San Francisco Conservatory of Music

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) was founded in 1919 and today is the peer of the Juilliard and the Curtis Institute in training gifted young musicians for careers as professional performing artists. In 2006 the Conservatory relocated from its facility in San Francisco’s Sunset District to a dazzling new building in San Francisco’s Civic Center neighborhood. Four hundred collegiate students, and 550 K-12 preparatory students received instruction and performance opportunities in the $65 million building’s world class concert halls, a music library and instrument-specific practice rooms, and classrooms (one named in honor of William and Flora Hewlett). Under the leadership of Colin Murdoch the $12 million organization has built a $34 million endowment and a $4.5 million scholarship fund, enabling 88% of students to receive some form of financial aid (Still, the average graduate today leaves the Conservatory with $27,000 in debt.). The Conservatory is also a premier venue for public presentation of high-quality classical music. Approximately 450 concerts and recitals take place annually before 25,000 patrons. The Conservatory of Music is truly one of the ‘best in class’ institutions in the Hewlett Performing Arts portfolio and ongoing support will further programmatic objectives to promote artistic excellence and advancement in music education.