The Conservatory of Music is committed to implementing University of the Pacific’s DEI mission and vision set forth by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
2025-26 DEI Highlights
The Inclusive Music Initiative at Pacific
The Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music and Pacific have partnered to establish the Inclusive Music Initiative. As part of the initiative, Frank will serve as University Artist in Residence at Pacific for 2025-26. By elevating musical traditions and cultures that have been historically underrepresented in American concert and school music programs, IMI models a wholistic approach to music, collaboration and community engagement.
2025-26 Highlights
Resident-composer Shuying Li fosters cross-cultural storytelling
Originally from China, Li is an award-winning composer whose works have been performed by major orchestras and ensembles worldwide. She is committed to fostering cultural dialogue through music and founded the Four Corners Ensemble, dedicated to championing new works and cross-cultural storytelling. In fall 2025, conservatory students learned from Li in rehearsals and master classes, and performed her music in two concerts.
Students' Experience
A common sentiment of mixed people in general is that we may feel like we are not "enough" of one or the other cultures we descend from. Gabriela Lena Frank reminded me to embrace my one-of-a-kind-ness, because the perspectives that I have are valuable as a musician, creative, healer and all around person.
Amara Lin (BM, music therapy)
I really resonated with how Frank talked about incorporating her mestiza identity with her music. It was also really empowering for me to see a woman with a similar background doing so well. Hearing about her journey learning about her cultures made me feel validated in my journey with exploring my own cultures and identity.
Caroline Poso (BM, music therapy)
I liked what Frank said about understanding the historical and cultural contexts behind musical styles. I am now trying to be more aware of the historical contexts behind my own music if it’s evocative of a culture that I’m not familiar with and learning more about cultures that I think I’m familiar with. I feel like this gives me a greater understanding of what I’m composing, but also provides more color and inspiration to my compositions.
Elijah Atchley (BM, music composition)
2025 Special Event
A film celebrates the first full-time woman member of the New York Philharmonic
The Conservatory DEI Committee hosted a showing of "The Only Girl in the Orchestra"—a story of trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic. At the post-film conversation, students gave their take-aways, e.g., "Since O'Brien's introduction into the NY Philharmonic, the representation of women in major orchestras has increased, but they are still vastly underrepresented. It's important to recognize female musicians to encourage women in orchestra."
Student Experience
Pacific grant funds student's DEI research project
Music performance major Abigail Miller ‘25 received a $6,250 grant from Pacific Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for her project “Diversification of Pedagogy: Music for Clarinet by American Women Composers of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries.” Abigail's mentor is Dr. Patricia Shands, professor of clarinet.
Student Experience
Bassist explores their Filipino roots
“Meditation on a Homecoming," an original multimedia work for improvising bassist, is the result of Julianna Meneses ’25 senior project on indigenous Filipino music. Because of her family's origin and her interest in ethnomusicology, Julianna focused their research on Tinggian music and dance. Pacific’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship allowed her to travel to Abra, Philippines, to do research, meet scholars and produce a video of their experiences.
Student Experience
Composition major is inspired by his Syrian heritage
While working on music for his senior recital, Ealaph Tabbaa 24’ felt impacted by the historic folk music of Syria where his family is from. He said, "I think it all began after taking the music of the world's people course, where I was introduced to many interesting folk music genres. I remember being utterly captivated by Eastern European folk styles. But in my research of Arabic music, I found myself more and more captivated by the music of my heritage. After I completed a few miniature arrangements of folk melodies, taking great influence from my European classical training, I felt compelled to orchestrate it for my senior composition recital."
Conservatory is at the forefront of mariachi movement
2024-25 Archives
Pacific Orchestras celebrate Black History Month
In February 2025, Pacific Orchestras participated in Pacific's Black History Month celebrations with a repertoire featuring soloist Brittany Trotter in Carlos Simon's Movements for Flute and Orchestra. The evening concluded with a performance of William Grant Still's path-setting "Afro-American Symphony."
2024-25 Archives
Guest artist Theresa Wong performs at the Conservatory
Multi-instrumentalist and 2024 Guggenheim Fellow in Music Composition, Theresa Wong performed "She Dances Naked Under Palm Trees" - an evocation of movement into self-knowledge and worth for those who have not felt themselves duly reflected in the world. This piece was commissioned by pianist Sarah Cahill for The Future is Female project.
The Conservatory's Affirmation in response to the events of summer 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
The faculty and staff at the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific stand in support of Black Americans as well as Indigenous and people of color across the country. We condemn the historic and continuing forms of racism that pervade our society and institutions.
As an academic unit, we acknowledge that we have not acted as if Black lives and Black music have mattered, and that we must do so to serve our students, faculty, staff and community. We commit to:
- Educating ourselves about issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in arts education
- Changing our curriculum to reflect the experiences of historically marginalized groups
- Eliminating forms of systemic oppression within our governance structures, policies and procedures
In doing so, we renew our dedication to “integrity in all our actions and decisions, accountability and transparency” (excerpt, Conservatory of Music Mission Statement).
