What do you get a beloved music school for its 100th birthday? How about a blowout gala to help fundraise for the next 100 years of the Community Music Center — with guest artists including trumpeter and activist Sean Jones; tenor Pene Pati and soprano Amina Edris; mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and composer-pianist Jake Heggie; and guitarist Jason Vieaux and jazz and cabaret singer Paula West. Renel Brooks-Moon will be the master of ceremonies at the event, hosted in the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco.
The nonprofit CMC provides music and musical education to people of diverse ages, backgrounds and abilities with branches in the Mission and Richmond districts that serve more than 2,800 students. Last year, CMC gave out $2.8 million in scholarships for its online and in-person programs teaching jazz, blues, pop, folk, funk, Latin and other styles. Recently, CMC launched the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus — a mixed-voice choral ensemble for singers who identify as transgender, intersex or gender-queer — and the Black Music Studies Program.
All funds raised from the gala will support keeping CMC’s classes and education programs accessible to all regardless of financial need.