Exciting news about the Campus Expansion Project
On Thursday, November 21, CMC’s Campus Expansion Project went before the San Francisco Planning Commission. A robust contingent of students, faculty, and friends of CMC attended the hearing to show their support for the project. After the project was presented to the Commission, 13 people spoke in support of the Campus Expansion Project during the public comment portion. Students, parents, and neighbors of all ages shared personal, heartfelt experiences in support of CMC’s work and of the Campus Expansion Project.
Getting started with improvising: Practice tips from CMC jazz improv and trumpet faculty Max Miller-Loran
Do you want to get started learning how to improvise, but don’t know where to begin? Max Miller-Loran, who teaches trumpet, Jazz Improvisation-Beginning, and Jazz Improvisation Workshop, has great tips to get you going. Winter Quarter is a perfect time to learn a new musical skill. CMC offers an array of opportunities to woodshed your jazz skills. In addition to Max’s classes, try private lessons, Jazz Ensembles, and Djangology. All levels are welcome.
Announcing 2020 Shenson Faculty Concert Series Grant Recipients
2019-2020 marks the 25th Anniversary season of the Shenson Faculty Concert Series at Community Music Center. This series was established by the Shenson Foundation to support CMC Faculty as performing artists and ensure their work on stage is shared and celebrated in our community. Each year, the Shenson Foundation sponsors four free community concerts for CMC faculty music projects. The faculty members and their ensembles are selected by a committee of musicians from CMC’s Board of Directors. It’s always a pain-staking decision to select four recipients from a pool of talented faculty applicants.
This year’s series celebrates local composers, CMC faculty/staff songwriters and lyricists, excellence in virtuosity, and the power of music to speak amidst difficult political times. The series showcases four faculty concerts that span the genres of classical, Latin, contemporary, Americana, R&B, and experimental musical styles.
CMC choirs sing city-wide this December
As the year comes to a close, CMC’s Older Adult Choir Program is celebrating with festive concerts all over San Francisco during the month of December. The concerts take place around the city in the various neighborhood centers where each choir holds weekly rehearsals, and are open to the public and free unless otherwise noted. […]
Holiday concerts in the Mission celebrate Latino culture and music
Two Mission District neighborhood holiday concerts are taking place the first weekend of December. On Friday, December 6, CMC presents “Christmas in the Mission / Navidad en la Misión” at Mission Dolores Basilica. On Saturday, December 7 the “Afro-Latin Dance Party with Two Generations” will light up the CMC Concert Hall. Both events shine a spotlight on CMC music programs that teach music from the Spanish-speaking world and celebrate Latino culture.
New leadership in “tried and true” ensembles
Two of CMC’s tried and true ensemble classes are receiving new leadership. Scott O’Day recently took over the Beatles Ensembles. Jose Roberto Hernandez will be taking over leadership of the Latin Vocal Workshop.
Welcoming Ann Mony to CMC as the Operations Manager
Interview: Ann Mony, Operations Manager Ann Mony is no stranger to CMC. She has been co-producing a monthly swing dance event at CMC for five years. The Bootlegger’s Ball is a well-attended mainstay in the swing dance community and features some of the hottest jazz and swing bands in the Bay Area. In July, Ann […]
How do you make a violin sound great? Throw it in the trash and buy a piano! Practice tips from CMC faculty member Heidi Kim
Heidi Kim (left) teaches violin at the Mission and Richmond District Branches. She is also a coach for Chamber Music Camp. From the series: Practice Tips from Community Music Center Faculty By: Heidi Kim, violin faculty member Some days more than others I want to throw my violin (or bow) against the wall, neither of […]
World-class artists take the stage at Concert with Conversation series 2019–2020
This year’s free Concert with Conversation series sponsored by San Francisco Performances features Grammy Award-winning artists, musicians of critical acclaim, and raising stars who are quickly becoming legends in their genres. San Francisco Performances, celebrating their 40th anniversary season, is providing five unforgettable concerts for the CMC community. Each short concert is followed by a […]
Welcoming Adriana Marrero Ocasio, CMC Program Coordinator and MDYMP Coordinator
Interview: Adriana Marrero Ocasio, CMC Program Coordinator and MDYMP Coordinator The CMC staff is very happy to welcome Adriana to the team. She will be supporting CMC’s diverse and plentiful programs as the Program Coordinator. She will also be helping to administer the Mission District Young Musicians Program as the MDYMP Coordinator. Adriana is also […]