Music Building under construction (circa 1977)
Performing at Harbor
It has been almost 30 years since Robert Billings, then Music Department Chairman, broke ground on the site of the Music Building with a Golden Shovel. He imagined a state of the art complex with audio-visual equipment in each room, an electronic keyboard lab for group instruction, practice facilities for soloists and ensembles; but most importantly, a recital hall.
This 200 seat Recital Hall he built (dedicated on May 13, 1977) is now being renovated to be better than ever. Anywhere from 50-100 concerts are given each year. Through the years the hall has seen Chamber Groups, Orchestras, Big Bands and Choral extravaganzas. Verdi’s Requiem has been performed here; groups have pounded out rhythms on brake drums and garbage cans. Jazz great Elvin Jones performed here, as have countless beginning piano students playing “Fur Elise” for the first time. It is a venue of contrasts. It is very gratifying to be working in a venue that not only provides space for the pros of this world (The South Bay Chamber Society and the Lira Series artists, not to mention our Faculty Recitals) but also provides space to nurture beginning and intermediate musicians. It is this inclusive policy that makes this space unique and puts the “Community” into Community College.
The Music Department at Harbor College provides a wide range of music classes and ensembles, taught by professionals at the bargain price of $26 per unit. Additionally, vital one-on-one instrumental and vocal instruction is supplied via our Applied Music Program and through scholarships financed by private contributions.
--Luke Hannington
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Our Musical Journey
There has been music at Harbor College from the beginning. In 1949 for one glorious year Harbor College had a full music program including music major courses and a Harbor Symphony Orchestra. Sadly, due to budget limitations, the department was closed almost immediately in 1951. A somewhat more modest department was opened in 1961 with a “full musical course offering”; at least as full as a department can manage that was housed in one bungalow, owned one piano and consisted of only one full-time instructor, Ms. Gloria Chadwick. But during the early sixties Harbor College experienced a rapid growth both in total student body and faculty hiring, a trend that continued throughout the late sixties to mid seventies. It is during this period that Robert Billings came to Harbor, became Department Chair, and everything changed.
Mr. Robert H. Billings
Largely due to Billings' lobbying, Harbor College was selected to receive a “new concept in music facilities.” This facility, our current Music Building, was dedicated on May 18, 1977, and was open to classes in September of that year.
By the mid eighties the department had 10 full time faculty members, two piano accompanists, and a full instrumental program of wind, brass and string classes. There were so many harmony classes that the department required two full time theory instructors. But as the years passed changes in funding meant that faculty members were not replaced as they retired, some classes were suspended, and with the tragic death of a beloved faculty member Larry Wong, we were down to only two full time instructors.
In the last few years our department has experienced a be of a renaissance. We have gained two new full time instructors, a new computer lab, and a new MIDI synthesizer lab. Enrollment grows steadily and classes that have not been offered in years are back up and thriving. This is an exciting time of growth and renovation for our Music Department. We look forward to continued growth in the coming years and are dedicated to maintain the tradition of excellence in music instruction at Harbor College.
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