This summer, CMC invites you to enjoy the 2025 Shenson Faculty Concert Series, a special lineup of four evenings featuring live music performed by CMC’s exceptional faculty. These free concerts are made possible through the generous support of the Shenson Foundation, a long-time champion of the arts in the Bay Area. Thanks to the Foundation’s backing, CMC’s faculty artists have a platform to share their unique musical voices with the community, showcasing the diversity, creativity, and talent that define CMC.
The series begins on July 10 with “A Singer-Songwriter Song Exchange,” curated by longtime CMC guitar and songwriting teacher Larry Dunn. Larry brings together fellow CMC artists Allison Lovejoy, Erik Pearson, and Evelyn Davis for an evening of original music and storytelling. Each artist shares songs and the stories behind them, creating a warm, intimate space of connection between performers and audience.
Larry Dunn is a deeply experienced musician and educator who has taught guitar at CMC for over 20 years. He studied with Dale Brunner and Jackie King and has recorded for Warner Bros., Rounder, and Rhino. Larry has toured nationally opening for legendary artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt. His teaching spans blues, rock, jazz, folk, bluegrass, country, and more, tailored for students of all levels. He also coaches songwriting, having recently taught comprehensive courses on songwriting fundamentals and lyric writing.
Joining Larry are Allison Lovejoy, a pianist known for her versatility across classical to contemporary repertoire. Allison holds a Master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has performed worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. She is also a composer, with recordings spanning cabaret, art song, and classical genres. Allison teaches at CMC and several other Bay Area institutions.
Guitarist Erik Pearson graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory and plays a range of styles from folk to free-improv jazz-rock. Pianist Evelyn Davis is a multi-talented performer, composer, and improviser with degrees from Indiana University and Mills College, known for her adventurous explorations in new music and improvisation.
On July 24, cellist Ben Snellings and violinist/violist Gloria Justen present “String Songs: Musical Colors from Paris to SF.” This duo concert explores a broad palette of styles from French Romanticism and Impressionism to jazz and contemporary originals. Their program features works by composers like Fauré, Ravel, McCartney, and Jobim, blending sweet, dramatic, and groove-based sounds with improvisation and playful rhythms.
Ben Snellings brings over 25 years of performance and teaching experience in the Bay Area, with credits in orchestras, musical theater, jazz ensembles, and more. He studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the University of Arizona. Gloria Justen, a versatile composer and performer, is a Curtis Institute graduate and former member of the San Francisco Symphony. She has toured internationally and collaborated across genres including contemporary classical and electronic music. Gloria composes and teaches while maintaining an active performance schedule.
The August 7 concert, “Spirology y Su Batanzón,” is led by violinist Tregar Otton and percussionist Michael Spiro in a vibrant 10-piece ensemble. The performance fuses sacred Afro-Cuban batá drumming traditions with Cuban popular dance music, creating a dynamic soundscape that invites both dancers and listeners to experience Cuban heritage in a fresh way.
Tregar Otton began classical violin training at age four and was the youngest member of the Berkeley Symphony at sixteen. He is musical director of Orquesta La Moderna Tradición and has explored diverse musical traditions from Cuba, Ireland, and Spain throughout his career. Michael Spiro is a legendary percussionist known for his mastery of Afro-Cuban rhythms.
The series closes on August 14 with “Voices of the Saxophone,” featuring Spanish saxophonist Juan Carlos Entrambasaguas, pianist Natsuki Fukasawa, and saxophonist Ricardo Martinez. Their program covers a range of styles from jazz and modern compositions to a reimagined suite by Shostakovich. Highlights include works by Jun Nagao, Poulenc, Jennifer Higdon, and a new piece by CMC faculty composer Joshua Saulle.
Juan Carlos Entrambasaguas is an accomplished saxophonist and educator with degrees from the Sibelius Academy in Finland and the Superior Conservatory of Salamanca, Spain. He has performed internationally and taught master classes worldwide. Ricardo Martinez is assistant professor of saxophone at University of the Pacific and regularly performs with prestigious symphonies and festivals. Pianist Natsuki Fukasawa, a Steinway Artist, teaches at University of the Pacific and has performed across multiple continents. She has recorded acclaimed chamber music albums and is recognized for her skill and artistry.
All concerts are held on Thursdays at 7pm from July 10 through August 14 at CMC’s Mission District Branch. Admission is free and open to all. These performances celebrate the artistic excellence of CMC’s faculty while inviting the community to experience music in a welcoming and inspiring setting.
For more information or to RSVP here.