Our History
The California Music Center was established in 1973 by renowned cellist and teacher Irving M. Klein as a unique West Coast center for chamber music training and performance. During its first twelve years, the CMC presented a summer music program in which outstanding young musicians between the ages of 14 and 25 were given concentrated instrumental study under top-flight professional artists: private lessons, chamber music, chamber orchestra, master classes, harmony, theory, conducting, classes on secondary instruments, and repertory classes. Bay Area audiences were presented with the finest chamber and student ensembles at the end of every week from June through August. Over 50-60 students and several dozen of the world's finest instructors participated each year.
The Center was created - in the words of Mr. Klein - "to bring experimental and conventional musical experiences to a widely diverse concert audience and student population, and to pioneer in the emergence of new musical art forms with origins in American and European music."
Mr. Klein passed in 1984, and his mission and program have developed today into our current organization and its related programs.
Our Mission Today
To nurture the talents and careers of young musicians from around the world by assisting them with the development of professional and performance skills, by encouraging their community involvement, by providing them performance opportunities and monetary support, and by developing wider audiences for classical music in the San Francisco Bay area through the following activities:
- The Irving M. Klein International String Competition, a yearly competition which presents the worldÕs finest string players (ages 15-23) to local San Francisco audiences, and assists in their career development by awarding them important performance opportunities and significant prizes.
- Collaborations with many musical organizations for concerts and recitals featuring young musicians.
- Creating a musical event for the West Coast and the Bay Area of the highest musical value.
- Outreach activities into schools and community centers to broaden the awareness of and access to great music.
- Commissioning new works in connection with its ongoing activities.