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Christopher J. Borg, CMC's New Executive Director

Community Music Center Welcomes New Executive Director, Christopher Borg

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 10, 2011) — Community Music Center’s Board of Directors has named Christopher Borg CMC’s eighth Executive Director in the organization’s 90-year history. He succeeds Stephen Shapiro, who has retired after a 33-year career at the helm of CMC. A professional violist and educator, Chris began his study of music in Worcester, Massachusetts at a community music school much like CMC. He earned his BA in music history from Vassar College and attended Northwestern University School of Music where he received a Master of Music degree in viola performance and orchestral studies.

Eleven years ago, Chris joined the faculty at Groton School in Massachusetts where he built an exemplary and musically diverse instrumental music program. He led the school community through several facility projects with new performance, classroom, and studio spaces. In addition to overseeing the program and its faculty, Chris taught private lessons and courses in music theory, coached chamber ensembles, and conducted the Groton School Chamber Orchestra. Chris’s fundraising skills enabled the music community at Groton to reach goals in both program and facility development as well as provide opportunities for international performances. “I have a deep respect for Community Music Center’s continued commitment to making music accessible to all. With this founding mission as our guide, I look forward to building upon the organization’s rich history so that opportunities exist for generations to come,” says Christopher Borg, Executive Director.

Patrica Taylor Lee, Community Music Center’s Board President adds, “We are grateful to Steve Shapiro for 33 years of dedicated leadership and confident that Chris Borg will challenge us to enter a new era of growth and musical achievement.”

“Chris is well-suited to carry out CMC’s 90 year-old mission of making the joys of music accessible to everyone” says retired Executive Director, Stephen Shapiro.

Chris joins Community Music Center during its 90th year of making music accessible to Bay Area residents. The community will have the opportunity to meet him at CMC’s 90th Birthday Party on Sunday, October 16 from 2-9pm. That day, the school will open its doors to offer free continuous music, workshops, an instrument petting zoo and other activities for party-goers of all ages.

About Community Music Center:
Community Music Center is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 1921 with the mission of making high quality music accessible to all people, regardless of their financial status. CMC is the Bay Area’s oldest community arts organization and San Francisco’s largest provider of free and low-cost music classes and concerts. During the 2010-11 school year, 2,420 students of all ages, ethnicities and income levels enrolled in CMC programs and over 18,000 people enjoyed musical performances at no or low cost.

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