Reclaiming and reestablishing the musical heritage of the California Hotel

March 2021

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

45 Stories for 45 Years

Contributor: Angela Wellman, Founding Director, CEO, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music

I grew up with the idea that the only way to sustain our musical heritage in perpetuity is through musical education. As a young child, I was surrounded by music educators in my family and in my community. My uncle, Eddie Baker, founded a place called the Charlie Parker Academy of the Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, where I am from, with the goal of preserving our African American musical heritage through music education. He would always say, “Preservation through music education.”

After studying music formally at the Charlie Parker Academy, and gaining an undergraduate degree from the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, a Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music, and performing professionally nationally and abroad for more than two decades, I decided to focus on teaching. I observed that African American kids in Oakland were not getting full access to music in school. I wanted them to have what I had growing up — a place where they could study music that is culturally-relevant, in a place where they felt welcomed, that reflected their culture, and where they could take up space; a place that sustains our musical heritage through music education. 

That is the main focus at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music. As the anchor tenant of the California Hotel, we also have an important role to reclaim and reestablish the deep musical heritage of that historic place. In partnership with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, our landlord and the core member of the San Pablo Area Revitalization Collaborative that supports work like ours across the neighborhood, we have plans to collaborate on performances with Magnolia Street Wine Lounge and Cafe next door and to include various types of musical opportunities and experiences for the people of Oakland. We envision a vibrant, musical space that will be the talk of The Town!

The history of our people resides in musical histories. OPCM’s presence in the California Hotel allows space for the community to learn and to practice those traditions — helping us illuminate African American musical identity. 

As EBALDC marks our 45th anniversary, we will be gathering more stories like this one from our friends, family, community members, partners and more stakeholders that have made our impact possible. We would be honored for you to join us:

  • Follow us on social media: @EBALDC

 

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