The Santa Monica College Applied Music Program — a program that provides private lessons to SMC music majors — will hold a benefit concert this month in an effort to save the program, which has lost state funding because of the budget crisis.
The program will consist of an eclectic repertory, featuring original compositions by SMC students, and voice and instrumental performances by students on piano, guitar, trombone, flute, violin, string bass and more. Styles range from classical to jazz.
Students are rallying to ensure the survival of the program, which has transferred students to such prestigious institutions as UCLA, USC, Boston Conservatory and more.
“The music faculty and the students agreed that this program is too important to abandon, or even to put on hold,” said James Smith, music department chair. Smith said the program is operating solely on private funds, including a monetary contribution to the program by each applied music student.
The concert will be held in the SMC Concert Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd. at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. Tickets are $20. For tickets, call (310) 434-3000. For further information, call the SMC Music Department at (310) 434-4323.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 14, 2003. Read the original PDF.