6 Productive Nonprofits In The Bay Area Built On Music

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 23 September 2019

The Bay Area has a wealth of culture, and it's important for all citizens to have the chance to be exposed to the wonderful art being created in Northern California. Each of these organizations has a unique approach to preserving music and bringing it to the masses, contributing to the diverse legacy that makes this such a special place. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

6 Bay Area Organizations Bringing Music To The Community

Organization Headquarters Description
Left Coast Chamber Ensemble San Francisco Chamber group performing contemporary and classic pieces together
San Francisco Contemporary Music Players San Francisco Largest and longest-running new music ensemble on the west coast
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale San Francisco Presents historically-informed interpretations of music from the Baroque, Classical, and Early Romantic periods
Other Minds San Francisco Champions original and underrepresented voices through free recordings and special events
Pacific Boychoir Academy Oakland Secular all-boys choir school instilling values through vocal performance
Music@Menlo Atherton Festival and institute for emerging performers associated with the Menlo School

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble Performs Bach Cello Suite In G Major

Famous Musicians From The Bay Area

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players Perform Meredith Monk's "Ellis Island"

In Depth

All people, young and old, deserve the chance to have music in their lives. The Bay Area is home to many outstanding non-profit groups working tirelessly to ensure that children who love to play get the chance to learn and adults who want to experience beautiful art can have their minds opened. In no particular order, here are six organizations bringing the joy of song to the masses.

Starting off the list at #1 is the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. Comprised of more than a dozen musicians, this group aims to connect music across different eras by staging imaginative programs that offer diverse audiences many ways of engaging with the art form. Since 1992, it has offered performances that combine classics with newer compositions, forging a feeling of immediacy in familiar pieces and works that reflect the current time period.

The ensemble hosts multiple competitions for composers who wish to see their pieces performed by professional musicians, as well as a scholarship program for high school students to help budding creators develop their work, regardless of genre. The Chamber Ensemble's reasonably-priced tickets don't cover the full cost of their educational work, so supporters who make contributions online help to keep the group going.

The ensemble hosts multiple competitions for composers who wish to see their pieces performed by professional musicians, as well as a scholarship program for high school students to help budding creators develop their work, regardless of genre.

In the #2 spot is the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. The largest and longest-running new music ensemble on the west coast, these 22 skilled musicians dedicate themselves to bringing contemporary music to the community. In addition to popular compositions, the group has commissioned more than 80 major works from composers like Julia Wolfe and John Cage.

The "How Music Is Made" series invites the public to hear from the composers themselves, including lively discussions about the motivation and inspiration behind innovative modern works. The players also offer clinics and scholarships for local students, aiding in an understanding of the art form that goes beyond the canon and a broader appreciation of the possibilities of an ensemble. It's possible to hire the players for performances and workshops, so those with a keen interest can make a special event truly memorable.

At #3 is Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, which aims to present audiences the world over with historically-informed interpretations of music from the Baroque, Classical, and Early Romantic periods. It uses period instruments and vocal techniques to capture the distinctive elements of the time period, with the goal of preserving the tradition and legacy of these masterpieces for generations to come.

It uses period instruments and vocal techniques to capture the distinctive elements of the time period, with the goal of preserving the tradition and legacy of these masterpieces for generations to come.

In addition to regular performances, the PBO Sessions program takes audiences on a guided and deconstructed tour of art and history. Each 90-minute program includes an informative multimedia experience to go with the orchestral and vocal styling of the group. Philharmonia also invests in new music that demonstrates the continued influence of the 17th and 18th century. Lovers of enduring pieces can subscribe for an entire season, allowing them to take part in the vast array of programs and performances.

#4 is Other Minds. Active since 1993, this group is devoted to championing original and underrepresented voices in contemporary music, with an emphasis on experimentation. In addition to preserving concerts, interviews, and broadcasts that are available for free to the public on the Internet, Other Minds also produces and releases recordings of cutting-edge art that is moving American music forward.

The organization holds a yearly festival curated around an idea, theme, or group of composers who are pushing the creative boundaries of their genres. It also presents a series called "The Nature Of Music" with the David Brower Center, highlighting artists that incorporate field recordings and sounds that reflect their environment. This unique collective holds many special events, and encourages those from other parts of the world to help through donations that will help it to expand the scope of its work.

This unique collective holds many special events, and encourages those from other parts of the world to help through donations that will help it to expand the scope of its work.

The #5 pick is the Pacific Boychoir Academy, the only secular choir school in the western United States. The academy is an all-boys institution combining world-class academics with choral music instruction. There is also an after-school program for students from preschool through high school. Founded in Oakland in 1998, it has released nine independent albums and earned three Grammy Awards.

Students at the academy receive instruction in music history and theory along with expert vocal training. Far from being just about learning to sing, the school instead uses its performance and touring schedule as a way of continuing a longstanding tradition of boys' choirs while showing students how to work hard to accomplish a goal together. Supporters can participate in the annual raffle, which includes impressive prizes for winners.

Finally, at #6 is Music @ Menlo, an internationally-renowned chamber music festival and institute in Atherton. Founded in 2003 at the Menlo School, the institute supports emerging and pre-professional musicians, providing educational opportunities to deserving young talents. In addition to the young performers program and an international program for players aged 18 to 29, there are master classes open to the public, lectures, and concerts featuring budding performers.

Founded in 2003 at the Menlo School, the institute supports emerging and pre-professional musicians, providing educational opportunities to deserving young talents.

Music @ Menlo Live is a record label connected to the yearly festival, employing state-of-the-art equipment to help bring recordings from the festival and associated artists to the rest of the world. Students at the institute are supported by the Ann S. Bowers Young Artist Fund, and those interested in helping these future virtuosi can sponsor a student as well.