Connect & Visit

We can't wait to meet you!

At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, we believe inspiration thrives through connection - on campus, in the classroom, and throughout our vibrant musical community. Whether you’re looking to schedule a campus tour, connect with Admissions, or schedule a sample lesson, we invite you to discover what makes our conservatory, and our city, a uniquely creative home.

Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to schedule a campus tour, take a virtual tour, request a visit from us, request a sample lesson, and more!

Connect & Visit Portal

How to Connect & Visit

Our 60–90 minute guided tours are led by friendly and knowledgeable student admissions staff who are excited to share what makes SFCM special.

We offer campus tours throughout the academic year and summer. Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to view available tour dates, review our scheduling policies, and get a preview of what to expect during your visit!

Explore SFCM from anywhere with our video tours of each building, narrated by current students. You'll also find plenty of photos of our facilities to help you imagine yourself right here at SFCM.

Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to explore the virtual tour!

We’re attending college fairs, festivals, hosting online sessions, and participating in other events across the U.S. and Canada. While some events are private, many are open to the public — and we hope to see you there!

Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to explore upcoming opportunities.

Faculty members in each area are happy to meet with prospective students to help ensure that the student-faculty relationship will be a good fit and to provide more insight about their studio. While each faculty member’s schedule varies, many are available to offer lessons to prospective students throughout the academic year with advance notice.

Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to request a sample lesson.

We love to visit schools and other youth organizations, either virtually or in person. These visits allow us to connect directly with students and educators, share valuable information about the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), and offer guidance on applying to college and music schools.

Visit our Connect & Visit Portal to request a visit.

September 18, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM PT. Registration is required by September 15. Due to limited space, we can accommodate 100 high school and college students, plus two guests each.

Join us as we welcome admissions representatives from 20+ peer music conservatories, performing arts colleges, and universities to campus in San Francisco, CA! Our fair is geared toward prospective music students across performance, composition, music technology, and related fields. However, many of the representing schools also offer degrees in other areas - visual and performing arts, music education, humanities, STEM, and more! No matter your interests, we have a school for you!

Visit the SFCM College Fair page to register and learn more about campus tour opportunities, directions, guest policies, accommodations, and more!

Getting to SFCM

The SFCM campus consists of two buildings: the Ann Getty Center for Education and the Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts, commonly referred to as "The Bowes Center." Both buildings are located within two city blocks of each other, just a five-minute walk apart.

Ann Getty Center for Education: 50 Oak St., San Francisco, CA 94102. Tours will begin at this location unless otherwise told.
The Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts (The Bowes Center): 200 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102

Campus Tour Check-In

Guests must check-in with security to receive a visitor pass. The security desk at the Ann Getty Center (50 Oak Street) is located to the left in the main lobby. The security desk at The Bowes Center (200 Van Ness) is located in the center of the main lobby. Our SCFM campus is accessible for guests attending appointments and events. Tours will check-in at the Ann Getty Center (50 Oak Street) unless otherwise told in their tour confirmation.

It’s important we know who is coming and going so that we can provide the safest environment for learning. The Ann Getty Center is staffed by security during normal operating hours, while the Bowes Center has security guards staffed 24 hours for residents.

All prospective students and their families must schedule a tour through the Office of Admissions. We typically cannot accommodate drop-in visitors. Schedule campus tours on our Connect & Visit Portal

Coming for a Concert or Event?

Visitors attending events are not required to check-in at security, instead they must present a ticket or seat confirmation with ushers at the event door. Purchase tickets or receive a seat confirmation through the box office or on the event page from the performance calendar. Online tickets can be printed or shown through mobile devices when entering the buildings. While 90% of concerts at SFCM are free and open to the public, all events require a ticket reservation. Read more about Event Health & Safety. Explore upcoming performances.

Coming for an Audition?

Prospective collegiate students and families coming for live audition days will be sent further information about how to check in with the Admissions Office. Students are assigned a check-in location.

Airports

The closest airport to SFCM is San Francisco International Airport.

San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA 94128
Oakland Airport, 1 Airport Dr, Oakland, CA 94621

Public Transportation

BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the San Francisco Bay Area’s subway system. The closest BART station to SFCM is Civic Center / UN Plaza. Plan your trip on BART.gov or call 650-992-2278.
MUNI: The San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) is operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). A number of buses and light rail cars stop at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and Market Street, which is next to the Ann Getty Center. The Bowes Center is two blocks north of this bus stop. Plan your trip on MUNI or call 415-701-2311.

Ride App Sharing or Taxi

Many visitors prefer to take a taxi or use apps such as Uber or Lyft to visit SFCM. We recommend typing in the physical address of our locations to make sure you are dropped off at the correct building. Select the ‘Building Location’ drop down to review SFCM building locations.

Parking

There are several places to park in Hayes Valley and Civic Center in San Francisco including metered street parking, lots, and parking garages. Here are the two closest parking garages.

Performing Arts Garage: 360 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102. Entrance on Grove, between Franklin and Gough
Civic Center Plaza Garage: 355 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102

We have a hotel discount with Hotel Enso in Japantown! Please use this partner link to access the 15% discount.

San Francisco is made up of a patchwork of neighborhoods! Past visiting students have had success booking accommodations in the Hayes Valley and Mission Dolores areas to be within walking distance of the SFCM campus.

However, many visitors choose to stay in other parts of the city to experience the different cultures and vibes. We encourage visitors to read the San Francisco Travel Associations introduction to San Francisco Neighborhoods!

Great things come in small packages! San Francisco is huge in terms of attractions, but geographically, all those sights and sounds are packed into only about 49 square miles! That makes it very easy to see and do plenty of things in a short amount of time.

Here is a suggested list of 28 things not to miss in San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, and more!

San Francisco Symphony

SFCM has a close-knit relationship with the San Francisco Symphony, with many faculty members occupying roles there. Students are occasionally offered free or discounted tickets to Symphony performances and have opportunities to visit the Symphony at the discretion of their private teacher. Learn more about upcoming SFS performances here.

San Francisco Opera

SFCM has a close relationship with the San Francisco Opera: Aside from our SFO-affiliated faculty, many musicians and singers from the SFO have guest-lectured or delivered talks at SFCM, and students are occasionally offered free or discounted tickets to performances. Learn more about their upcoming performances here.

San Francisco Ballet

Aside from hosting summer ballet students at the Bowes Center, SFCM alumni and faculty have positions with or have performed with the Ballet Orchestra, and students have also been able to perform with the organization at points. Learn about their upcoming schedule here.

SFJAZZ

Several members of SFCM's Roots, Jazz and American Music (RJAM) department belong to the SFJAZZ Collective, the in-house performing ensemble and composers' workshop of the organization—itself the largest non-profit jazz presenter in the world.

RJAM recitals are frequently held in SFJAZZ's Joe Henderson Lab, and many SFCM faculty perform there frequently as well. Learn more about SFJAZZ's upcoming events here.

Other Venues and Theaters

Other music and performing arts venues within walking distance of SFCM include Mr. Tipple's Jazz Club, Rickshaw Stop, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and the Golden Gate and Orpheum Theatres. Additionally, SF Performances' Herbst Theatre—a five-minute walk from the Bowes Center—hosts many classical performances throughout the year, and City Arts & Lectures, a popular venue for art panels, lectures, and discussions, is around the corner from the Ann Getty Center.

Meet Admissions

We've been in your shoes! As musicians ourselves, we understand the music application process and are here to guide you through it. Our mission is to help fellow musicians join a thriving educational community, where they can grow and surpass their artistic goals. We're dedicated to supporting your journey every step of the way.

Call us at 415-503-6271 or send an email to nccyl@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@ylppa to get in contact with our office. For general information about your program of interest, please complete the Request for Information Form.

Our office hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm PT during the academic year. During the summer, our office is closed on Fridays.

James Encarnación

Assistant Dean of Admissions

I’m honored to rejoin the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s community as Assistant Dean of Admissions. Prior to joining the team, I held Admissions and Enrollment Management positions at The Tianjin Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and SFCM's Pre-College and Adult Extension Divisions. Supporting young musicians through the application and audition processes is work that I value deeply, and being able to showcase the extraordinary education that SFCM provides is incredibly rewarding. San Francisco is truly a special place! I hold a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance from The University of Michigan and a Master of Music Degree in Tenor Trombone from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Lee Anne Frahn

Director of Admissions

I am thrilled to collaborate with faculty and staff to create an inviting and inclusive environment for SFCM students. As a first-generation student and musician, I understand how intimidating the application process can be! I am committed to helping students navigate the application process, and creating a space where all students feel encouraged to pursue their musical aspirations. I hold a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Western Washington University and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abby Bush

Admissions Counselor

Schedule a Call with Abby

Originally from Los Angeles, I came to San Francisco to pursue a master's degree in vocal performance at SFCM. After finishing my degree (MM '22), I was lucky enough to join the incredible admissions team. I now enjoy supporting and encouraging applicants as they consider becoming members of our amazing and passionate community. I look forward to helping out incoming students as they make their way to the beautiful city of San Francisco.