CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward
Make musical discoveries with faculty from Community Music Center as they explore their methods, approaches, and creative practices in adapting musical traditions to inspire and guide the musicians of tomorrow. CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward showcases the talents of faculty from the CMC Cultural Traditions and Piano Departments who represent diverse classical and non-classical traditions in workshops and presentations. The online workshops will use video, audio, and lecture-demonstrations to illustrate the faculty members’ influences and the musical education that shaped them, highlighting how their traditions impact their teaching and performing at CMC. Their personal stories illustrate the breadth of talent and creativity in CMC’s faculty.
Meet these talented and inspiring faculty:
January 27, 2022 at 7pm (PT)
Larry Dunn came from a family of music lovers and grew up listening to the LPs and 78s of Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Art Tatum, Nat Cole Trio, and many of the jazz swing greats of that era. This, in large part, was the foundation of his musical life, and was built upon and refined over the years. As he grew as a songwriter and musician, he borrowed heavily from those traditions. Charlie Christian became a big influence on his playing and the music of Big Joe Turner, Count Basie, and Louis Jordan became his musical neighborhood, forming the touchstone as Larry took his place in the jump swing revival of the 1990s, writing, performing, and recording songs in this style. Larry will talk about the history of this music that began and flourished in the ‘40s. He’ll play recordings of his songs that owe more than a tip of the hat to the jump swing era and talk about the ‘90s jump blues swing scene.
This event will be conducted online via video conferencing. RSVP HERE to receive the link to join, emailed prior to the start of the discussion.
People who are interested in this workshop can dive deeper by exploring private lessons and group classes and ensembles.
Bio:
Larry Dunn has recorded for Warner Bros., Rounder, and Rhino record companies. He has written, recorded, and produced 7 indie CDs. As a published songwriter he has had music placed in film and television, MUZAK, Pandora, and been recorded by other artists and included on compilation CDs. Larry has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and with his group Rhythm Sheiks played many of the live music venues in San Francisco and Bay Area during the ‘90s.
CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward
Make musical discoveries with faculty from Community Music Center as they explore their methods, approaches, and creative practices in adapting musical traditions to inspire and guide the musicians of tomorrow. CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward showcases the talents of faculty from the CMC Cultural Traditions and Piano Departments who represent diverse classical and non-classical traditions in workshops and presentations. The online workshops will use video, audio, and lecture-demonstrations to illustrate the faculty members’ influences and the musical education that shaped them, highlighting how their traditions impact their teaching and performing at CMC. Their personal stories illustrate the breadth of talent and creativity in CMC’s faculty.
Meet these talented and inspiring faculty:
February 10, 2022 at 7pm (PT)
FREE
In Classical Foundations, Popular and Traditional Performance and Pedagogy, Tregar Otton will discuss traditional and popular music from Cuba, Ireland, the U.S.A. and The Americas, through the lens of a performer, teacher and arranger/composer with a strong classical background. The presentation will include video of both source material and Tregar’s performances along with live performances. In keeping with the theme of CMC Sessions, the presentation will cover Tregar’s journey from classical violin training starting at the age of four, to performing traditional Cuban and Mexican music in major venues both nationally and internationally and the impact that journey has on his students teaching at the Community Music Center of San Francisco.
This event will be conducted online via video conferencing. RSVP HERE to receive the link to join, emailed prior to the start of the discussion.
People who are interested in this workshop can dive deeper by exploring private lessons and group classes and ensembles.
Bio:
Tregar began his classical training at age four. At sixteen, he was the youngest member of the Berkeley Symphony and played under his mentor, Maestro Kent Nagano. Tregar has been continually performing professionally since he was 16. He is the violinist, composer/arranger, and musical director of Orquesta la Moderna Tradición, an established, internationally known Cuban Orquesta dedicated to performing traditional and modern Cuban music including Danzón, Cha-Cha-Chá and other genres; this led him into investigation and performance of deeply traditional Afro-Cuban music. He is musical director of The Shams Eire, an Irish trad/rock/rebel-music band. Tregar has also performed for decades with Los Cenzontles playing, teaching and investigating Mexican traditional and modern music. He is a well-known performer in flamenco circles as well. He performed with as a regular member in bands in New York with Chocolate Armenteros, Patato Valdes, Juan Carlos Formel, and Orquesta Broadway.
CMC will be closed in observance of President’s Day. No classes or lessons.
CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward
Make musical discoveries with faculty from Community Music Center as they explore their methods, approaches, and creative practices in adapting musical traditions to inspire and guide the musicians of tomorrow. CMC Sessions: Traditions Moving Forward showcases the talents of faculty from the CMC Cultural Traditions and Piano Departments who represent diverse classical and non-classical traditions in workshops and presentations. The online workshops will use video, audio, and lecture-demonstrations to illustrate the faculty members’ influences and the musical education that shaped them, highlighting how their traditions impact their teaching and performing at CMC. Their personal stories illustrate the breadth of talent and creativity in CMC’s faculty.
Meet these talented and inspiring faculty:
February 24, 2022 at 7pm (PT)
FREE
A first-ever inside look at the music of the Bay Area’s Grammy award-winning big band, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, from the percussionist’s perspective. On September 4, 2010, percussionist and singer Omar Ledezma Jr. joined the newest Latin project in San Francisco, which consisted of a 19-piece mambo-style big band. Since then, the band has produced three albums. Their first self-titled album won a Grammy award for “Best Tropical Latin Album” in 2013, and has toured nationally and internationally with great success. Omar will discuss how the orquesta developed into one of the strongest rhythm sections in the Bay Area. Original footage, pictures, and charts will be used in reviewing 12 years of a historical musical journey!
This event will be conducted online via video conferencing. RSVP HERE to receive the link to join, emailed prior to the start of the discussion.
People who are interested in this workshop can dive deeper by exploring private lessons and group classes and ensembles.
Bio:
From Caracas, Venezuela, Grammy award-winning singer and percussionist Omar Ledezma Jr. has been playing professionally since the age of 15. In 1995 he graduated from one of the most prestigious law schools in Caracas. In 1998, Omar packed one bag and one drum and moved to Boston after making a passionate commitment to study at the Berklee College of Music. After graduating in 2005, he moved to the Bay Area, where today he teaches at the Community Music Center. Omar has played, recorded, and toured with local and international artists and founded a group dedicated to the cajón, a wooden box percussion instrument. The Ka-Hon Ensemble is one of the biggest stars of the Adventures In Music program of the San Francisco Symphony. In 2013, he won a Grammy with the now worldwide-acclaimed Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Omar is also a music accompanist for the San Francisco Ballet Dance In Schools and Communities (DISC) education program and is an exclusive artist with Pearl Percussion, Pinchclip, ELH Cowbells, Kandu Cajons, Vater, and Soultone Cymbals.
Re-registration for current students to enroll for Spring Quarter is February 28–March 14. Be sure to check your invoice for holds, and reserve your spot paying your $25 deposit, or request changes by contacting a registrar by March 14. After the Nov 29 deadline, you’ll need to make an appointment with a registrar to re-enroll. Please be aware we cannot guarantee your current time or teacher after the deadline.
Join us for an evening of music and celebration reflecting on CMC’s historic legacy providing music for everyone and looking forward to the next century of arts access.
Honoring Roselyne Chroman Swig, La Doña, Betty Wong, and Shirley Wong-Frentzel with the 2022 Gertrude Field Community Impact Award.
Performers
Sean Jones
Pene Pati and Amina Edris
Alexander String Quartet
Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie
John Santos
Jason Vieaux
Paula West
Featuring Master of Ceremonies Renel Brooks-Moon and Auctioneer Greg Quiroga.
All proceeds support CMC’s mission to make high-quality music education accessible to all people, regardless of financial means.
Learn more about the performers, auction items, and reserve tickets here.
Event Committee
Sharon Seto, Chair
Kathy Aizawa
Katie Colendich
Nicole Cooper
Pamela Culp
Tim Eischens
Lauren Erickson
Joel Goodrich
Lin Sun-Hoffman, Ph.D., J.D.
Brooke Joseph
Ludmila Kisseleva
Patricia Taylor Lee
Sharon Litsky
Ann Ludwig
Irena Matijas
Trisha Mount
Russell Martinelli
Amanda Sargisson
Yuan Yuan Tan
Diana Whitehead
Diana Wild
Platinum Sponsors:
Dan Dodt, in Loving Memory of Linda Kay Blacketer
Gold Sponsors:
Cathi Kwon
Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation
Oak Hill Capital Corporation
Silver Sponsors:
Barbara Kosnar and Thomas Goldman
Diane B. Wilsey
Bronze Sponsors:
Katherine and Roy Bukstein
Yee-Wan and John Stevens
Media Sponsor:
The Nob Hill Gazette
Wine Sponsor:
Miner Family Winery
For questions about sponsorship, contact Elenka Refsell at 415-647-6015 x178 or erefsell@sfcmc.org.
This is the last day for current students to make their deposits, change requests, or withdraw from lessons or classes for Spring Quarter 2022. Contact the Registration Team with questions. Students that miss this re-registration deadline will need to make an enrollment appointment.
Open registration for Winter Quarter begins on March 21. New students (or current students that missed the re-registration deadline) should make an appointment with a registrar to enroll in lessons or classes this spring (April 4–June 15). To schedule an appointment, please visit the enrollment page, or contact a registrar at (415) 647-6015 (Mission District Branch) or (415) 221-4515 (Richmond District Branch).
Last day of Winter Quarter. Make-up week is March 28–April 3 for instructors that have scheduled make-ups specifically.
Spring Quarter begins April 4, 2022.
