Community Music Center’s annual Field Day at CMC Performathon is a celebration of music and community that raises funds for CMC’s scholarships and tuition assistance programs.
See you at this year’s 10th Anniversary musical extravaganza featuring performances, community, and special guests:
Field Day 2026
Sunday, May 31
11am–5pm
Join us for a special 10th Anniversary Afterparty immediately following the Performathon, featuring Agua Pura and additional faculty and alumni performers, refreshments, and more fun!
What is a Performathon?
The Field Day Performathon is like a walkathon. CMC students and faculty sign up to perform and ask family, friends, neighbors, and/or local businesses to sponsor them by donating. All donations go directly to CMC scholarships and tuition assistance programs. Performathon participants can collect donations online through their online donation pages or through cash or checks.
For assistance with your online profile or collecting donations, contact Nick Colella, Development Manager at ncolella@sfcmc.org.
How to Participate
There are plenty of ways to get involved in Field Day at CMC:
Perform solo or with an ensemble
Ensembles can be CMC classes, pick-up groups formed for the day like the Field Day Choir, or your own group!
- Sign up to perform by April 27, 2026.
- Submit your performance details to the Performer Information Form by May 1, 2026.
Join the audience
Show your support and cheer on our performers
Make a donation to support the Performathon
Sponsor a performer to help them reach their fundraising goals!
Field Day Choir
Sing with the Field Day Choir
Singers are invited to come together to perform “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love,” arranged by faculty member Beth Wilmurt (which premiered at Vocalpalooza 2026). The Field Day Choir will be co-directed by CMC Faculty Michael Mohammed, Nena Aldaz, and Sharon Wayne and kick-off this year’s Field Day Performathon.
Sign up for the Field Day Choir when you register for Field Day and check the checkbox for Field Day Choir. Registration closes April 27.
Download Field Day Choir Music
You can find sheet music, practice tracks, and notes for “What the World Needs Now” below to learn the music in advance. Your CMC teacher can help you to prepare as well!
Field Day Choir FAQ
Will there be a group rehearsal before?
We will gather at 10:15am to do a run through prior to our performance at 11am on Field Day May 31, 2026
Where will the performance take place?
We are envisioning a welcoming performance right outside of CMC’s Mission District Branch. If this is not possible, we will perform inside CMC’s concert hall.
How can I learn the music in advance?
You can access the music from the arranger Beth Wilmurt to listen and learn in advance. Please feel free to work on this with your teacher (or students).
Does this count as an ensemble performance? (Can I perform solo but not as part of another group?)
No! This does not count as an ensemble performance. You can still do a solo performance and be part of another group. This is an additional experience for the entire community!
Field Day 2026 Schedule
Field Day Performathon
Sunday, May 31, 2026
- 11am–5pm Performathon
- 5–6:30pm Field Day Afterparty
CMC Mission District Branch
544 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Free and open to the public!
Don’t miss our 10th Anniversary Field Day Afterparty following the Performathon. We’ll kick off the festivities in the courtyard with music and refreshments, and keep the celebrations going with a special performance and dance party by Agua Pura—the all-femme salsa band featuring faculty and former faculty!
Performer Schedule
Stay tuned! We’ll share the performer schedule in May 2026.
Special Guest Artists
Special Guest Artists
We’re thrilled to welcome some guest artists to perform at this year’s Field Day, including alumni, current & former faculty, and local musicians—including a super secret guest to be announced on the day of Field Day! Stay tuned for the full performance schedule.
Loren Gigi,
Loren Gigi, a CMC alum, will perform solo violin and will reunite with her former CMC teacher, Sin-Tung Chiu ,in duet!
Aerodynamic
Aerodynamic is comprised of Ryan Ancheta: Trumpet, Sedge Green: Bass, Sora Hoshino: Guitar, Zev Vestel: Drums. The band is a jazz and fusion band created in 2022 by members of the CMC Young Musicians Program with Scott Foster and Marcus Shelby’s Teen Jazz Orchestra. Now in college, the members of the group are delighted to reunite for this performance celebrating Community Music Center.
Los Jefes
Los Jefes play a mixture of Salsa and Timba music blending sounds of New York, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Vocals: Belén Cortés, Bass: Mateo Siguenza, Trombone: Adrián Blanco, Tumbadoras: Rogelio Murillo, Piano: Ezra Mass, Bongó: Ceferino Vergara Los Jefes features several MDYMP Alum!
Kai Lyons Cuban Group ft. Jose Andres “El Sinsonte”
30 minutes of Cuban Bliss — old-school acoustic changui, son and boleros. Kai Lyons, CMC alumni from the Mission District Young Musicians Program (MDYMP), leads the band and plays the Tres Cuban Guitar with Cy Thompson (current CMC faculty) on Marimbula, Tobiah Gaster on Auxiliary Percussion and Second Voice, Einar Tito Leliebre on Bongo de Monte and special guest from Guantanamo via Tampa: Jose Andres “El Sinsonte”, master of the Spanish Decima and decades-long lead singer of the internationally acclaimed Changui Guantanamo.
Afterparty with Agua Pura
Meet San Francisco’s All Star Salsa Band! Agua Pura is a San Francisco based Salsa band comprised of all female musicians. Agua Pura plays a mix of traditional Cuban music, Cumbia, Salsa, Timba, and original Latin music. The band features the bandleader, Rebecca Rodríguez (former CMC faculty) on conga, percussion, and vocals, Katharine Headlund on piano, Mireya Leon on bass, Mena Ramos on timbales, Belén Cortes on percussion and vocals, Zahra Rothschild (current CMC faculty) on vocals and hand percussion, Jessica Hom on trombone, Marina Garza on trumpet, and Nzingah Smith on tenor saxophone and flute. This local Salsa band’s mission is to create a safe space for female musicians to express themselves and connect to their ancestry. ¡Ay que sigala salsa Mamá! Agua Pura’s members include current and former faculty members as well as CMC Alumni!
Fundraising Prizes
One year of private 30-minute lessons at CMC
Grand Prize (to the person who has the most people sponsoring them)
$100 gift certificate to Limón
Every performer who raises:
$10+ CMC keychain
$50+ CMC keychain + music folder
$100+ CMC keychain + music folder + lunch bag
$250+ CMC keychain + music folder + lunch bag + tote bag
$500+ CMC keychain + music folder + lunch bag + tote bag + beach towel
$1,000+ CMC keychain + music folder + lunch bag + tote bag + beach towel + CMC group class (1-quarter) of your choosing
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about how to sign up, submit your performer information, and raising donations here:
Event Sponsors
Thank You to our Sponsors:
Presenting
Rob and Katie Woodruff
Diamond
Max and Jini Yoshimoto
Platinum
Gold
Christopher Borg
Catharine and John Kalin
Preferred Building Services
Bronze
Novogradac & Company LLP®
Community Partner
Media Sponsor
For information about becoming a Field Day sponsor, contact Elenka Refsell, Development Manager at erefsell@sfcmc.org or (415) 647-6015 x178.