By Jonathan Frias, March 2, 2021
Under new leadership, the Music Entertainment and Industry Club is relaunching after a two-year hiatus, bringing more opportunities for music enthusiasts at Cal Poly Pomona.
In an effort to offer positive changes, the new e-board is focusing on preparing members to work in the music entertainment industry.
Club President Jacquelyn Nguyen, a fourth-year music industry studies student, shared the purpose of the relaunch while explaining her plans to add informational events that were not offered with the previous club.
“The last time this club was active was around my first year, so that was like three years ago,” Nguyen said. “They focused on a lot of open mic nights and that was it. I personally wanted other opportunities, like internship fairs or workshops masterclasses — something that could be catered to all types of interest in the music field and not just performance.”
With a mission to provide hands-on experiences for the campus community, Club Scheduler Camille Ormsby, a third-year music industry studies student, described the key benefits of the club.
“I would definitely say it provides a platform for students where they could feel heard, establish a community and let everyone gain experience that would be applicable in the real industry,” Ormsby said.
Club advisor David Kopplin, interim chair for the Department of Music, acknowledged that the downturn for the club was in 2013 when the Music and Entertainment Industry Education Association decided to no longer allow students to be a part of the association. As a result of that decision, the club was unable to host or attend conferences which resulted to a downsizing.
According to Kopplin, the key to any club is building a foundation to keep its members interested in years to come.
The Music Entertainment and Industry Club has various events planned for its members this semester. A recent event hosted on Feb. 11 featured guest speaker Matt Walsh, a former engineer at Sony Studios and a senior coordinator at the Cal Poly Pomona Parent and Family Engagement division.
However, guest speaker events are just part of what the club has planned as they look into hosting music industry conferences, workshops, open mic nights and internship fairs throughout the year.
Nick Pasetta, a fourth-year music industry studies student, expressed that he did not know what to expect when first hearing about the club’s relaunch and was worried that there would be little structure to the meetings. However, he was pleasantly surprised with the number of opportunities that are being provided by the club.
Pasetta also indicated he is interested in running for an e-board position in the future, if his academic schedule allows flexibility, and appreciates being able to meet students with the same interest.
“I transferred into the Music Department right before the pandemic hit, so I didn’t get a whole bunch of opportunities to meet people,” Pasetta said. “This club has been a great outlet, so I’d like to get more involved.
Club Treasurer Victoria Garcia, a fifth-year music industry studies major, hopes that the members build a bond that will carry them for years to come.
“I hope people feel a little bit more connected or belonging with one another,” Garcia said. “I hope that they felt that they got some useful information and help out of this club and I hope that they continue it in the future.”
For more information, visit the club’s Instagram account @meic.cpp.