On Saturday, March 14, Community Music Center brought together friends, supporters, and musicians for its most well-attended Spring Gala yet. Held at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, the evening was a celebration of everything CMC stands for: the belief that music belongs to everyone, regardless of background or means.
Guests arrived to the sound of the Children’s Chorus welcoming them into the lobby, setting the tone before the cocktail reception even began. The reception featured performances by Teen Jazz Orchestra member Eliot Valz and CMC faculty member Javi Jiménez. The main program opened with remarks by San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, whose presence alongside fellow civic leaders Supervisor Connie Chan, City Attorney David Chiu, and State Senator Scott Wiener underscored the city’s investment in CMC’s mission.
The banquet dinner was warm and full of life. Three honorees were recognized for their lasting contributions to CMC and the broader music community: Ronald Gallman, recently retired Director of Education at the San Francisco Symphony and a longtime CMC board member, was celebrated for his decades of commitment to music education in San Francisco. Supporters Sharon L. Litsky and John F. Sampson were honored for their steadfast dedication to CMC’s mission and their decades of service to the community.
The performances throughout the night made the work feel immediate and real. CMC Mariachi opened with energy that set the room alight. The Children’s Chorus returned for a moving tribute to the CMC community members lost over the past year. CMC merit scholar Laura Chen then took the stage at dinner and left the audience in awe. A heartfelt testimonial from CMC student Angel Rosales energized the audience moments before Jonathan Moscone, stepping in at the last minute, led a record-breaking paddle raise that filled the room with momentum and generosity.
After dessert, San Francisco Symphony pianist Elizabeth Dorman performed to a rapt audience, followed by a string quartet from the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra that ended in a standing ovation. Together, they were a vivid reminder of what becomes possible when young people have access to great music education. The Le Jazz Hot Quartet, featuring CMC alum Cullen Luper, closed out the night and kept guests on the dance floor well into the evening.
Together, the Gala and online auction raised more than $430,000 to support tuition-free programs, sliding-scale tuition assistance, and scholarships at CMC. It was a room full of people saying, with their presence and their generosity, that music belongs to everyone.