Soprano Sangeeta Kaur joined legendary Cal State University Long Beach alum Richard Carpenter Saturday as the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music presented both Grammy-winning artists with its awards during its annual “Celebrating Music” event.
Both Kaur and Carpenter were once students in the university’s music programs now administered at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State.
Kaur became the first Vietnamese American soprano to be honored with a Grammy Award in the category “Best Classical Solo Vocal,” joining Richard and Karen Carpenter along with Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers as the only artists from the BCCM to be honored with a Grammy ® Award.
“The award serves as a symbol of our deep appreciation for your unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and profound impact on the world of music,” said Dr. Jermie Arnold, the Conservatory’s Director.
“Since 1991, the Celebrating Music Award has been bestowed upon distinguished alumni, faculty members, and music industry leaders who have left an indelible mark on the field of music,” said Arnold.
“This award serves as a symbol of our deep appreciation for your unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and profound impact on the world of music,” he added.
Dr. Jonathan Talberg is the director of Choral Activities at the Bob Cole Conservatory, where he is the conductor of the international award-winning Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir introduced Kaur.
“Sangeeta is a Grammy® Award-winning soprano, a world-class singer, multimedia artist, and producer, and she got her start right here where she completed her Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance,” said Talberg.
“Her list of credits since that time is incredible. She has produced five albums, performed on world tours, and has original works that range from contemporary songs in multiple
She was always a bright light, whether she was singing in the choir, performing in the opera, or giving a recital. She knew how to light up the stage,” said Talberg.
“It’s been a joy to watch her career blossom to see her transition from a driven hardworking, talented extremely kind, and very respectful college student to a performer of the first order with her own PBS special, collaborations with legendary musicians like Ian Anderson, Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and Steward Copeland of the Police,” said Talberg.
Dr. Jonathn Talberg, who, among others, taught Sangeeta Kaur (Teresa Mai) when she was enrolled in Cal State Long Beach in the early 2000s, grabs a selfie with Kaur and her husband Hai on the way to the ceremony.
She and her husband Hai now own a world class recording studio in Austin and Sangeeta is now a governor on the board of the Grammy Awards, Talberg said in presenting her with the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music’s “Celebrating Music Award” for 2024.
Kaur now lives in Austin, where Sangeeta owns a world-class recording studio with her husband Hai, he said before presenting Kaur with the University’s “Celebrating Music Award” for 2024.
“It is quite surreal to be standing on the stage tonight,” said Kaur.
“I want to say thank you to the conservatory for this honor for recognizing this incredible journey, but I’ve been so blessed,” she said.
“The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music was not a conservatory when I was here. It was a music school. It was a place that showed me what gifts I was born with and when I was just out into the world, that I could do something,” the Grammy® Award singer said.
“This was a place that nurtured me and where my teachers like Dr. Talberg saw something in me. They were the ones who instilled in me what I needed to go out and do something great. So thank you so much for that,” said Kaur.
She also thanked her mom and dad, who were in the audience. “All these years and they’ve almost never missed a performance,” said Kaur. “I would not be standing here without my family, my friends, and my community,” she said.
“The journey of art and music is a powerful one.”