Music Industry Club at Riverside City College Explores Career Opportunities with Exclusive Disneyland and NAMM Field Trip
On Thursday, November 21, 38 members of Riverside City College’s Music Industry Club (MIC) embarked on an exciting, hands-on field trip to the Disneyland Resort and the NAMM Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA. The trip, designed to expose students to the entertainment technology industry and career opportunities in music, included exclusive tours, presentations, and a career panel featuring leading experts from across the music industry.
At Disneyland, the MIC students were granted a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Show Control operations for Disney’s "World of Color" at Disney California Adventure. In addition to this, students explored various facets of entertainment production, including costuming, electricity, and audio systems. They had the unique opportunity to interact with audio engineers who oversee sound in the park and along parade routes, providing the students with real-world insights into the technical side of entertainment.
The tour concluded with a presentation by Carl Cedar, a seasoned veteran of the Disneyland Resort’s music department, who shared his expertise and took part in a Q&A session with the students. Cedar's insights offered valuable guidance to aspiring professionals looking to break into the music and entertainment industries.
Following the Disneyland tour, the students traveled to the NAMM Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, where they enjoyed a private tour and participated in an exclusive Careers in Music Symposium. The symposium was co-sponsored by a memorial fund established by Christy Coobatis of Mira Costa College and featured a diverse panel of music industry professionals, including John Mlynczak, President and CEO of NAMM, as well as Grammy Award-winning artists. The event, which was part of the larger Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC) conference, attracted professionals and students from across the state.
“This field trip was an incredible opportunity for our students to gain firsthand exposure to the music industry, from the technical production side at Disneyland to the business and creative aspects at NAMM,” said Harley Glenn, co-president of the Music Industry Club at RCC. “It’s rare for students to access such a wide array of industry professionals and insights, and it’s experiences like these that help shape the future of our careers.”
The event was a significant learning opportunity for RCC students, many of whom are working to pursue careers in music production, sound engineering, and entertainment management.