Want to get in?

            Long Beach, Calif. – The Bob ColeConservatory of Music is the California State University, Long Beach’s music department and it is not easy to be a part of it.

            Every year, around 400 students audition hoping to join the department, but only about 100 of the students accomplish that feat. “We have one of the top music departments on the west coast, of course it’s not going to be easy” said John Carnahan, the conservatory’s director.

            The California budget crisis is only making it more difficult for those who want to be part of the program. The crisis has caused the government to direct all the schools in the California State University system to not accept any admission applications for the spring semester for any enrollment category. This leaves students only one audition a year to try to get into the program.

            Auditions for the 2013 fall semester were throughout the month of February, and only 25 percent of those who tried out got in, according to John Carnahan. I was unable to reach a student who was successful in their tryout but for more questions, you can contact the conservatory at 562-985-4781 or contact them by email at music@csulb.edu

Pink Floyd laser light show comes to Long Beach

Upon entering the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at 11 p.m. on Friday, each person received a pair of glasses that would enhance their viewing of the show. The show of course, was the Pink Floyd laser light show. 

Before the show began, Michele Roberge, the executive director of the arts center came out and said a few words; some meant more to the audience than others. The crowd applauded loudly when Roberge stated that this is the first time the audience is aloud to bring their alcoholic beverages inside of the theater.

Then the show started, and I was excited to see what this show would be like.  Would it be as good as I hoped? Unfortunately, it wasn’t. As a person would expect, there was Pink Floyd music and there was lasers, but what a person wouldn’t expect is the clips they showed of the Wizard of Oz, with the music and with the lasers. The glasses let the audience see the lasers and projections shown to be seen nine times in a three-by-three format.

            The lasers were bright and very repetitive, with the slow Pink Floyd music from his “Dark Side of the Moon” album. It was not worth the student price of $23 for the hour-long show. It was a big disappointment for me. 

*Level of intoxication may vary fun*

Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band Performance

Long Beach, Calif. – The California State University, Long Beach Wind Symphony and Symphonic band performed on Thursday, March 7 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on campus.

The performance consisted of classical pieces, new traditional literature and “Avelynn’s Lullaby,” composed by Joel Pocket. This piece was in dedication of Pocket’s daughter Avelynn, and he wrote it specifically to be performed on this night. John Carnahan, director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music and Wind Symphony, and Jermie Arnold, director of the Symphonic band, were the conductors.

The event started at 8 p.m. and was $10 for general admission and $7 for Long Beach State students.

The Wind Symphony here at Long Beach State is internationally recognized with performances in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Carnegie Hall; so you know the performance was good. I was entranced, enticed, and amazed at the same time. It is something I would go to again.

 Last year, the symphony was one of the eight schools selected from nationwide and Canada to perform at the National Invite Performance in Seattle, sponsored by the College Band Directors NationalAssociation.

                                     California State University, Long Beach Symphonic Band

Piano Showcase to take place in April

The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music will be hosting a Piano Showcase on Saturday, April 20^th at the Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall, which is located at California State University, Long Beach.

            The event will start at four and will be $10 for general admission and $7 for Long Beach State students, but “it is well worth it,” says Shun-Lin Chou, director of the showcase and also director of keyboard studies at the campus. “It gives an opportunity for the students involved to show off their talent,” Chou also said.

            Pieces that will be played will include pieces composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, and Frederic Chopin.

Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall

            The recital hall can fit 270 people and is located by the Carpenter Center and the Pyramid.

            Students that have graduated from keyboard studies have gone on to win first prize in state-level Music Teachers National Association and Music Teachers’ Association of California competitions. Students who have graduated from this program have also been invited to music festivals around the world and have gained admission with scholarship to prestigious graduate programs nation-wide.

            The Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall is on 6200 E. Atherton St in Long Beach. For more information please contact the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at 562-985-2490. 

John Carnahan

The airplane lands, but a strange sound is coming from the plane. Boom, crash, ding – it’s the sound of drums. But don’t worry; it is only John Carnahan, the directory of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, spreading the word of California State University, Long Beach’s music program.

            As director and conductor, it his Carnahan’s job is to promote the conservatory and to help raise money to support the music program. Some of his travels have brought him to Chicago, New York City, San Diego, and even to Australia. “As you see, our program is internationally recognized,” said Carnahan.

John Carnahan

            When a person is this successful in the music industry, their family usually has a musical background. That’s not true for Carnahan. His parents and his one sister do not play musical instruments. It was actually his grandma that convinced him to go into music. One sunny day years ago, 4-year-old Carnahan and his family were enjoying a parade. All of a sudden, the beat of drums approaches and Carnahan’s grandma asks, “Wouldn’t you want to be one of those guys.” After that, his mom enrolled him in piano lessons and soon after that he started drum lessons. “My family was very supportive of my music,” Carnahan said. Carnahan is not a natural-born musician, so he has had to work hard for his musical accomplishments, but it’s worth it he said.

            Carnahan has been the director and composer of Long Beach State for 25 years, and he plans to stay at his position well into the future. With Carnahan at the lead, the prominent music program that Long Beach State has will continue to thrive and be internationally recognized.