The Webb campus is no stranger to music; the orchestra has numerous concerts a year, Jubilee showcases student musicians, and students everywhere adorn AirPods in as they study for classes.  

While music is everywhere on campus, few students have left as distinctive a mark on the community as Hiken Qin (‘27) 

From playing with the Pomona College Jazz Band, spinning records in the library on Fridays, and hosting open mic nights on the weekends, he serenades the campus with his eclectic music taste.  

“My first jazz record ever was by Charlie Parker, and that’s when I was really getting into the saxophone,” Hiken said. “I was in seventh grade, and I picked the tenor sax and after I heard the Charlie Parker record, I really wanted to switch to alto sax.” 

Little did Hiken know,Charlie Parker’s record would change his life forever.  

Motivated by that moment, he began searching for ways to pursue jazz, even without a program at Webb. In his freshman year, he auditioned for the Pomona College Jazz Ensemble and was selected as one of the only high school students.  

“As a freshman, my improvisation skills were not that good. I wasn’t given a lot of solos in my freshman or sophomore year, but this year, I received my first big solo,” Hiken said. “That was a really big moment for me, because I wasn’t a great improviser to begin with, but now I’ve developed through the Pomona program.” 

Beyond performing, he also deepened his understanding of music through formal study, keeping up with his passion as the local college has improved his skills immensely as he studies music theory, improvisation, and playing with a larger band.  

“In [music] theory we’re learning chords, how scales function within chords, how voice leading works and how you can make the solo effective,” said Hiken.  

However, his symphony does not stay isolated to downtown Claremont; Hiken arranges Webb vans for students to enjoy the melody of performance days.  

Aside from his work with a greater band, he also encourages Webb musicians to showcase their talents at open mic nights in Stockdale. 

“Hosting open mic nights [has] been fun because there’s a lot of musicians on campus, but there isn’t a place for popular music musicians to show their talent on campus,” Hiken said. “There’s only the orchestra program [which] really is only for instrumental musicians.” 

To make up for this disparity, he works with faculty and students to transform Stockdale into a tranquil music lounge.  

“We set up Stockdale for an open mic with a drum set, a piano, and Dr. Dzula usually plays bass while I host.” Hiken said. “People sign up when they get there, just like how a normal jam session would be, like outside of school.” 

His goal is for the space to mirror professional jazz and music clubs.  

“l’ve been to one [jazz club] called Baked Potato in downtown L.A., which is a really popular jam session setting, but they only do it once a month,” Hiken said. “And it’s basically where all the musicians get together, and then we just pick a tune, and everyone starts playing.” 

As he builds spaces for students to share music together, Hiken echoes the influence of Kenny Clay (‘25)—someone whose encouragement quietly convinced him to keep pursuing music. 

“Kenny was my peer advisor during freshman year, and we both played bass and sax,” Hiken said. “He really showed me how jazz works in this Claremont setting where there isn’t really any. He’s kind of my mentor.” 

Kenny did not just leave behind his passion for music; he also set up Hiken to take over spinning records in the library during Friday lunches—a tradition passed down from Webb students since 2023.  

Building on Kenny’s influence, Hiken brings his own personality and taste to the weekly record sessions. 

“I love records, so, I’ll just pick my favorite records that week and play it on vinyl. And that’s really it; for me it’s just to show good music to people.” 

Despite the energy Hiken brings to campus, opportunities for non-classical musicians at Webb remain limited. 

“I think Webb lacks a popular music program where it doesn’t have to be jazz, it could be rock, it could be soul, could be funk,” Hiken said. “But I think only having an orchestral program limits the musicians where they’re one dimensional.” 

Rather than waiting for change, Hiken continues to create his own outlets—both on and off campus. Looking ahead, music remains a constant in his plans, even if it does not become his primary career. 

“I still want to be a semi professional musician, where I work my day job and I take gigs during the nights and stuff,” he said. “Or another route could be to start a social media account talking about music and then make that part of your life.” 

For Hiken, the future of music at Webb depends less on formal programs and more on the people willing to sustain them. 

Through jam sessions, vinyl records, and late-night performances, Hiken is already expanding Webb’s music culture, one note at a time.