SMC Music Department Conducts Open House
SMC hosts an open house to meet music students and faculty, learn about musical opportunities and get music into students’ Spring 2023 schedule.
Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Music Department held an open house at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) satellite campus last Tuesday on Nov. 15.
Attendees gathered on the terrace for slices of Prime Pizza and live entertainment from student ensembles. Some of which included the percussion ensemble, concert chorale, and opera theatre.
Brayden Handwerger, SMC student and singer-songwriter, performed a solo with the Chamber Choir ensemble.
“I joined the choir a couple weeks ago really, but it was a good time. I like that SMC offers a lot of performance opportunities.” he said.
Handwerger said what drew him to the SMC music program was the quality of the classes. “I used to go to NYU, and honestly I prefer SMC,” he said.
The songwriter elaborated on music education, comparing his experiences. “I’ve seen a lot of music programs and even some at big name universities where they treat their art students like they’re children and not actual professional people going to make a career, and I feel that SMC isn’t like that and I really value that,” Handwerger said.
Dr. Brian Driscoll, the Music Department Chair, said that the goal of the open house was to increase student awareness about the music department’s classes and programs to potentially encourage early enrollment in classes for Spring 2023.
“Since almost all music classes at SMC happen on the PAC campus, we wanted to welcome students who we haven’t met,” Driscoll said. “We aren’t far from the main campus, but it’s possibly enough distance for students not to be aware of the musical opportunities—classes, ensembles, and attending concerts and other events.”
Students and faculty sat behind labeled tables representing each area of musical study and resources including classes like jazz and guitar as well as information regarding General Education, the Applied Music Program, and a music specialist academic counselor.
Cecilia Jeong, Associated Students Director of Basic Needs is majoring in economics and in her first semester in Chamber Choir and on the musical side of SMC.
“The sincerity my peers have shown for music led me into a slight rabbit hole of becoming more involved,” she said. “I seamlessly found myself at the open house helping with a bit of set-up, somewhat singing, getting pizza, and having the best conversation with Arpi, and the kindest professor I just met.” Jeong referred to the music counselor Arpi Kumuryan, and elementary guitar instructor Professor Jim Harmon.
Harmon asked Jeong if she could play guitar, to which she answered that she only learned a couple of fingerstyle pieces. Harmon reassured her, “That’s playing guitar.” Jeong says she felt the professor’s words resonated with her and the two continued to discuss some of her favorite pieces from Sungha Jung and Kotato Oshio.
The open house set a welcoming atmosphere, allowing students and advisors to mingle and exchange information. Drisoll expressed that the Music Department is one for everyone.
“Regardless of their area of study or educational, career goals, we hope every student will find space in their life to engage with the arts as a way to find solace, inspiration, and rejuvenation,” he said.
Driscoll says his hope is that students may deepen their understanding of themselves and the world through creative activities and “to be in community with people who raise each other up during both difficult times and moments of exaltation. Music is just one of the options, but it’s a solid one.”
Upcoming music events can be found on the SMC website under Music Department, with performances like the Guitar Showcase on Dec. 1 and the Jazz ensemble on Dec. 5.
