Who We Are

Crowden is a nonprofit music education organization serving over 10,000 individuals each year. Our mission is to combine music and education to develop, nourish, and inspire students of all ages, and to provide essential support to the musical life of the community.

What We Do

• • Crowden is home to The Crowden School, the first elementary/middle school in the country to offer a comprehensive academic education designed with chamber music at the core. We are excited to announce our first Kindergarten class, starting Fall 2025.

• • Crowden provides a rich array of community music education programs, with roughly 1,000 students of all ages and levels of ability enrolling in lessons, classes, ensembles, summer camps, and workshops each year. Notable offerings include renowned chamber music training for both youth and adults.·

• • Our John Adams Young Composers Program guides and mentors students in the formative stages of their creative growth. The program was founded in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams, who has a long association with Crowden, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. It provides unprecedented opportunities for developing composers to hear their works performed by professional musicians.·

• • Crowden has supported music programs and teachers in the Berkeley and Oakland Unified School Districts with our Music In Schools outreach initiative.·

• • Crowden provides local music nonprofits and teachers with rehearsal and performance space through our facility rental program.·

• • Crowden presents Bay Area audiences with chamber music concerts, educational lectures, and free family-friendly events like Community Music Day.

Notable Press

"Composer writes mini double concerto for violin to celebrate 40 years of Crowden School" (Iris Kwok, Berkeleyside)

"Crowden Music Center Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary this Weekend" (Iris Kwok, The Scene)

"Crowden School's 40th Anniversary Celebrated by a Summit of Alumni" (Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice)

“Crowden Student Quartet to Play in Big Time” (Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/music-news/crowden-student-quartets-to-play-in-big-time

“Cellist David Requiro Is On His Game at Music@Menlo” (Jeff Kaliss, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/events-calendar/artist-spotlight/cellist-david-requiro-is-on-his-game-at-musicmenlo

“Composer Gabriella Smith Is Enjoying the Ride” (Victoria Looseleaf, San Francisco Classical Voice)
https://www.sfcv.org/events-calendar/artist-spotlight/composer-gabriella-smith-is-enjoying-the-ride

“Violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley goes back to Crowden School” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle) https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Violinist-Noah-Bendix-Balgley-goes-back-to-5990420.php

“Crowden Alum Cellist Wins Naumburg Prize” (Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/music-news/crowden-alum-cellist-wins-naumburg-prize

“Catalyst Quartet Opens the Door to Change” (Mark McNamara, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/music-news/catalyst-quartet-opens-the-door-to-change

“Musical Schoolmates Tackle Brahms” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle) https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Musical-schoolmates-tackle-Brahms-7966000.php

“Composers who follow in Dad’s footsteps, blaze a new trail” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle) https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Composers-who-follow-in-Dad-s-footsteps-blaze-a-5482317.php

“Free Fun for the Kids at Crowden Community Music Day” (Mark McNamara, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/music-news/free-fun-for-the-kids-at-crowden-community-music-day

“Crowden School: Lessons in Chamber to Live By” (Niels Swinkels, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/crowden-music-center/crowden-school-lessons-in-chamber-to-live-by

“Crowden Celebrates 30, Future Is Bright” (Robert Commanday, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/crowden-celebrates-30-future-is-bright

“C is for Crowden, A is for Adams, B is for Benefit” (Molly Colin, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/preview/crowden-music-center/c-is-for-crowden-a-is-for-adams-benefit-for-the-love-of-music

“Crowden School at 30” (Mark McNamara, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/article/crowden-school-at-30 

“Attuning Your Kids to Music: Lessons from Anne Crowden” (Jeff Kaliss, San Francisco Classical Voice) https://www.sfcv.org/article/attuning-your-kids-to-musicbrlessons-from-anne-crowden

“Great Expectations” (Kibby Kleinman, East Bay Express) https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/great-expectations/Content?oid=1987050

“Reading, writing and rhythmics: Berkeley’s Crowden School is like other schools, but music is the main point.” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle) https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Reading-writing-and-rhythmics-Berkeley-s-2618464.php

“Anne Crowden -- music teacher, school founder” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle) https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Anne-Crowden-music-teacher-school-founder-2780317.php