South Puget Sound Community College unveils new alma mater

OLYMPIA –– South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) played a new alma mater song at its virtual commencement June 20, which was performed by the SPSCC Chamber Singers. 

“The Waves of South Puget Sound” was written by the college’s very own music faculty member, John Guarente, and will soon be joined by an orchestral arrangement faculty members of the SPSCC music department will write in the coming months. Guarente, who came to SPSCC in 2018 and now teaches choral ensembles and music theory at SPSCC, started writing a new school song for the college at the onset of his time at SPSCC. 

“It’s important for students to get a sense of school community and pride,” said Guarente in a press release issued by the college on Monday. “An alma mater can really help our school community build on that sense of pride.”

The release of the new alma mater comes after SPSCC also announced a new music program this spring. The Associate in Music program is accepting new students this fall and is aimed for students who want to begin their musical studies in the greater Olympia community before transferring to a university.