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.