Civic Symphony Association of San Francisco (doing business as San Francisco Civic Music Association)

The Civic Symphony Association of San Francisco (doing business as the San Francisco Civic Music Association) is a musician-managed 501(c)(3) community music organization; its Federal Tax ID/EIN 94-3311973 matches the organization’s public filings and its own website. Founded in 1931 and run by volunteer musicians, the association became an independent nonprofit in early 2002 after having been part of San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department. The association operates multiple ensembles — the San Francisco Civic Symphony, Civic Strings, Mozart to Mendelssohn (M2M), and a Summer Workshop — and presents free public concerts and chamber events across San Francisco (regularly using Herbst Theatre and neighborhood venues). In recent seasons (2023–2025) the organization sustained a full season of free concerts, community chamber programs, and educational/community workshop activity while continuing to recruit and support musicians at all skill levels.