$16.4 Million Gift Will Create Bob Cole Conservatory Of Music

Local luminaries, students, and University faculty and staff were packed into the Gerald R Daniel Recital Hall to hear the announcement of the largest gift in California State University, Long Beach history: $16.4 million from the Bob Cole trust to provide scholarships for student musicians.  In recognition of the generous donation, CSULB will seek the permanent naming of the Department of Music as the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.

CSULB President F. King Alexander, Donald Para, Dean of the College of the Arts, Realtor and LBPost columnist Frank Colonna, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Karen L. Gould, and John Carnahan, who has served as Music Department Chair for the last 8 years, all spoke, expressing their gratitude for the gift, and what it will mean to the department’s future.

John Carnahan

Listen to comments from John Carnahan in a special podcast here.

Bob Cole, who died in 2004, was a Long Beach real estate entrepreneur for more than 35 years.  Considered one of the area’s most successful real estate businessmen, he developed the method of trading real estate tax free.

Also announced today is the Inaugural Cole Conservatory Festival which will present ten days of outstanding musical performances.  More information about the newly named Bob Cole Coneservatory of Music, and the Festival, can be found at CSULB.edu/music.