|
1919
The University of California establishes its Southern Branch in Los Angeles (the Vermont Avenue campus). The Department of Music is established.
1928
John Philip Sousa conducts the UCLA Marching Band on his final visit to Los Angeles.
John Philip Sousa leads UCLA Band, 1928
1929
Royce Hall is inaugurated with a concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Otto Klemperer. In 1979, the orchestra repeats the same program in Royce Hall under Carlo Maria Giulini.
1936
George and Ira Gershwin create the UCLA fight song "Strike Up the Band for UCLA," based on their song "Strike Up the Band" from their Broadway musical of the same name.
George and Ira Gershwin
Arnold Schoenberg joins the faculty of the Department of Music. He retires in 1944.
Arnold Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 4 receives its world premiere at Royce Hall, performed by the Kolisch Quartet.
The UCLA Philharmonia is founded.
Arnold Schoenberg
1936 – 37
John Cage attends classes in the Department of Music and composes some of his earliest percussion music in a modern dance group.
1937
Royce Hall's first performing arts season is announced. The first subscription series includes Marian Anderson, John Charles Thomas, the Budapest String Quartet, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Arnold Schoenberg joins the faculty of the Department of Music. He retires in 1944.
Arnold Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 4 receives its world premiere at Royce Hall, performed by the Kolisch Quartet.
The UCLA Philharmonia is founded.
1939
The College of Applied Arts opens. Degrees offered include Bachelor of Music.
1940
The M.A. degree is authorized.
1949
The first Ph.D. is conferred.
1955
The Music Building is erected, containing classrooms, practice rooms, a music library, faculty and administrative offices, and two new concert facilities.
1959
Violinist Jascha Heifetz teaches for three years as a member of the music faculty.
1961
The Institute of Ethnomusicology is founded by Mantle Hood to foster research and dissemination of information about the music cultures of the world.
Mantle Hood
UCLA sponsors the Los Angeles International Music Festival. Igor Stravinsky who came on campus for the International Music Festival meets with the Russian delegation and is invited to visit Russia (which he visits the following year) for the first time since the Revolution of 1917.
Conductor Alfred Wallenstein with Igor Stravinsky; Conrad Lester, Patron; and John Vincent, Chair of the UCLA Music Dept.
1963
The Music Building is named in honor of Arnold Schoenberg.
1964
Conductor Mehli Mehta arrives at UCLA, teaches for 12 years in the Department of Music and establishes the American Youth Symphony.
Mehli Mehta
1981
The small theater in Schoenberg Music Building is dedicated as the Popper Theater in honor of Dr. Jan Popper, former chair of the Department of Music and director of UCLA Opera Theater.
1986
Lecturer Johana Harris-Heggie receives the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award.
1987 – 89
The College of Fine Arts undergoes academic restructuring. Curricula are evaluated and the arts are reorganized. Separate departments of Ethnomusicology and Music as well as Art and Design move into the newly formed School of the Arts. The departments of Theater and Film/Television move into the new School of Theater, Film and Television. The departments of Musicology and Art History move into the College of Letters and Science.
1991
Student composers from the Department of Music compose cues for the end-of-the-year telecast of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. The music was performed by the UCLA Wind Ensemble and conducted by Thomas Lee. The program received Emmy nominations in three categories.
1996
The UCLA Philharmonia celebrates its 60th anniversary.
1995
Musicology Professor Susan McClary receives a MacArthur Fellowship "genius award".
1996
The Jazz Studies concentration is established with Kenny Burrell as the director.
Kenny Burrell
1997
The Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation gives an unprecedented $1 million for music outreach and music performance programs. The Foundation continues its support to the present.
Award-winning composer and producer Quincy Jones serves as a UC Regents' Lecturer and conducts the student Jazz Ensemble.
Musicology faculty member Susan McClary receives the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award.
1998
Alan Rich, music critic of the L.A. Weekly writes about the Department of Music's production of Falstaff, "Galvanized by Del Carlo's 'Immenso Falstaff,' and created with wonderful wit and energy by both [William] Vendice and [Vincent] Liotta, this turned out to be the brainiest, most stimulating and beautifully produced operatic performance of the entire season. Yes, the entire season."
Falstaff
1999
Alumna Carol Burnett returns to campus as a UC Regents' Lecturer and directs a UCLA student musical theater production of her acclaimed Broadway production "Once Upon a Mattress."
Award-winning film composer Jerry Goldsmith (The Omen, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, LA Confidential) teaches a master class on film scoring as a UC Regents' Lecturer.
Jerry Goldsmith and masters class
2000
The International Jazz Festival Award is presented to faculty member Gerald Wilson at the Bern (Switzerland) Festival.
Gerald Wilson
2003
Department of Ethnomusicology chair, Professor Timothy Rice is elected president of the Society for Ethnomusicology.
Musicology faculty member Mitchell Morris receives the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award
2004
The UCLA Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of Music faculty member Jens Lindemann wins the National Trumpet Competition, vying against students from the leading music schools in the country. The group is the first in the competition's history to perform from memory. The ensemble went on to win a second National Trumpet Competition in 2005 and were finalists in 2007.
2005
Professor Kenny Burrell is named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.
Music professor Roger Bourland receives the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award.
2006
Dr. Mohinder Sambhi pledges $1 million to the Department of Ethnomusicology to establish the Mohindar Brar Sambhi Endowed Chair in Indian Music, named in honor of his late wife.
Dr. Mohinder Sambhi
2007
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is formed and a gift of a $30 million endowment to support the school is received from the Herb Alpert Foundation. Professor Timothy Rice is appointed inaugural director of the school.
Herb and Lani Alpert
Copyright © 2007 UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
|