Hi-I’m a senior and looking to apply most likely to LACs and major in music. I’m a classical soprano, violinist, and pianist. I also love foreign language and want to study Italian and German in college. Does Pomona have good musical ensembles (vocal, instrumental)? Do they have good productions? How many people generally major in music? Are the productions/ensembles high enough caliber?
Also, how much flexibility is there in the curriculum to pursue multiple languages?
Thanks!!!
When I toured Pomona last year, the music department seemed to be very strong. We talked to a jazz professor who had performed with Charlie Parker in his youth. He told us that the classical ensembles and teachers were top-notch. It seemed like there were lots of different types of musical opportunities available at the 5Cs. The facilities looked great. If you are thinking of applying to other colleges in the consortium, Scripps appeared to have a strong music program as well.
http://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/music
http://choral.pomona.edu/about-choir/
I suggest you email the music department for more info to answer specific questions. German is offered at Pomona and as a Pomona student you can take Italian at Scripps.
And, thanks to some generous donations, there is no fee for Pomona students on financial aid to receive private lessons, regardless of whether they are a declared music major (in fact, I believe lessons might now be “free” even if you’re not on FA).
Another perspective. My D graduated from Pomona in 2014. She went in as a serious music student (instrumental). She did not have a good experience with the music department at all. She took lessons with the teacher of her instrument, of which there was only one so she could not choose who she liked and was very unhappy with the instruction. When she went back to Pomona her second year, she found an excellent teacher in LA to study with and petitioned the music department to let her study with this teacher instead. She was told that she absolutely could not be a music major if she did not study with the Pomona teacher. Things turned out for the best - she found a new major, lowered her music expectations considerably and has now gone on with her life. Make sure you thoroughly check out the instrumental teacher and the orchestra director if you want to consider music at Pomona.
@NJ Mom of 2 do you mind me asking what instrument your daughter played? (I’m looking at Pomona and the other consortium colleges and I’m an instrumentalist as well, so I’d like to know more)
As a student who has participated in the department (although not majored), I think the music program at Pomona is excellent.
The free lessons at Pomona that @otisp mentioned are really unique—you’d pay up to $800 per semester for them anywhere else (and they’re now free whether or not you’re on aid).
The facilities are top notch—just look at Little Bridges (http://www.pomona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/inset/public/images/news/music/facilities/Bridges_atStagewPiano.jpg?itok=TSCoU1aq), where the orchestra meets for practice.
The ensembles are amazing, too (and not just the big ones). As a whole, the college really values the arts, and throws money towards events like having Martin Chalifour, the concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, come perform here the other day.
As with any department, there are bound to be some professors who are better than others (and it seems @“NJ Mom of 2” didn’t luck out), and having slightly more limited options goes with being a smaller school, but the music faculty as whole is excellent, and the administration is much more flexible than you’d find in a bureaucratic system at a larger school. There is definitely more than one instructor for instruments like violin and piano.
I think over half the student body is involved in creating music in one way or another, but the number of actual majors is fairly small.
Regarding languages, it’s fairly easy to pursue multiple ones, although that depends on a number of factors (it’ll be a lot easier if you don’t minor/double major). There are language conversation classes that are less high commitment, more informal, more speaking-focused, and less credit than full language courses, so it’s easy to take those on top of a normal courseload. Also, you can spend as much time in Oldenborg as you want, and it’s an amazing resource for languages.
Pomona has been pushing to upgrade their music programs, but it isn’t the place to go if you want a conservatory experience. And frankly, Pomona is not a conservatory, so this should not be a surprise. The Pomona jazz band has gone from almost nothing to decent in 2 years, with no music majors that I am aware of (My D is in there).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8gGtA48Pqk
The Pomona orchestra is good. But I’m not a musician, so make your own judgement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPoAb2Wn_c
Also, there is the Claremont College Orchestra (D is in there as well). This is generally the orchestra for the other 4 colleges, although my daughter chose this one because the 2 Pomona groups practice on the same days, which is really irritating.