$9 MILLION CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED
SAN FRANCISCO, CA February 04, 2002 — The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has received a $9 million challenge for its $65 million relocation campaign from three leading San Francisco philanthropists and long-time Conservatory supporters: Phyllis Wattis, the Bernard Osher Foundation, and Gordon Getty. Recognizing the importance of the Conservatory to the musical culture of the Bay Area, these three philanthropists have joined forces to inspire other civic and philanthropic leaders to invest in the future of arts and education by supporting the Conservatory's planned move to Civic Center. The Conservatory is very pleased to receive this major demonstration of support now, when many arts organizations are concerned about funding due to the economy and the post-September 11 environment.The combined challenge is a one for one match for new gifts and pledges to the campaign. The first $2.5 million of the challenge, issued by Mrs. Wattis, must be matched by December 31, 2002. The Osher Foundation's $3 million must be matched by December 31, 2003.No deadline has been set for Mr. Getty's $3.5 million.

The Conservatory's New Home
Founded in 1917, San Francisco Conservatory of Music offers music instruction at undergraduate, graduate, preparatory and adult extension levels in addition to world-class performances and community enrichment programs. Conservatory alumni perform around the world as soloists, chamber musicians and members of the world’s finest symphony orchestras, opera companies and other ensembles. Conservatory faculty and alumni represent over twenty percent of orchestral musicians in San Francisco's leading orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

With almost twice the usable square footage as the current facility on Ortega Street, the Conservatory's new home at 50 Oak Street will provide the foundation for new innovative programming and enhancement of existing programs. The Conservatory will be able to reach out to the public with more on-campus performances and bring music deeper into the community through our outreach program. The new location at the performing arts nexus of San Francisco will enable more artistic collaborations, artistic and intellectual cross-pollination and additional opportunities for interaction between our students and world figures in music. Quotes:

Colin Murdoch, President San Francisco Conservatory of Music
"This challenge from Phyllis Wattis, the Bernard Osher Foundation and Gordon Getty demonstrates the dedication and commitment of three prominent philanthropists in San Francisco to the future of music and music education.We deeply appreciate their continued confidence in the Conservatory and their vision in asking other community leaders to help keep this project moving forward in a timely and cost effective fashion.When we complete the challenge, the Conservatory will have raised sixty-five percent of the donated funds needed for the building project.

As the only conservatory of music of its kind in the West, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music has a mission that goes beyond geographic borders.As our students prepare for their futures as professional musicians throughout the world, our new home will provide the state-of-the-art teaching, performance, rehearsal and practice space that we need to fulfill our educational and artistic mission.The relocation will deepen the Conservatory's leadership and service in the heart of San Francisco's cultural and educational communities.This commitment will help shape performance organizations both large and small and ensure the future of serious music education in the Bay Area."

Phyllis Wattis
"I have always been impressed by the talent and dedication of Conservatory students. It’s clear to me that the school is bursting at its seams in its present location in the Sunset district. These students are our next generation of musical artists, and we need to provide them a proper home, close to the Opera, Symphony and Ballet.I’m making this commitment to the Conservatory because I want to see the full orchestra perform in a concert hall that is acoustically sound, that has enough seats for everyone to sit comfortably, and that is located right in the city's cultural center.This project is an opportunity of a lifetime."

Barbro Osher, president of the Bernard Osher Foundation
"The Conservatory is a San Francisco musical treasure that has provided superb musical education to young people from San Francisco and around the world for more than 80 years. The Conservatory's students deserve a new home that has the facilities to stretch their musical talents. This project will make a real difference, not only to the students who study at the Conservatory and the audiences who hear the marvelous performances the Conservatory presents, but more importantly it is a commitment to the future of music in the Bay Area. Our foundation is pleased to be part of this new era of music education."

Gordon Getty
"As a former student of the Conservatory, I can attest to the quality of its music education. The Conservatory has grown enormously over the past four decades since I was a student, and it's clear that they need more space for the outstanding faculty to teach and for the students to practice. The Oak Street location will make it so much easier for world famous guest artists with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Performances to give master classes and interact with Conservatory students. I look forward to other individuals and foundations joining me in building a new San Francisco Conservatory of Music for generations to follow."

50 Oak Street Facts
Architect Simon Martin-Vegue Winkelstein Moris
Acoustician Kirkegaard & Associates
Theater Consultant Auerbach + Associates
Project Manager Oppenheim Lewis

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Press Contact:


Carla Pasqualini
Director of Marketing and Communications
415.759.3415
cjp@sfcm.edu