San Francisco Conservatory of Music

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) operates from its primary campus in San Francisco's Civic Center arts district, adjacent to Davies Symphony Hall and the War Memorial Opera House. Established in 1917 as the Ada Clement Piano School, SFCM has evolved into a specialized music institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs in classical music performance, composition, and technology. The conservatory occupies multiple facilities, including its main academic building on Oak Street and the recently acquired Bowes Center, a 12-story structure that combines student housing, performance spaces, and recording studios. SFCM maintains close relationships with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, and other Bay Area performing arts organizations, providing students with professional development opportunities. The institution focuses on core musical disciplines including strings, keyboard, voice, and composition, while also offering innovative programs in Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) for students pursuing careers in digital music and sound design.