Inside: 2 Curb Gift Spotlights Music Industry Studies 3 FYI 4 Calendar Vol. XI · No. 6 November 13, 2006 Cal State Northridge—The Intellectual, Economic and Cultural Heart of the San Fernando Valley and Beyond Northridge Gala Celebrates Newly Named Mike Curb College Community and Entertainment Industry Leaders Mark Music Icon’s $10 Million Gift apping a gala evening The president added, “He has celebration, California State made this gift not only because he is C University, Northridge President a generous man who wants to leave Jolene Koester on Wednesday formally a legacy for future generations, but dedicated the university’s newly also because he has a fundamental named Mike Curb College of Arts, understanding of the value of education. Media, and Communication, paying It is only fitting that his great career tribute to the campus’ distinguished and his commitment to education alumnus and largest donor. would converge with the outstanding Community leaders and programs and abundant talent and entertainment industry figures joined potential of this college.” Cal State Northridge students, faculty, Curb, who heads one of the staff and alumni in honoring Curb nation’s largest and longest-running Records Founder/Chairman and independent record labels, founded former California Lt. Gov. Mike Curb. the Mike Curb Congregation vocal Earlier this year, the university group in his teens, and went on to presented a distinguished alumnus compose more than 400 songs and award to Curb, who began his 40-year- o produce 25 gold- or platinum-selling o h plus career in the music industry as C records. He has helped launch and e e L a freshman on the Cal State Northridge y guide the careers of scores of hit artists, b o campus in 1962-63. The music industry t and was named Billboard magazine’s o h icon also made a record $10 million P 1972 Producer of the Year. Curb Records Chairman Mike Curb, with wife Linda, receives award from President Jolene gift to the university, half endowing Koester at November 8 Cal State Northridge gala honoring Curb. “Wow! I never dreamed you were the arts college and the other half going to do something like this,” Curb for CSUN’s planned regional echoing the theme for the evening. celebrated alumni and boundless told a cheering audience of more than Performing Arts Center. “With this gift, a man of great achieve - potential—to provide resources that 400 people. “Thank you so much for “Today we celebrate a Convergence ment forms a union with a college— will benefit students and the community coming tonight. I had no idea we of Greatness,” said President Koester, one that has renowned programs, for generations to come.” Mike Curb College continued on page 2. Curtains Up for ‘50 Years of Opening Nights’ on Campus December 14 Festivities to Celebrate Cal State Northridge’s Rich, Eventful Theatrical History he spirits of Hedda Gabler, founder William Schlosser, on Martin Vanderhof’s eccentric, chaotic here in 1976, is a big production Edwin Booth, Lear and Lorca December 14, 1956. At that time, household will be seen in the Campus with everything in it from snakes to T will glide among the celebrants what was to become CSUN still was Theatre in December (see Calendar, xylophones. It’s great for the season who will gather in the Campus Theatre a satellite of Cal State Los Angeles. page 4). and the celebration.” on the evening of December 14 to Co-hosted by the Theatre “When we were putting together Up to 20 cast members will get into toast Cal State Northridge’s rich 50- Department and the CSUN Alumni the 2006 –07 season, we thought we the act, compared to the five or ten year theatrical tradition. Association, the invitational event should go with something very normally cast in college productions. “50 Years of Opening Nights” will also will salute the department’s 50th American, very uplifting, for the 50th With costume professor Garry bring alumni, faculty, staff and students anniversary production, George S. anniversary production,” said Peter Lennon off working alongside creative together in recognition of more than Kaufman and Moss Hart’s “You Can’t Grego, Theatre Department chair supervisor and CSUN alum Michael 600 productions staged at Northridge Take It With You.” Billed as “America’s and winner of the L.A. Drama Critics Reno on the pre-Broadway comedy since the debut of “Many Moons,” Favorite Comedy,” the Pulitzer Prize Circle Award in Direction. “‘You Can’t “Sister Act” at the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Teenage Drama Workshop winner staging the antics of Grandpa Take It With You,’ first performed ‘50 Years of Opening Nights’ continued on page 4. Nonprofit Org. U.S.Postage PAID California State University 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California 91330-8242 Northridge t n e m t r a p e D e r t a e h T f o y s e t r u o C o t o h P In CSUN theatre’s early days, drama students often rehearsed in the horse barn at Devonshire Downs, before a noncommittal equine audience. Curb Gift Spotlights Northridge Music Industry Studies Eager MIS Students Learn by Doing: Student-Run Record Label Attracts Attention in Industry unique and hungry young “record package—press kits with CDs, label” called the MIS Music photos, biographies—and sends it A Group has emerged on the off to music industry contacts. West Coast. More specifically, in the “Professor Leach oversees every- San Fernando Valley. In fact, it operates thing, but it really is our project,” right out of Cypress Hall. said Barrett. “What happens to it— The MIS Music Group is a central success or failure—really depends on element of a Cal State Northridge what we do with it and how much academic program—Music Industry we want it to succeed.” Studies—that has impressed many in Unlike the few degree programs the industry, none more than alumnus offered elsewhere, MIS’ “blended” and Curb Records Chairman Mike Curb, program concept requires that its whose $10 million pledge to CSUN majors pass an audition on a musical includes $1 million to endow a instrument and study the art and Northridge faculty chair specializing o theory of music. “Interestingly enough,” o h in music industry studies. C Leach observed, “many of the other e e “If there had been a music industry L programs contain no music y b o studies program when I was in college,” t requirements!” o h said Curb, “I know I would have stayed P About 65 percent of those seeking in school.” As a freshman, working Students on Music Industry Studies’ talent search team sort through CDs and portfolios to CSUN’s music industry studies in the music building, Curb wrote narrow down number of artists competing for slot as student-run label’s 2006 –07 artist. degree are active as performers— the hit that helped launch his career. one played the lead in “Dreamgirls” He would have a lot of help today “My delight is that these students on Broadway—but go after the MIS from CSUN’s eager young music degree to learn how to deal with the entrepreneurs. MIS is one of the first are moving so fast. We have people contracts they’re asked to sign. degree programs of its kind in the Others go into key but less country to teach the business end of all over the industry…” glamorous areas such as copyright the industry by allowing its majors to —Joel Leach, Music Industry Studies coordinator administration or entertainment law. produce a music act from start to Barrett, who plays trumpet, will go into finish—operating like major professiona l “After all, where better than Los repertoire) talent search, marketing, law. “A lot of entertainment lawyers labels such as Curb Records, Island Angeles, the music capital of the U.S. publicity and artistic design committees. these days don’t have roots in the Def Jam, Columbia Records or EMI. if not the world, for a university to After winnowing out their picks, industry itself,” he said. “After complet - Music professor Joel Leach and implement a music industry program?” the A & R team invites a number of ing this program, an attorney would Assistant Provost Jerry Luedders, then asked Leach, MIS coordinator and the artists to “audition” for the MIS be deeply rooted in the music itself.” Music Department chair, hatched the award winning veteran of 26 years majors. This year’s competition is set Onsite visits to venues such as idea 14 years ago. “As the industry as director of CSUN’s jazz band. for 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the television’s “The Simpsons” recording keeps changing,” said Leach, “as we Artists from all across the country Music Recital Hall. Next day, the studio and courses in music technology invent new technologies and instru- who like the idea of 35 dedicated class will meet to make its choice. and music sequencing techniques mentalists unfortunately begin to be MIS majors devoted to their cause— The production team takes it from precede the two-semester record replaced, students whose hearts lie at no charge—send in “demos” hoping there, fanning out into the region to production courses. The program’s in the music field are saying ‘I want to sign on as the label’s sole act for find a studio and start recording the required six-unit internship has to be involved; how can I make a the year, as did a singing Alaska label’s new artist. Meantime, a placed CSUN students in music living?’ Entering the business is a Airlines pilot who once winged in marketing concept is developed for businesses from Arista Records to good possibility for them.” from Anchorage regularly to record the artist and a full-blown press kit Zomba Music.