Welcome to the Music Department Webpage!
ELAC QUALITY!
Our ELAC MUSIC STUDENTS continue to dominate statewide music theory competitions. Our ensembles frequently participate in festivals, recordings, and other performance venues. Students have won performance competitions, go on to fine careers in music, work within the Music Industry, and continue on to pursue advanced music degrees!
Why ELAC MUSIC DEPARTMENT? Our faculty maintain active profiles in their respective disciplines. This includes professional public performances, presentations at national and international conferences and symposia, scholarly publications, and membership in professional societies, including the Conductors Guild, Society of Composers and Lyricists, Choral Conductors Guild, Music Teachers Association of California, Music Teachers National Association, American String Teachers Association, American Federation of Musicians, International Tuba Euphonium Association, International Association for Jazz Education, College Band Directors National Association, Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, American Musicological Society, Society for American Music, Society for Ethnomusicology, International Association for the Study of Popular Music, Society for Music Theory, and American Musical Instrument Society.
All of this – and all of our efforts – are aimed at improving our students' educational achievement and guaranteeing their success, at ELAC and in their future studies and careers. As a matter of course, we continually update our pedagogy and use of instructional technology and current data in order to maximize our effectiveness to meet the ever-changing needs of our students.
LEARN TO SING and ENHANCE YOUR LIFE!
MUSIC 411 ELEMENTARY VOICE I
Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 10:35AM - 11:55AM
In person
S2-117
FEATURING INSTRUCTION BY DR. TONY LUPICA
CHAMBER CHORALE, ELAC'S PREMIRE CHORAL ENSEMBLE
MUSIC 561
MONDAY / WEDNESDAY @ 3:30PM-4:55PM
In Person
S2-117
Students work on Excellence, Vocal Techniques, Intonation, Rhythmic Precision, Sight Singing, Choral Repertoire, Fun, and Much More
Sign Up Today! Fall 2025
We have many classes to help you prepare for your music career!
Learn an instrument: Guitar, piano, strings, voice.
Study to become a performing artist, song writer, composer, sound engineer, musicologist.
Learn to appreciate music: Music Appreciation (MUS 111), Survey of Rock, Pop, and Soul Music (MUS 116), Film Music Appreciation (MUS 118), Music History and Literature. (MUS 122), and Jazz Appreciation (MUS 141)!
Play in our Orchestra! Music 721. Wednesdays 6:50-10:00pm S2-121, PROF. SAMVEL CHILINGARIAN.
MUSIC 101
MONDAY @ 6:50 - l0:00PM
PROFESSOR JESUS “CHUY” MARTINEZ
S2-121
or
MON/WED @ 1:45PM - 3:10PM
DR. CHIE NAGATANI
S2-213
MUSIC 141
OPTION:
WEDNESDAY @ 3:30 - 6:40PM
MONDAY @ 3:30 - 6:40PM
S2-213
PROFESSOR JESUS “CHUY” MARTINEZ
SYMPHONIC BAND MUSIC 745
TUESDAY @ 6:50PM - 10:00PM
S2-121
PROFESSOR JESUS “CHUY” MARTINEZ
MARCHING BAND. MUSIC 712
THURSDAY @ 6:50PM - 10:00PM
S2-121
PROFESSOR JESUS “CHUY” MARTINEZ
MUSIC 775
TUESDAY @ 3:30PM - 6:20PM
S2-121
Professor John Storie, Interim Director
MUSIC 783-1, -2, -3, -4
FRIDAY @ 12:10PM - 3:20PM
S2-121
Professor John Storie
STRING INSTRUCTION, MUSIC 611-614, THURSDAY 3:30-6:40PM, S2-121, PROFESSOR SAMVEL CHILINGARIAN
GUITAR INSTRUCTION, MUSIC 651, THURSDAY 6:50-10:00PM, S2-117, PROF. EVAN HIRSCHELMAN & ADVANCED GUITAR, MUSIC 652-654, TUESDAY 6:50-10:00PM, S2-117, DR. KEN NAGATANI
PIANO INSTRUCTION, MUSIC 321, MW, 1:45-3:05PM, S2-216, OR TUESDAY, 6:50-10:00PM, S2-216. DR. LUCY NARGIZYAN
MUSIC 161 INTRO TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY, MTWTH, 1:45PM-3:25PM, S2-214, DR. LEE ZARATE (Short-term class)
MUSIC 165 INTRO/RECORDING ARTS, TTH, 8:50AM-10:15AM,S2-119, DR. LEE ZARATE
MUSIC 205 COMMERCIAL HARMONY I, TTH, 10:35AM-12:00PM, S2-214, DR. LEE ZARATE
MUSIC248 MUSIC NOTATION, MW, 10:35AM-11:45AM, S2-214, DR. LEE ZARATE
MUSIC 261-1 MUSIC TEK WORKSHOP I, MTWTH, 1:45PM-3:25PM, S2-214, DR. LEE ZARATE (Short-term class)
ORCHESTRA, MUSIC 721 WEDNESDAY 6:50-10:00PM
The ELAC Music Department provides an outstanding comprehensive curriculum for the student who aspires to become a professional musician, song writer, performing artist, music composer, plans to enter the teaching profession, for whom music is a part of a general education, or who intends to pursue an advanced degree in music.
The Applied Music Program meets the lower-division requirements of most colleges and universities offering a four-year curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in music. Our Commercial Music Program provides students comprehensive skills to make them competitive in the music industry, including in facets of the industry such as performing, recording, engineering, producing, song and score writing, music notation, and management. This industry offers jobs in promotion, sales, music business, and marketing that combine management skills with music. Our state-of-the-art recording studio, equipped with the latest sophisticated technology and software, gives students valuable hands-on training and experience.
Our distinguished faculty brings a depth of knowledge and experience to our students. Many are world-class musicians, performing on the international concert stage, as well as being active in numerous music organizations as established teachers and adjudicators. ELAC has performance opportunities in a wide variety of ensembles, including Orchestra, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Chamber Chorale, College Choir, and Philharmonic Choir, and Pop Ensemble. Our choirs and bands have garnered critical acclaim participating in numerous festivals and competitions, while our students place highly or win piano, vocal, instrumental and music theory competitions. Our S2 Music Building houses smart classrooms, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and a beautiful 350-seat recital hall with its exceptional acoustics allows our faculty and students to experience performing on a world-class concert stage. Please call (323) 265-8894 or consult this website for information about performances, recitals, and other events, ticket reservations, or inclusion on the mailing list.
The Applied Music Program
Acceptance into the Applied Music Program is by audition only. The Applied Music Program enables the Music Department to provide one-on-one instrumental/vocal lessons to our qualified music majors. These lessons (Music 181-184) are taught by exceptional professional musicians in the Los Angeles area, and will help foster the students' musical and technical development on their chosen instrument or voice. In addition to the lessons, students will meet weekly for a performance workshop (Music 250), which provides an opportunity to improve and enhance public performance skills. Participation in one of our performance ensembles is also an integral part of this program. In order to be a well-rounded musician, it is vital not only to focus on individual improvement, but also to be able to work within a larger ensemble.
Since keyboard facility is important to music majors, students are urged to meet keyboard proficiency requirements in the lower division (Music 321, 322, 323, and 324), regardless of the performance area. Music majors will also be expected to fulfill all courses in music theory and musicianship (Music 200, 201-203 and Music 217-2, 218-2, 219-2), as well as music history (Music 121 and 122).
The Applied Music Program meets the lower-division requirements of most colleges and universities offering a four-year curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in music. For specific requirements, the catalog of the four-year institution should be consulted. Details of our Applied Music Program may be found under the Applied Music tab.
Commercial Music Program
Performing, recording, engineering, producing, song and score writing, and management are all facets of the commercial music industry. This industry offers jobs in promotion, sales, and marketing that combine management skills with music. Our state-of-the-art recording studio, equipped with the latest sophisticated technology and software, gives students valuable hands-on training and experience. Our Commercial Music Program can provide you with comprehensive skills to make you competitive in the music industry.
Certificates and AA in Commercial Music
Performing Ensembles
ELAC has performance opportunities in a wide variety of ensembles: Chamber Chorale (Music 561), Orchestra (Music 721), Symphonic Band (Music 745), and Jazz Ensemble (Music 775), and Marching Band (Music 712). Our choirs and bands have garnered critical acclaim participating in numerous festivals and competitions. Our 350-seat Recital Hall with its exceptional acoustics allows our faculty and students to experience performing on a world-class concert stage.
Announcements
Applied Music Auditions for Fall 2025 Acceptance:
Application Form Due:
Friday, August 22, 2025.
Applied Audition Date:
Friday, August 29, 2025 @ 10:00am-12:00pm
Please contact Dr. Chie Nagatani (nagatac@elac.edu) or Dr. Anthony Lupica (lupicaaj@elac.edu) for any questions about the Applied Music Program.
Contact Information
Questions about Orchestra and String Classes:
Professor Samvel Chilingarian
Email: chilins@elac.edu