Wednesday, April 22

Gallery: From gardens to practice rooms, UCLA student bands shape the campus music scene


(Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)


Established and up-and-coming artists from around the globe flock to Los Angeles for its influential role in the Western music industry, but Bruins don’t have to travel as far. Across gardens, backyards and practice rooms, the music of student bands permeates throughout UCLA at nearly all hours of the day. Over the course of fall quarter, Daily Bruin photojournalists Crystal Tompkins and Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon captured a snapshot of the campus music ecosystem – one subset of the music culture that underscores LA.

PRIME director

Cobo Cordon is the 2025-26 PRIME director and Photo staff. She is also Arts senior staff, a News, Outreach and Video contributor and was previously the 2023-24 music | fine arts editor. She is a fourth-year materials engineering student from northern Virginia.

Design director

Tompkins is the 2025-26 Design director, Photo staff and a Copy contributor. She was previously a 2024-25 assistant Design director. Tompkins is a third-year cognitive science student from San Bernardino County, California.


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