PCM is thrilled to announce the launch Mariachi Pasadena!—a vibrant Mariachi program led by composer, arranger, and three time Grammy Award winning local Mariachi band leader, Jaime “Jimmy” Cuéllar.

This past November, Julian Gray, guitar department chair at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, gave a master class to PCM guitar students and presented two lectures for PCM guitar faculty. He also gave private lessons to two advanced guitar students, Jadon Elliott and Evelyn Nguyen. Mr. Gray has taught three of PCM’s guitar faculty - Felix Bullock, David Margolis, and Adam Pettit - and two PCM guitar alums - Alexandra Iranfar (‘07) and Brandon Wong (‘19). Below are some reflections and highlights from this recent experience.

On Thursday, March 19, Los Angeles residents were asked to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their homes beyond what is necessary for essential tasks. Days later, PCM adapted its lessons and programs and launched a “distance learning” spring quarter. For this series, we’re checking in with students, instructors, and staff members to see how they’re managing and how distance learning (and teaching) is working for them.

On Thursday March, 19, Los Angeles residents were asked to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their homes beyond what is necessary for essential tasks. Days later, PCM adapted its lessons and programs and launched a “distance learning” spring quarter. For this series, we’re checking in with students, instructors, and staff members to see how they’re managing and how distance learning (and teaching) is working for them.