CSUN’s Music Entertainment Student Association (MESA) offers students an opportunity to network, gain hands-on experience and collaborate in a professional, low-risk environment. By working closely with VOVE, CSUN’s student-run music label, MESA can help students explore the various aspects of the music industry – regardless of their major.

VOVE is only open to students enrolled in Music Industry Practicum (MUS 439C) – a class offered by the music department – and exclusive to music industry studies majors. However, MESA is open to all students interested in the industry by educating them on event planning, marketing, management and other industry-related fields.

The club’s vice president, Ava Verhoeven, said, “MESA opens [VOVE] up for students of any department. So if you are in music composition, if you are in marketing, if you are in any major and you want to be involved in the music industry in any capacity, you can join MESA and we work together.”

As co-executive of VOVE and MESA club president, Matthew Lombardi described the two organizations as a “siblingship” and detailed their roles. “MESA is a little bit more of the learning aspect, where VOVE is more of the events, as well as the actual putting what we’re learning from MESA and all these different things into action,” Lombardi said.

The club also fosters an environment for students to connect and grow professionally. According to Verhoeven, MESA assisted in her professional development.

“I feel like before MESA and VOVE, you don’t really interact much with other industry people until your junior year cause that’s when you have more major-specific classes,” Verhoeven said. “But we have freshmen and sophomores that are in MESA that want to be involved in VOVE, and it’s really just helped them create a community of people that have the same interests and the same aspirations as they do.”

Over the years, the club has hosted open mics, night markets and panel discussions featuring industry professionals. These events have historically provided students with invaluable insights into the industry and find mentors or internship opportunities.

On March 28, 2025, VOVE, in partnership with MESA, will host an event featuring Dro, one of the label’s artists. Students can also look forward to performances from Cayden, sofistolethemoon and Tri-Star this spring.

Those interested in joining or learning more about MESA can contact CSUN’s student organization directory, MataSync or reach out to @csunmesa on Instagram.