Welcoming Susan Comstock & Michelle Navarrete
As 2020 comes to a close, we wanted to introduce some of our newest staff members. Both Susan Comstock and Michelle Navarrete started working in July. Like many staff members, Susan and Michelle are both artists—Susan is a visual artist and jewelry maker and Michelle is an actor and singer. We are very happy to have these amazing women onboard.
As the Finance Manager, Susan is a key member of the finance team, partnering with the executive team to manage the financial activities of the organization, Michelle is the Older Adult Choir Coordinator and works with the thirteen older adult choirs in partnership with senior centers throughout San Francisco.
What we’re listening to” with Adriana Marrero: Au revoir!
This month we have a staff member curating the playlist. Adriana is the Program Coordinator and is a vocalist. Her playlist comes from an insatiable love and curiosity for music from around the world. You’ll hear music of Puerto Rico (where Adriana is from), plus a slew of other countries that include Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, West Africa, Turkey–plus a lot of great jazz. Listen to Adriana talk about the playlist in the video below and enjoy!
A tribute to Juliet McComas
The Community Music Center family is mourning the loss of one of its shining lights. Juliet McComas, founder of the Annual Keyboard Marathon and an extraordinary piano teacher, died on October 31st, of complications following heart surgery.
Faculty awarded equipment and technology grants
Last month, CMC made 29 grants to faculty members to support their equipment and technology needs for online teaching. CMC faculty and students have been amazingly resilient and learned how to cater their teaching to distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, however some teachers have experienced difficulties related to their equipment and technology access. For this reason, CMC sought support to fund faculty needs. Happily, with support from the MOCA Foundation, CMC was able to develop the Faculty Technology Grants program. CMC faculty identified the faculty’s greatest needs– ranging from new laptops, to better cameras and microphones, to software applications to support teaching.
Unlocking the secrets to improvisation at MusicLab workshop
Rosewoman’s MusicLab workshop hosted by CMC on Thursday, November 12 will take participants through a process of unlocking the secrets of improvisation and creative expression through looking at rhythmic concepts rooted in Afro-Cuban music.
“What we’re listening to” with The Curtis Family C-notes: Favorite Songs for CMC
This month’s Spotify playlist called “Twists and Turns” is curated by Michael Mohammed, voice faculty member. As he says about the playlist, “It’s all vocalists, of all different stripes. It’s a little bit of singers behaving badly…legit singers stepping outside their genres…and pop singers who might be sounding a little more legit. I think there’s a lot surprises on this list.”
“Hello Chorus” illuminates human connection during the Pandemic
Creating “Hello Chorus” Beth Wilmurt, who conducts three of the Community Music Center (CMC) Older Adult Choirs, started making instructional videos for her choirs in early March when senior centers throughout San Francisco were shut down. Through this transition to a virtual choir, a series of email exchanges between choir members and Wilmurt were collected […]
Making the musical connection with Gabi Díaz-Hernández
Deciding what instrument to learn, what kind of music to play, and finding the right teacher can be a lot to navigate when signing up for music lessons. This decision-making process at CMC is facilitated with the help of the registration team.
Gabi Díaz-Hernández has been a smiling face in the registration office since 2018. As an adult music student, multi-instrumentalist, and someone very familiar with the CMC faculty she is uniquely equipped to help students.
“What we’re listening to” with Michael Mohammed: Twists & Turns
This month’s Spotify playlist called “Twists and Turns” is curated by Michael Mohammed, voice faculty member. As he says about the playlist, “It’s all vocalists, of all different stripes. It’s a little bit of singers behaving badly…legit singers stepping outside their genres…and pop singers who might be sounding a little more legit. I think there’s a lot surprises on this list.”
50 Years of Iconic Latin Music with Oscar Hernández
Over the course of a nearly fifty year music career, Oscar Hernández has played with some of the most iconic and well-known artists in the New York City Latin music scene. As he said, “New York was in the middle of the Latino cultural revolution and music was a huge part of that— the music of Machito, Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, on and on, so many artists that were part of that era influenced the rest of the world with regard to Latin music.” And Hernández played with them all.