Center for Music National Service

The Center for Music National Service (MNS) has a new location in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Mission District! We are excited to plant our roots in a cultural center of San Francisco that has played a big role in MNS’s history.

Since the start of the MusicianCorps program, MusicianCorps Fellows (MC Fellows) have worked in the Mission community. At Horace Mann Middle School, MC Fellow Hernando Buitrago leads music classes in coordination with one of our new neighbors, Jamestown Community Center. He also works closely with staff from Community Music Center, just a few blocks away.

Hernando also brings students out of the classroom to participate in local events. Recently, a group of Horace Mann students performed for the Mayor and community leaders at a benefit for the Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival. The event was covered by Mission Local news. Check out the story here, and read their recent profile of MNS here.

MC Fellow Mikki Boyd brings music-making to Buena Vista Elementary, a Spanish immersion school where she builds language skills through percussion and vocal classes.

While MNS headquarters was still in the West Portal neighborhood, MNS was already drawn to the Mission, kicking off the MusicianCorps pilot year in 2009 with a community celebration at the nonprofit Red Poppy Art House and holding training sessions at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The event featured MC Fellow performances, a mayoral presentation of recognition to MNS and an impromptu streetside jam and dance session with local artists!

At the completion of the national pilot, MusicianCorps Fellows from all five cities reunited to share stories and reflect upon their year of service at Baobob Village’s multi-cultural space, Bollyhood.