Advancing Updates on the School's Strategic Development Blueprint
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has embarked on a transformative journey to diversify its applicant pool, reimagine musical canons, and combat systemic inequalities, as outlined in a strategic plan unveiled in 2021.
The strategic plan identifies several long-term actions to achieve these goals. These include creating new school partnerships with UCLA Community School at RFK campus, Horace Mann UCLA Community School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood. The school has also signed agreements with Los Angeles City College and plans to move forward with agreements with Santa Monica Community College and Pasadena Community College during the 2022-23 school year.
The first goal of the strategic plan is to reimagine musical canons and curricula, honouring historical pasts while embracing an inclusive, contemporary mindset. Actions to reform curricula include involving more music industry professionals and cementing stronger interdisciplinary connections between departments. This approach is reflected in the school's inaugural Signature, Statement, and Amplify series launched in 2022, with the Amplify Series devoted to voices from underrepresented artists.
Inaugural Dean Eileen Strempel stated that the purpose of the Amplify Series is to ensure that traditional western art music is not the only genre represented in the school's programming. This commitment to diversity is further demonstrated by the school's partnership with Universal Music Group to establish the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship, announced later in 2025.
The strategic plan also includes a major goal to fight systemic legacy of inequality. Since 2019, the school has raised almost $6 million in student scholarship support (out of a total of more than $33 million dollars raised). Students have new opportunities to perform with and be mentored by music professionals via paid internships, providing them with valuable industry experience.
The school has proactively facilitated double majors for students across the university to encourage more interdisciplinarity. A physical and safe space for conversations, known as the sanctuary space, has been created in response to student requests. A new gift from Herb Alpert has funded the renovation of the school's practice rooms.
The school's Music Industry program is planned for major growth, offering career preparation through dedicated partnerships with leaders in various music business sectors. Notable figures like Huib Schippers, Cornel West, and George E. Lewis have delivered lectures or held residencies at the school, fostering a rich and diverse learning environment.
As of Spring 2023, specific updates on the progress of the strategic plan have not been publicly released. However, the school's active involvement in initiatives supporting musical diversity and scholarship, as well as its participation in events blending various musical traditions, suggest ongoing efforts to achieve the goals outlined in the strategic plan.
For the most accurate and up-to-date details, it is recommended to contact UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music directly or review their official communications or website updates published after Spring 2023.
- The school's Music Industry program is planning significant growth, aiming to provide career preparation through collaborations with leaders in diverse music business sectors.
- A physical and safe space for conversation named the sanctuary space has been created at the school, in response to student requests, fostering an environment for learning and personal growth.
- To combat systemic inequalities, the school has raised almost $6 million for student scholarships since 2019, out of a total of more than $33 million raised.
- The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has signed agreements with Los Angeles City College, and plans to move forward with agreements with Santa Monica Community College and Pasadena Community College during the 2022-23 school year.
- The strategic plan involves reforming curricula and reimagining musical canons by involving more music industry professionals and establishing stronger interdisciplinary connections between departments, promoting education, self-development, and career development in the fields of finance, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and skills-training.
