Alec Glasser believes music can drive social change. That’s why he’s fully endowing the Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change at UC Irvine.

“Music brings people together and breaks down barriers like culture, language and socio-economic differences. It’s a unifying force that can inspire real change – empowering communities, raising awareness, healing wounds and advancing education,” says Glasser, owner of The Drake, a restaurant featuring nightly live music in Laguna Beach. He’s made a significant visionary donation to UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology, which houses the new center.

Glasser and UC Irvine faculty members agree that the power of music is a force that deserves serious study so that people from all walks of life and students from all disciplines can use it to help make the world a better place.

“Alec Glasser’s generous donations to our school have enabled us to establish the Glasser Center and award student scholarships – and that’s just the beginning of the groundbreaking innovations we are planning,” says Jon Gould, dean of the School of Social Ecology.

The Glasser Center aims to pursue solutions to society’s most pressing problems through its four pillars of activity: teaching, research, engagement and celebration.

Teaching

The center, led by Richard Matthew, professor of urban planning and public policy, has already created a new course open to all UC Irvine students. Offered through the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy, the course – titled “Power of Music and Social Change” – debuts this winter quarter. It focuses on music’s ability to mobilize communities, improve health outcomes, promote justice and transform lives beyond traditional contexts. The class and future courses, Matthew points out, are informed by the new science of music – the rigorous investigation of music in relation to neurological development, educational attainment, physical and psychological health, sustainable development and social justice.

Plans are underway to create a power of music minor and online certification courses. In addition, the center is collaborating with the school’s field study program to place social ecology students in music-related work experience opportunities to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.

Other efforts include developing curricula for school-aged children to foster an early appreciation for music and its myriad benefits.

“We’re rethinking the music industry by shining a light on careers that connect with music in ways beyond performance,” Glasser says. “Fields such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, education, research and policy all weave music into everyday life, making a difference for both workers and the people they impact.”

Research

Through collaboration with faculty members across campus, researchers are studying the power of music in many areas – education; physical health; climate change and sustainability; mental health and wellness; urban planning and regeneration; human trafficking; the criminal justice system; protest, activism and social change; neurological development; therapy and healing; technology; conflict resolution; and social justice.

“Music is an important art form that benefits our world in many ways,” Matthew says. “The science of music is an exciting new field of inquiry demonstrating that engagement with music has tremendous value for health, neurological development, complex problem solving, innovation, and bringing people together around causes like social justice, peacebuilding and transcultural communication.”

Matthew and Gould are among a diverse group of faculty members from across campus already affiliated with the center, bringing their expertise to the research front. The others are:

• Dominic Bednar, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Susan Coutin, professor of criminology, law and society;
• Michael Dessen, professor of music
• David Feldman, professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Brandon Golob, associate professor of teaching in criminology, law and society;
• Sora Han, professor of criminology, law and society;
• Charis Kubrin, professor of criminology, law and society;
• Mukul Kumar, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Mark Le Vine, professor of history;
• Elizabeth Loftus, Distinguished Professor of psychological science, law and criminology, law and society;
• Michael Méndez, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Walter Nicholls, professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Oladele Ogunseitan, professor of public health;
• Jodi Quas, professor of psychological science;
• Keramet Reiter, professor of criminology, law and society;
• Avipsa Roy, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy;
• Stephen Schueller, professor of psychological science;
• Julian Thayer, distinguished professor of psychological science; and
• S. Ama Wray, professor of dance

The faculty members are working on creating tools to enhance research capabilities and accessibility, such as Geographic Information System maps and a comprehensive directory of resources for students and the public. This will ensure findings and insights are available to those who can benefit from them.

The network of scholars is expected to grow as the center expands its exploration of music’s profound impact on society, Matthew says.

Tiffany Ana López, dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, is excited about the center, its collaborative partnerships and its innovative plans.

“At the Claire Trevor School of the Arts and within the Department of Music, we are deeply committed to performance training and engaging with musicality at every level,” she says. “We serve music majors preparing to become professional musicians, as well as those pursuing careers in the music industry, related fields, or broader pathways that incorporate music into their work. We are thrilled that the new Glasser Center will provide UC Irvine students with opportunities to apply their musical training in real-world contexts, exploring how their studies can drive social change and transform society. Through its initiatives, students will be empowered to connect the depth of their education to meaningful social impact, using music as a tool for innovation and transformation.”

Engagement

Engagement is at the heart of the Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change. By forging partnerships with local organizations, schools and communities worldwide, the center aims to create accessible platforms that empower disadvantaged youth to explore and embrace the world of music and all its benefits.

Among the center’s partners so far are the Samueli Academy in Santa Ana, Regents Point senior living community in Irvine, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in France, the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Yole!Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Collaborative Media Advocacy Program (CMAP)/Chicoco Studios in Nigeria, Kakuma Sound in Kenya, and Playing for Change in multiple locations.

“We are partnering with some of the most innovative organizations in the world. Our partners in Africa, for example, have pioneered an incredible model for urban regeneration in extremely compromised environments such as urban slums and refugee camps. It begins with building performance spaces and recording studios, using music to mobilize young people, then encourages them to reimagine the urban space they would like to live in, and finally supports them in tackling their own priorities in areas like water, housing and health,” Matthew says. “A key aspect of this work is that the technologies they’re using in the recording studios are proving to be a great platform for the acquisition of other data science skills such as spatial data collection and analysis, which are extremely valuable for designing projects for environmental sustainability and climate resilience.”

Celebration

“Music fosters a sense of joy and connection that transcends boundaries, and the Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change will also focus on sharing our findings and celebrating the power of music,” Matthew says. “We will be sponsoring musical performances along with symposiums, workshops and interactive activities year-round to strengthen our collaborative research, showcase our scientific findings and shine a light on the diverse ways music enhances well-being and promotes social progress worldwide.”

Together, he adds, “we will honor the profound connections that music fosters, creating an atmosphere of excitement and fun that embodies the essence of what it means to be human.”

About Alec Glasser

Glasser learned to play saxophone, clarinet and flute in public schools in New York City, where he grew up. He believes everyone should have a chance to study and enjoy music even if they don’t become musicians. For example, he loves music and infuses it into his business with live nightly jazz and blues performances at his restaurant.

Glasser named his restaurant after the famed Drake Hotel in New York, where he worked as an elevator operator and bellman as a young man. The job taught him about hospitality and how to treat people.

While working the elevator, he met numerous celebrities and famous folks in the music industry and learned a lot about people and how to make them happy.

Glasser carried the lessons with him, even as he went on to practice law, specializing in real estate and securities, then serving as a faculty member at his alma mater, USC Law School, before embarking on a long and successful career as a real estate developer.

A year before opening The Drake in 2019, Glasser received a heart transplant. Reflection on his life and his passion for music led him to create The Drake Gives, a nonprofit organization that connects and inspires underserved youth by providing them with the music education, materials and instruments they need and deserve to fuel their passions and experience the power of music.

“Music has been a critical factor in shaping my own life,” Glasser says. “Learning to play the saxophone allowed me to overcome my then shy personality, open a path to make new friends, work together as a team, learn and create regardless of racial background and age. Music was also the starting point for me to develop critical thinking and work skills that have dramatically improved my life and continue to do so even now. I want every young person to have access to the music opportunities that I had in public school.”

Glasser Scholarship

Glasser last year also created The Drake Gives/Alec Glasser UCI Music Scholarship. Recipients can be students from any major who plan to infuse music in their future careers. Each receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Game design and interactive media major Adrian Vizcarra, one of the inaugural Glasser Scholars, says he is beyond grateful.

“As someone entering the video game industry, one of my goals is to create memorable experiences,” he says. “I believe that music is a key component in achieving this goal. I hope to one day help create games with which people can make lasting memories and experiences. As a Glasser Scholar, I have been given the opportunity to further advance my journey to achieving these goals. I am forever grateful for the chance that this program is giving me.” 

Hearing how Vizcarra plans to use music in game design cheers Glasser’s soul.

“I’m passionate about showing how music goes beyond entertainment to drive meaningful change, addressing societal inequities and opening doors in fields like medicine, emotional well-being, and more,” he says. “Through the Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change, we aim to empower students and others to use music as a tool to bridge social divides and explore innovative ways to improve lives. Music is a transformative force that opens doors and changes lives locally and globally. Supporting this work helps foster cognitive, social, and creative skills, building stronger communities and inspiring meaningful change for generations to come.”

If you want to learn more about supporting this or other activities at UC Irvine, please visit the Brilliant Future website. Publicly launched on Oct. 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UC Irvine. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UC Irvine seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The School of Social Ecology plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-social-ecology/.