Charles Ferguson

My music professor at Columbia in New York City told me he was leaving the Ivy League for a new, start-up school in California. I was planning on going to the Royal College of Music in London, but the intriguing idea of doing graduate school work in a brand-new school brought me to California. Professor Nicholas England now had transformed into “Nick” as he sat in the Dean’s office at the new CalArts building in Valencia. No grades, just progress reports! Swimming pool, hospital like hallways, great music and art offerings. California was the place to be. Earning my MFA in 1973 opened the door to my present teaching position as lecturer in guitar at Stanford University. Soon I will celebrate my 50 years on the faculty at Stanford. Thank you, Nicholas England, and CalArts!