Advocates For Classical Music Home Page

AFCM encourages young musicians and builds future audiences for classical music in San Diego through support of music education and appreciation.

Our 35 trained docents visit classrooms to prep as many as 15,000 students each year before they attend San Diego Symphony or Classics 4 Kids concerts. They play recorded previews and provide basic information about composers, instruments and musical elements such as melody, rhythm and timbre. Conductors tell us that students appreciate and enjoy concerts more if they've had a docent visit beforehand.

When young students get a chance to hear classical music they love it, and here are two videos you can use to introduce children to many of the instruments they hear in both classical and popular music.

But kids wouldn't enjoy listening to classical music, right? WRONG, as you'll see in the next video below.

And we do more than than just introduce kids to great music. We've also awarded young competition winners. In the photo on the right saxophonist Yenny Zhang and violinist Annelle K. Gregory, winners of a San Diego Symphony Concerto Competition, receive $1000 each from AFCM President Ron Bierman. Conductor Ken-David Masur applauds their achievement. (Photo by Ling Zhu.) Ron chairs the AFCM Board.

Annelle has gone on to win other competitions and recently recorded a well-received Rachmaninoff CD for Bridge Records.

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras has awarded our organization a "Most Valuable Player" certificate. Take a look here.

Every year we introduce many thousands of young San Diego students to the pleasure and excitement of classical music--thanks to the support of over 200 members. This is a link to our latest newsletter. And this is a link to a summary of the year's accomplishments.

Email AFCM@AdvocatesForClassicalMusic.org if you have comments or would like more information about our organization and volunteer opportunities.