Building community and advancing social justice through the arts…
Calliope: East Bay Center for Music & Arts’ mission is “building community and advancing social justice through the arts”. We’re housed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany, California.
Monthly Concerts: We provide our local community with an eclectic monthly concert series that ranges from traditional classical repertoire to music from around the globe. Our ticket prices are $15 youth aged 5-12/low-income, $25 Senior/Student, and $30 general admission. In addition to many low-cost ticket options,, we also live-stream our concerts for $15 per ticket, and ensure that our performing artists receive a high-quality recording of their performance.
Rental Opportunities for Performers and Artists: We have two warm, beautiful and acoustically fabulous spaces for performance, as well as an affordable practice and teaching room - the Cooper Practice Room.
We’re not just about music: the Parish Hall is also great for small theater events and poetry readings, and the walls of the hallway, Parish Hall and staircase serve as gallery space, featuring rotating visual art exhibits by local artists.
Living Wages for Musicians: We believe that all artists deserve a living wage, and that money should not be a barrier for public enjoyment. We also believe in supporting institutions that make the arts possible, so part of our work includes helping to maintain our spaces.
Our History: Calliope: East Bay Music & Arts was started through the joint efforts of members of the St. Alban's congregation and its staff, (including former Rector Julie Wakelee Pierce), members of the local professional music community, and members of the community at large, from neighbors to folks who are regular users of the St. Alban's spaces. Building on the history of an earlier concert series, (the Third Sunday Concert Series, founded by flutist Jane Lenoir), Calliope team members began expanding the uses of the buildings to include practice and lesson spaces for musicians, spaces for curated art showings, and more access for musical, theatrical, and other performing artists who wish to present their work.
We are a 501c3 nonprofit; our tax ID is 84-3430705. While housed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, we are not a religious organization.
Maybe you are asking yourself, “who is Calliope?” To the ancient Greeks, she was “Queen of the Muses” – muse of eloquence and epic poetry, gifted with a beautiful voice. As you can see from our logo, a hummingbird has been named after her – visually and vocally beautiful!
Many people have been asking us, “how do you say Calliope?” Check this out! Or, if you prefer phonetics: call eye’ oh pee. Sounds epic either way!
Get in touch with us! Please go to our “contact us” page!
calliopeebma@gmail.com
This organization is supported by a grant from the Alameda County Arts Commission ARTSFUND.
