On May 17, the Conrad Prebys Music Center at UC San Diego echoed with indie rock, jazz, electronic, and classical music that brought in an enthusiastic crowd for the annual student-run Arcades Music Festival. From noon to midnight, the festival featured over 500 performers and showcased music across five locations: the Courtyard, Singer-Songwriter’s Circle, Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, Experimental Theater, and Recital Hall.
The Arcades had its inaugural run in Spring 2025 after a donation from Marco Londei and Liqun Wang, founders of the Farfy Foundation, to the department of music. The festival is entirely student run under the guidance of music professor Steven Schick.
“We have support from the music department,” second-year Magaly Vazquez, head of The Arcade’s marketing and design committee, said to The UCSD Guardian. “But as for conceptual work to production to running [the event] the day of, music mixing, lighting, decoration, filming, documentation, all of that is student run. And if we have to outsource, we go to other student organizations.”
Moises Hur, the after-hours producer, explained that KSDT Radio contributed audio equipment and interns knowledgeable in audio setup, while the Deejays and Vinylphiles Club helped conceptualize and organize the new after-hours space.
Planning for the festival began in Winter 2026 when applications for student performers opened. Organizers curated a lineup of original work from established UCSD student artists across multiple performance spaces.
The Experimental Theater hosted the Undergraduate Composers event, where a string quartet performed fourth-year Spencer Ellison’s piece “Duel of Kings,” originally composed for a class project.
“I’ve been composing this piece for about four months now,” Ellison said. “Being able to hear it live, kind of hearing all the work come into fruition, especially hearing the different acoustics that come with live instruments, it’s really cathartic, to say the least.”
Asayake Taiko, a Japanese drumming ensemble, held its performance in the Courtyard.
Third-year Sebastian Willis Sugiyama, a member of the group, reflected on the importance of hosting student-run music festivals.
“I think especially because the music department is involved in The Arcades, it gives a way for outside clubs to connect better with the department, which is always great for performing clubs like us,” Sugiyama said. “I think any form of promoting art to people is great for UCSD as a whole. … It shows students who are interested in performing the possibility that exists.”
The Singer-Songwriter’s Circle transformed a rehearsal space into a cozy living room, complete with a sofa and ambient lighting from several floor lamps, where artists were able to share their music more personally.
Seated on the couch beneath the warm glow of the lamps, third-year data science major Angela Wu, whose artist name is “attic angel,” strummed along on her guitar as she sang some original songs. Wu described the sporadic nature of her songwriting process and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform her music live and the support from audience members.
“I really enjoy being able to be a part of such an inclusive community,” Wu said. “I feel like a lot of organizations are more selective and more competitive, and I feel like The Arcades is really welcoming, and it’s, like, for all students, whether you’re a music major or not.”
Fourth-year Kalea Porter, a returning performer from last year’s festival, also took the stage at the Singer-Songwriter’s Circle, where she performed a few of her original songs.
“Performing again this year was really fun,” Porter said. “As a student performer, I really do appreciate the opportunities we have to perform in different environments. These opportunities help me gain confidence and hone my skills as a songwriter and musician.”
Beyond the opportunity to participate, Porter said the festival’s collaborative atmosphere made it especially meaningful to her.
“The Arcades felt extra special to me because I felt pride for the music department and how all of us artists and performers were able to come together,” Porter said. “I truly believe that music is something that brings people together. The Arcades is such a great place to see all kinds of performances from every genre in one building.”
