singing, having a good time– they may have been practicing for a class.”
Students Leonardo Zimmerman (right) and Raphael Angelo Yap (left) play their trombones on Sept. 11 outside of the practice rooms at the BCCM plaza. Photo credit: Christopher Chan
Since then, the program has evolved into an environment where students like Encarnacion thrive, inspired by those who came before him.
For some students, the prospect of joining the ranks of accomplished alumni such as John Bettis, a songwriter with multiple platinum records, is alluring.
“We got critiqued by a Long Beach director a couple of times when my high school performed, which gave me more exposure to the program,” Encarnacion said. “I did more research and found out many good musicians came out of it, like Tom Cubis, a great band leader.”
Even today, alumni accomplishments are reaching a different generation of artists.
Soon at Long Beach, trumpet notes will embrace yet another musical style: mariachi. The introduction of this new course aims to further develop the diversity of the BCCM once again, offering a wider range of music available for both current and future musicians on campus.
“There is a place for all kinds of music,” Arnold said. “For every artist to express themselves in a free and open way is important, and we need to make sure we allow that.”
