San Francisco Community Music Center
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 |
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]
History
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]
Programs, staff, and faculty
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/New_Voices_Bay_Area_TIGQ_chorus_20191201-8329.jpg/220px-New_Voices_Bay_Area_TIGQ_chorus_20191201-8329.jpg)
Julie Rulyak Steinberg serves as the Community Music Center's executive director.[4] Sylvia Sherman is the program director.[8]
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,[9][10] the Mission District Young Musicians Program for students aged 13 to 18,[11] and the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, a mixed voice choral ensemble for transgender, intersex, and genderqueer singers, led by Reuben Zellman.[4][8][12] Former ambassador and philanthropist James Hormel was one of the first donors to help fund the New Voices chorus.[8]
Notable guests and alumni
Notable guest performers and instructors at the school have included Emanuel Ax, Jascha Heifetz, Max Roach, and Marcus Shelby.[5][13]
Notable alumni include singers Johnny Mathis[13] and Lucine Amara.[14]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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