Herb Alpert. Photo: Dewey Nicks
By Laura Ferreiro
Herb Alpert, whose groundbreaking style of Latin jazz has made him one of the world’s most respected trumpeters, is now paving the way for a new generation of musicians. His namesake foundation has announced that it will donate $10.1 million to Los Angeles City College (LACC) to provide a free education for all music majors.
It will also give students additional private lessons and further financial aid to pursue their education. The Herb Alpert Foundation grant is the largest gift ever given to a community college in Southern California.
“I love that LACC has helped so many low-income students who have financial challenges but have a strong commitment to education and to self-improvement,” said Alpert.
Alpert, who grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles, told the LA Times that both his brother and ex-partner attended LACC. “LACC is a gem of an institution,” he said. “The biggest motivation was helping kids who don’t have the financial energy to go to a major college. At LACC, they’ve nurtured thousands of dedicated students every year. My brother went there. My ex-partner [record producer] Lou Adler went there. I’ve visited the school. It’s alive. It’s kickin’.”
Robert Schwartz, executive director of the Los Angeles City College Foundation, pointed out that a gift like this is incredibly valuable to LACC students, many of whom face financial difficulties. “The vast majority of our students are from underserved communities and faced with enormous financial challenges as they strive to attain their academic and career goals,” he said. “This generous gift from the Herb Alpert Foundation allows these talented students to focus on their studies while pursuing their individual pathways towards successful careers in the music industry.”
Alpert founded the Herb Alpert Foundation in the 1980s. Since then it has made significant annual contributions to a wide range of renowned arts programs.