Want to stay in the know? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for updates about our new and current music and arts programs. Read highlights from the March newsletter below. (Published March 4, 2025)
March is a jam-packed month at CSMA, with three concerts, a courtyard renovation, the start of our spring session art and early education classes on March 23, summer camp registration, and much more. Read on — and see you on campus!
New Mohr Gallery exhibition celebrates black excellence and freedom
CSMA is excited to present the work of four local artists in our new exhibition: “Uhuru: A Collective Celebration of Black History and Freedom.” The show features artists whose connection and inspiration are born from black culture, the spirit of connectivity and freedom, and encapsulates the history of a familiar human emotion. The artists are Silky Gogna, Alieh Rezae, and Ambareen Jafferi Kazmi.
This show also includes a special tribute to the late Norman Fontaine with eight paintings on loan from the Rainbow House art show. Fontaine was a visual artist, musician (an accomplished conga drummer) and a community advocate in East Palo Alto. He taught the arts at the Menlo Park Boys and Girls Club, according to a Palo Alto Weekly news article. His work has also appeared at the de Young Museum and the Oakland Museum of California. Stop by now through April 5.
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Don't miss our Faculty Showcase concert March 8
Support access to the arts! Join us at 7:30 PM on Saturday, March 8, for this year’s Faculty Showcase Concert. The special event supports student financial aid and scholarship programs. You’ll enjoy music from CSMA’s talented faculty members, showcasing a repertoire from Chopin, Brahms, Ravel, Gounod, and more. The concert will be followed by a reception.
In memoriam: Hazelle Miloradovitch
CSMA’s dear colleague and friend Hazelle Miloradovitch passed away Feb. 18. We will all miss her more than words can express. She had been with CSMA since 1987 teaching viola, violin, and piano.
In a recent blog post about her life as a teacher of 40 years, she said, “I always say the teacher learns more than the student at every lesson. I get new ideas from every lesson, and I become a better thinker about music. I have a better teaching method at the end than I did at the beginning. No matter the age of the teacher or the student.”
Workshop Week is coming soon: April 8-12
Workshop Week is an exciting time at CSMA for our private lesson students! Set for April 8-12, the workshops serve as a great way to learn something new, strengthen music skills, and get feedback from faculty. Watch your inbox for signup information coming soon. Interested in private lessons? Learn more about our program here.
Student art spotlight
Be inspired! Stop by the Sobrato Hallway to see the latest art exhibition from 71 participants in CSMA’s Artistic Intelligence program. Inspired by numerous artists from classical to contemporary, students observe the work, process and then interpret it in a manner which is uniquely their own. The show will be open through March 30.
Try one of our school break camps April 7-11
Counting down to spring break? We are too! Registration is underway for our upcoming School Break Camps running April 7 to 11. From exploring art through different mediums to creating your own digital game art, we have a variety of ways to engage your young artists (ages 5-14).
Courtyard upgrades planned this month
During the week of March 17, CSMA will repair the pavers in our main courtyard and make additional improvements to that space.
Access to the courtyard will be limited at times until the project is completed.
Community News
Congratulations to 100-Day Practice Challenge winners
CSMA celebrates the 22 music students who completed 100 days of practice in the fall session! Your commitment and dedication to your music is impressive.
Music school student concert set for April 16
CSMA is excited to announce its new “Music School Student Concert,” which will bring students of all teachers and instruments together for a unified music performance. The concert will take place at 6:00 pm April 16 in Tateuchi Hall. In contrast to our standard “studio recitals” for students of only their teacher, this new performance experience will bring together students and families across the entire Music School. Students and parents should speak to their teacher if interested to perform. The concert is open to the public.
Girl Scouts will be selling cookies at CSMA
Local Girl Scout troops will be selling cookies onsite at CSMA at selected times through Thursday, March 6. They will be either outside the entrance or in the lobby area. Stop by on your way to an art class or after a private music lesson.
Music theory students win second place in state music theory competition
The final results from the Breezin’ Thru Theory Ultimate Playoff competition are in! For our first time taking part, it was a great success for CSMA participants — our students placed second in the state!
Students also received awards broken down by skill category. Our top students were:
Sissi P. (Instructor Brian Connor) top award in four categories
Isabella G. (Performance Choir) top award in two categories
Shire Z. (Instructor Axel Schmitt, Performance Choir) top in one category
Sarah T. (Instructor Elvin Hsieh) top in one category
Alessandra F. ( Instructor Ilya Dimov, Performance Choir) top in one category
A special thanks to music instructors Elvin Hsieh and Ryan Acosta for leading the music theory classes.
