The San Francisco Community Music Center is a nonprofit music school located in San Francisco, California, US.[1] The CMC is the oldest community arts organization in the San Francisco Bay Area.[2] The school's stated mission is to make "high quality music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, regardless of financial means."[3]
| San Francisco Community Music Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Information | |
| Type | Music |
| Established | 1921 |
| Founder | Gertrude Field |
| Executive Director | Julie Rulyak Steinberg |
| Gender | All |
| Age range | All |
| Website | sfcmc |
History
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The Community Music Center was founded in 1921 by Gertrude Field, evolving from her Dolores Street Girls Club.[4][5] The main branch has remained in the same building in San Francisco's Mission District since the founding of the school.[4]
In 1983, the CMC opened a second branch in San Francisco's Richmond District.[4]
In 2012, the CMC purchased the property next door to the school's main building in the Mission District, in order to provide ADA-compliant accessibility and double the number of students. In November 2019, the San Francisco Planning Commission approved the plans for this expansion.[4][6]
In December 2019, the CMC was added to the city's Legacy Business Registry, in recognition of the school's decades of service to the community.[4][7]
In February 2022, its centennial year, the CMC held a groundbreaking for their Mission District expansion.[8][9] The newly completed expansion was opened to the public in January 2024,[10][11] and a grand opening ceremony was held the following month.[12][13]
Programs, staff, and faculty
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Julie Rulyak Steinberg serves as the Community Music Center's executive director.[4][14] Sylvia Sherman is the program director.[15]
The CMC serves over 3100 students annually.[4] Private lessons and group classes in voice, instruments, composition, and music theory are offered, with tuition assistance available on a sliding scale.[1][5]
The CMC hosts several tuition-free programs, including choirs for adults aged 55 and older,[16][17] the Mission District Young Musicians Program for students aged 13 to 18,[18] a Black Music Studies program, led by Maestro Curtis and Nola Curtis,[19] and the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, a mixed voice choral ensemble for transgender, intersex, and genderqueer singers, led by Reuben Zellman.[4][15][20] Former ambassador and philanthropist James Hormel was one of the first donors to help fund the New Voices chorus.[15]
Notable guests and alumni
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Notable guest performers and instructors at the school have included Emanuel Ax, Jascha Heifetz, Max Roach, and Marcus Shelby.[5][21]
Notable alumni include singers Johnny Mathis[21] and Lucine Amara.[22]
References
edit- ^ a b Lagos, Marisa (November 29, 2014). "Community Music Center a constant amid Mission District change". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ "S.F.'s Community Music Center celebrates 90 years". San Francisco Chronicle. October 13, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Mission, Vision, & Values". San Francisco Community Music Center. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Collister, Nikki (December 17, 2019). "Community Music Center to expand Mission District campus". Hoodline. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c B., Marke (August 24, 2015). "Pick up your horn and blow!". 48 hills. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Gereben, Janos (May 20, 2014). "Community Music Center to Have New Home". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Community Music Center and The EndUp Gain Legacy Status". SF Station. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ Veltman, Chloe (February 15, 2022). "100-Year-Old SF Community Music Center Breaks Ground on New Building". KQED. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Kotapish, Paul (March 15, 2022). "The Community Music Center Sails Into Its Second Century". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Growing in Harmony: A Look at the Renewed CMC Campus". San Francisco Community Music Center. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Gilbert, Andrew (February 15, 2024). "Walking through the expanded Community Music Center". Mission Local. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Kaliss, Jeff (February 21, 2024). "Community Music Center Celebrates Grand Opening of New Building". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ Ayyoub, Loureen (March 8, 2024). "Community music center in S.F. Mission District expands". CBS Bay Area. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Blot, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "Mind the Music". Nob Hill Gazette. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Madison, Alex (August 1, 2018). "Music center launches genderqueer chorus". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Chien, Jen (October 17, 2016). "Older adult choirs bring joy and community to San Francisco seniors". KALW. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Lee, Lauren (April 12, 2019). "Study sings the praises of choir membership for lonely older adults". CNN. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Cortez, Jennifer (June 10, 2019). "Community Music Center receives $16K grant to fund music program". Mission Local. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Fancher, Lou (April 18, 2022). "Celebrating Black Music History at SF Community Music Center". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Freymann, Jeffrey (November 19, 2018). "New Voices Bay Area Makes its Debut". KDFC. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Zane, Maitland (January 18, 1997). "Making Music Accessible / Center celebrates 75 years of educating San Franciscans". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Lucine Amara: Opera Diva Reaches High Note of 90". New Jersey Stage. February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
External links
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