Our History

1968

Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) founded by volunteers/music educators Natalie Werbner & Joan Van Stone.

Start-up Capital: $150

Students: 28   Faculty: 10 volunteer music teachers

Location: Old house on Bailey Ave. rented ($25/month) from City of Mountain View.

1969

Established as 401(c)3 non-profit organization.

Received Mtn. View Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community.

Budget: $7,426   Students: 150

1971

Purchased & moved to 60-year-old Victorian farmhouse at 1560 California St.

Faculty/Staff: 43   Students: 265

1977

Fred Cummins named Education Director.

Students: 511

1979

Nancy Lawrence (Glaze) named Executive Director.

Private Lesson Tuition: $6/30 mins; $9/45mins; $12/60 mins

1980

Established Summer Jazz Program.

1981

Arts-in-the-schools program Arts in Action began in partnership with City of Mtn. View & Mtn. View School District.

1982

Began Music in Action.

Programs expanded to Whisman School District.

1983

Financial hard times forced sale of 1560 California St. home (asking price: $135,000); moved to Klein School, 405 Ortega Ave., rented from Mtn. View School District.

Mary Bender named Executive Director.

1984

Received first grant ($1,500) from David & Lucile Packard Foundation.

1986

Began free monthly Family Concert Series at Mtn. View Recreation Center.

1987

Moved to Huff School, 253 Martens Ave., rented from Mtn. View School District.

Became one of 200+ schools accredited by National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.

Arts-in-the-schools programs reached elementary school children in 100 classrooms.

1988

STRETCH Financial Aid Program & ArtKids established.

Received Mtn. View Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community.

Naming of Brunello Hall.

Budget: $575,000   Annual Fund: $33,690

Faculty: 65   Private Music Lessons: 400 per week

Arts in Action: 3,355 children/12 schools

Music in Action: 1,440 children/8 schools

Grace Huenemann named Executive Director.

1990

Merit Scholarship Program & Faculty Concert Series established.

Schools Served: 13 elementary schools/140 classrooms

Annual Fund: $27,223

1991

Named one of four founding Home Companies at new Mtn. View Center for the Performing Arts.

Held first city-wide children’s art exhibit.

Honey Meir-Levi named Executive Director.

1992

Summer Arts Camp Program established.

1993

First permanent endowment for financial aid established with $180,000 challenge grant from Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund.

Received Mtn. View Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community.

Warren Riley named Interim Executive Director.

1994

Arts in Action named exemplary Artists in Residence Multi-Residency Program by CAC.

Arts in Action & Music in Action named Mentor Programs by National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.

People Reached Annually: 10,000    Communities Served: 35 cities in Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties     Budget: $1M

Andrea Temkin named Executive Director.

1995

First-time recipient of National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Recieved Mtn. View Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community.

Board of Directors completed 5-year Strategic Plan with priority to investigate finding a permanent home.

1996

Provided ‘Tween Time after-school middle school programs in partnership with City of Mtn. View.

1997

Hosted first Traditional Folk Artist in Residence.

Financial Aid Program awarded approx. $100,000.

Schools Served: 15 elementary/8,000 children

1998

Established Concert in Conversation with Stanford Lively Arts.

Huff School reopened; CSMA asked Mtn. View City Council to help identify new site.

Mtn. View City Council provided city-owned land at San Antonio Circle for CSMA to lease (90 yrs.) to build permanent home.

Hired architect—Mark Cavagnero Associates.

Budget: $1.5M   People Served: 15,000   Faculty: 75+

1999

Admin offices relocated to Grant Rd.; instructional area remained at Martens Ave.

Began “Quiet Phase” of Capital Campaign to build Silicon Valley’s first Center for Music & Arts Education.

2000

CAC recognized CSMA for Exemplary Arts Education Programs, its highest-ranking award.

Adopted Arts for All! as tagline & brand.

Budget: $1.75M    People Served:  18,000

2001

Received capital campaign gifts of $3.7M, including lead gift of $2M from Stephen Finn & $1.2M from Packard Foundation.

PRI executed (Program-Related Investment).

Angela McConnell named Interim Executive Director.

Budget: $2M   People Served: 20,000

2002

Capital Campaign“Public Phase” launched – $6.5M raised.

Angela McConnell named Executive Director.

CSMA presented 19 free concerts.

Aug. – Moved to interim site at 220 View St.

Annual Fund: $640,000

2003

Received $750,000 Kresge Challenge Grant.

Drafted 5-yr strategic plan to be regional arts education center.

Dec. 19 – Moved to first permanent home at San Antonio Circle, 25,000-sq-ft., state-of-the-art facility.

Completed $11.7M Capital Campaign with $12M raised.

2004

Jan. – Doors opened to first students from Summit Charter High School, Redwood City, enrolled in new program to fulfill fine arts grad credit requirements for UC/CA state systems.

Announced building name–Finn Center.

Received $1M donation for naming of Tateuchi Hall.

Launched five A&E series (concerts & arts lectures).

Naming of Mohr Gallery.

Received international design excellence awards from Business Week/Architectural Record.

March–Gala Grand Opening & Community Days

Paula Johanson named Interim Executive Director during Angela McConnell's pregnancy leave.

Budget: $3M

2005

Began free bi-lingual pre-school program at Castro School

2006

CSMA purchases adjacent property (“The Annex”) at 250 San Antonio Rd. for parking & future expansion.

Gala Tribute to outgoing ED Angela McConnell.

Established a General Operating Endowment Fund.

By-laws rewritten to expand Board of Directors to 30 members.

Susan McInnis named Interim Executive Director.

Schools Served: 23  

Private Music Lesson Units: 1,006 per week (1 unit=30 mins)

People Reached Annually: 35,000  Faculty/Staff: 141

Budget: $4.3M   Annual Fund: $1.4M

Financial Aid: $158,000

Decision made to make complete A&E season of 30+ events (concerts, lectures, etc.) in Tateuchi Hall free of charge.

75 Adult & high school volunteers donate over 1800 hours of service.

2007

Jeffry Walker appointed Executive Director in January.

People Reached Annually: 40,000+

Financial Aid Annually: $244,000 ($164,000/tuition assistance, merit scholarships, work-study opportunities AND $80,000/program subsidies)

Private Music Lesson Sutdents Served Weekly: 850 students enrolled in 1,068 units (1 unit=30 mins)

Establishment of new senior staff positon — Music School Administrator.

CSMA produces educational video — "What's Inside Me..." — premiered at ArtSalute gala benefit.

85 adult, high-school, and middle-school volunteers providing program assistance, both on- and off-site.