Composed Fully of Love: Cal Lerchi’s Pride for New Voices Bay Area
As annual Pride Month festivities commence all across the nation, we are honored to spotlight the pride coming from our own CMC community. We connected with Cal Lerchi, an intersex and nonbinary singer who has been a member of the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus—a tuition-free mixed-voice choral ensemble for singers who self-identify as […]
Congratulations to our 2025-26 Merit Scholars and Recital Performers!
This May, a panel of CMC faculty and staff auditioned students for full scholarships for the next school year’s private lessons. These annual awards are based on need and merit. This year the jury heard dozens of young musicians play an extraordinarily diverse repertoire. The jury wishes to thank everyone who helped prepare students for […]
“I’d Like to Keep This a Secret…”: How a Yearly Rehearsal Space Pass Helped Tommy Yuan Grow as a Musician
When we spoke with Tommy Yuan about his experience using a yearly rehearsal space pass at CMC, he didn’t hold back about how much it has meant to his musical growth. “Having a yearly rehearsal space pass has been a game changer for my practice routine,” Tommy told us. “It gave me a private space […]
Free Summer Concerts at CMC: The 2025 Shenson Faculty Concert Series
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 […]
“Yes, You’re a Composer”: Jono Kornfeld on Embracing the Creative Process
For many people, music composition can feel intimidating, especially at the beginning. But CMC faculty member Jono Kornfeld believes the creative process is something everyone can access, and that trial and error, mistakes, and growth should be normalized, especially for beginners unsure of their skills. “Even though we experience music as something linear and temporal, […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Why Stelly Kuo Keeps Coming Back to CMC
When Stelly Kuo first showed up to volunteer at CMC, she wasn’t nervous, she was excited. “I played in the school marching band for 10+ years. I wanted to see more kids getting excited about music.” That same energy still fuels her each time she returns to volunteer. Her journey began thanks to a workplace […]
Growing with Music: Ryan Rusali
On March 30th, the final performer in the CMC Richmond Branch Adult Recital was the twenty-four year-old Ryan Rusali, a long-time student of CMC Faculty Lilia Zheltova. Ryan’s powerful rendition of Chopin’s Scherzo No. 1 was met with thunderous applause, echoing the response he received for his performance at CMC’s Field Day. Today, Ryan’s skill […]
MDYMP Takes the Stage at Carnaval
Each spring, the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District come alive with celebrations during Carnaval San Francisco, a two-day festival that highlights the diversity of the city’s Latin American communities. This year, the Mission District Young Musicians Program (MDYMP)—a tuition-free CMC program that provides culturally relevant music training to Mission youth—will take the stage alongside […]
Field Day: Playing with a Purpose
When CMC’s annual Field Day rolls around, the campus buzzes with the joyful sounds of music, laughter, and connection. For CMC piano faculty member Christian Bonvin, the event is more than a performance opportunity—it’s a deeply meaningful expression of community and shared purpose. “Field Day is unique because it brings together the entire CMC community: […]
A Musical Evolution Rooted in Community: Daniel Brown
For Daniel Brown, a professional jazz musician and founder of the Richmond District’s beloved record store NOISE, the roots of his musical journey trace back to childhood lessons at CMC. Introduced to CMC by his fourth and fifth grade music teacher, Robert Daniels, Brown’s early experiences at both the Richmond District Branch and the Mission […]