As we reflect on 2023, we wanted to share our accomplishments in providing equitable access to music education. In 2023, we: Reached 38,061 students with our virtual and in-person programming, with 66% from low-income schools. Served 251 schools throughout the nation, with 161 of these schools qualifying as Title 1 (low-income). Enabled access to our concerts with 90 bus scholarships for low-income schools. Employed 86 professional artists. Provided invaluable opportunities for 53 talented students from San Diego public schools to perform with the Classics Philharmonic Orchestra. Volunteer docents served 48 schools with pre-concert classroom visits, reaching 4,012 students and 174 teachers. [...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9d7ZGhKZck&t=2s San Diego Foundation recently posted this video about how Classics 4 Kids utilized funding from the Jay Kahn Endowment Fund to impact low-income students throughout San Diego. Their astounding surprise donation enabled us to expand programming to the Joan B. Kroc Theatre for the first time in November. This inclusive location enables access to schools from high-poverty neighborhoods located in the San Diego Promise Zone. The expansion increased access to our programming for students from low-income schools by 16%, comprising 84% of our audience during November's performances of The Conductor's Spellbook. Read their full blog post. [...]

Would you or your company like to be a sponsor of the Classics 4 Kids Gala? Click here to learn more about the promotion opportunities we offer at a variety of giving levels: Sponsorship Package 2023

C4K's Executive Director Kiran Shelat was selected as a Finalist by San Diego Business Journal. Her collaborative leadership style and excellent organizational skills have helped C4K achieve amazing results!

Since our inception in 1994, Classics 4 Kids has been dedicated to addressing educational inequities by providing critical music education to students in San Diego County. Our programs cater to TK to 6th grade students, comprising of professional orchestra performances, on-campus assemblies, and virtual programming. In our last season alone, we impacted over 52,000 students, teachers, and families across 312 schools nationwide. Over 33,000 of our audience represented Title 1, low-income schools. We believe in the power of arts integration, and therefore we incorporate science, literacy, and math into our music education programs. Our innovative cross-curricular approach is aligned with CA [...]

We are thrilled to be among the first recipients of a surprise $150,000 gift from local entrepreneur and musician Jay Kahn's transformative Endowment Fund of $100 million! Conductor Zimbric (far right, above) had no idea it was going to happen! San Diego Foundation surprised 10 music education nonprofits providing vital access to underserved communities. What an honor to continue Kahn’s legacy among these meaningful San Diego nonprofits. Enjoy the full version of this amazing story about the legacy of Jay Kahn and his incredible gift to the San Diego region: Read the Article Classics 4 Kids looks forward to improving even more [...]

Please email info@classics4kids with any questions.

Classics 4 Kids is a proud recipient of the 2022 Cox Charities Community Grant. This funding will support our May concerts: Nature's Music. We appreciate your generosity and support of music education in San Diego County!

Conductor Dana Zimbric, Dr. Jeff Nevin and Southwestern College's Mariachi Garibaldi were featured on CBS8 San Diego - Morning News promoting "La Música de Mexico". WATCH VIDEO

We were thrilled to receive a proclamation from Malik Thornton from the office of San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn at our 30th Anniversary Gala declaring 10/2/22 as “Classics 4 Kids Day” in the City of San Diego! Classics 4 Kids Day Presented by Councilmember Stephen Whitburn October 2nd, 2022 WHEREAS, Classics 4 Kids was founded to inspire children through the experience of live music, generating creativity, academic success, and cultural understanding through professional orchestra concerts. WHEREAS, The nonprofit serves all students, teachers, and families with priority access to low-income and disadvantaged youth to further academic advancement, personal growth, and creativity. [...]