Celebrated Reputation

Jennifer Sosa had never visited the East Coast, nor had she ever set foot in a venue as large or majestic as the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   

Both dreams came true for the third-year music education and performance student when and the rest of CSULB’s Bob Cole Conservatory Wind Symphony traveled to Washington, D.C. to perform for the 2024 Sousa Band Festival at the Kennedy Center, one of the country’s most distinguished performance venues.   

 “I couldn't believe that I was standing there and that I was going to perform in that legendary hall,” said the Beach student, who plays the euphonium, a brass, tuba-like instrument. 

The CSULB Wind Symphony was one of only four bands from across the country to participate in the Sousa Band Festival, celebrating the life and influence of American composer John Philip Sousa. They were also the only collegiate band to perform.   

“Not only did we do the Kennedy Center performance, but we had a couple of clinics with veteran conductors,” said Erin Sercel, a third-year clarinetist in the Wind Symphony. “It was great getting to hear their advice, their expertise.”  

The Wind Symphony performed five pieces during the festival.   

“The students were incredible,” said Jermie Arnold, director of bands and director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. “They were the only group who received an immediate and unanimous standing ovation.”     

The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State Long Beach, part of the university’s College of the Arts, requires a rigorous performance audition for acceptance into its degree programs, as well as academic admission to CSULB. According to Arnold, there are a few reasons why students choose the conservatory for their music education. One is the world-class faculty — both educators and applied lesson teachers who perform with the La Philharmonic, with the Pacific Symphony with the Long Beach Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and others.    

“Our teachers have the attitude of, ‘I'm trying to teach myself out of my own job’ and students really feel that connection — they get into that network,” he said.   

Another reason is that students see the high level of ensembles in the conservatory — “from the choirs to the orchestras, to concert bands and our new music ensembles. For the first time, we're going have an official mariachi ensemble as part of the conservatory. We're trying to be very inclusive, and I think that attracts students because they can see themselves in the music also. 

“It's about the repertoire that we pick — the standard pieces that you would expect a music conservatory to play, but also music that represents all our voices from underrepresented composers in all communities,” he added.   

Sosa, the euphonium player who also holds the second chair on the Wind Symphony, said this trip helped instill confidence in her family that she would be OK pursuing her musical passions. She hopes to become a music educator and conductor someday.   

“When I was growing up, my family always saw (music) as a hobby. ‘No, you can’t do music as your job,’” said Sosa, who is the first in her entire extended family to attend a university. “Now they’ve seen my growth and passion and opportunities that I’ve gotten, and they’re definitely on board with it. They’re still over the moon.”