ANNUAL REPORT Financial Transparency Our Academic Model
2025 2026
Get To Know Our New Leadership 7 Alumni Spotlights
C rowden is committed to culturally enriching
our community through excellence in music and academic education, performance, and creative endeavor.
Table of Contents A Message from our Board Chair............3 Meet our Board.............................................4 Leadership Updates..................................5-6 Head of Music, Kevin Rogers.....................5 Chief Operations Officer, Michelle Kluscor............................................................6 Co-Principals, Heidi Mattson & Tyler Powles.............................................................6 Financial Overview....................................7-8 Academics at Crowden..........................9-12 Philosophy & Schedule..........................9-10 Service Projects......................................11-12 Blue School Recognition...........................12 Meet Our Alumni...................................13-16 Community Programs..........................17-18 Adult Chamber Student Profile...............17 Program Offerings......................................18 Our Supporters.......................................19-21 Acknowledging Eugene Sor......................21 Crowden School Tour 2026......................22
Written, Designed, & Edited by Leila Yokoyama. Special thanks to Heidi Mattson and Tyler Powles for their written contributions. Copy edited by Kennia Hernandez.
Reflections & Looking Ahead A letter from Ann Eastman, our Board Chair
2025-26 has been a year of significant change at Crowden. I’m glad to report that we are emerging stronger—continuing to advance Anne Crowden’s vision of a community committed to excellence in music education and performance. Our success has always depended on inspiring music leadership, and we are thrilled to welcome Kevin Rogers as Crowden’s Head of Music. Choosing Kevin was a six-month process that engaged folks from across the Crowden community. I especially want to thank Board Vice Chair and Crowden alumna, Marie Szuts, who led the search which attracted nearly 70 applicants from across the globe. Kevin has already been diving in with plans for the new year, and if you haven’t already, we can’t wait for you to meet him. We are also grateful to Heidi Mattson and Tyler Powles, who have stepped up to become co-principals for Crowden School. Their experience, energy and collaboration are palpable, and we are so excited by their commitment to fostering a vibrant learning community. In preparation for the coming year, they have hired wonderful new teachers for K-6 Science and the Grade 1-2 classroom. We’re looking forward to even more connection between music and academics. I’m delighted to report a successful launch of Kindergarten over the last year! If you haven’t already done so, please come visit our Kindergarten space in the renovated former “Hut” and the adjacent new outdoor play structure. For 2026-2027, Crowden School will, for the first time, offer full K-8 music and academic programs—a real milestone for our community. Like many nonprofits in arts and education, we rely on philanthropic support to sustain us operationally. For this support we are deeply grateful. But over the past several years increased costs have outrun our fundraising and tuition revenues in both the Crowden School and our Community Programs. Our goal over the next few years is to eliminate this deficit by controlling costs, increasing program revenue, and growing our endowment, so we are strongly positioned for the future. And we are well underway with a number of efforts and initiatives to do just that. Among these, we acknowledged the need for an overhaul of Crowden Music Center operations. In January, alumni parent and former Board member Michelle Klucsor rose to the challenge. As Chief Operations Officer, she has been meticulously evaluating all systems for efficiency, accuracy, and excellence in customer service. Her work is revealing a clear picture of our financial and operational situation, enabling us to make the changes needed to become financially sustainable again. I hope you are asking, “How can I help Crowden continue to grow and thrive?” Tell families with children about our day school. Crowden School offers two hours of robust music education every morning, focusing on the collaborative art of chamber music. This is followed by an accelerated, whole child academic education with small class sizes and individual attention. Alumni of the Crowden School are composing and playing music across the country and abroad, both as professionals and as amateurs who will always have music in their lives. For anyone you send our way, we’ll offer personalized, no-obligation conversations and informational chats to find out whether Crowden is a good fit. Become a part of our Community Programs! We have a variety of offerings for musicians and musicians-to-be of all ages, and we will be adding new group classes. Support and promote the 2026 Berkeley Arts and Creative Economy Rescue and Sustainability Ballot Measure on the November ballot. Crowden could benefit significantly from this important measure. On behalf of Crowden’s Board of Trustees, I thank you for your support, invite your active participation in building a stronger Crowden Music Center, and pledge to share our progress with you over the coming year. Ann has served as Board Chair since 2024, and her daughter Alice (‘10) attended Crowden. She is a community violin player with the Berkeley Symphony for over 30 years and also a semi-retired physician. She has been playing chamber music since high school and wishes she could have gone to a school like Crowden.
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Angela Archie Angela has been a trustee for most of the last 35 years and was good friends with Anne Crowden. She has performed with the Kensington Symphony, served as Music Director of the Ebony Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, and held administrative and teaching positions at local schools. Angela is passionate about supporting Crowden’s long-term vitality and scholarships.
Anne Cademenos, Secretary
Deborah Spaulding-Graham, Treasurer
Anne joined the Board in 2025. She has participated in the Adult Chamber Music program since 2017 and studies cello with Mary Artmann, an ACM coach. Anne has 30+ years in leadership roles developing philanthropic support for nonprofits, including Harvard, MGH, the BSO, and most recently, the Oakland Symphony and GRID Alternatives.
Deborah joined the Board in 2022, after her two daughters attended Crowden. Her background is in government finance; she recently retired from the East Bay Regional Park District as CFO/Assistant General Manager. She focuses on assisting Crowden with financial tasks, including budgeting and longterm planning.
Marie Szuts, Vice Chair
Marjan Mashhadi
Sandy Wilson
Marie (‘93) joined the Board in 2025. Both her younger siblings, Owen and Chloe Dalby, also attended Crowden, and her father, Michael Dalby, formerly headed the Board. Marie now runs her own coaching and consulting business after many years in-house as an executive at tech startups (particularly in HR roles).
Marjan joined the Board in 2024, and her two children attended Crowden’s Community Programs. She is currently at Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on household electrification as a means to combat climate change. She previously served as a global advisor to How Women Lead, a nonprofit on reproductive rights and justice worldwide, and supported the CT Fund for the Environment.
Sandy joined the Board in 2024 but has been involved with Crowden since 1990. Sandy co-founded the Alexander String Quartet, the Ensemble-inResidence at SF Performances, and co-directed the Morrison Instructional Program at SFSU. He enjoys digging into Crowden’s place in Berkeley’s history and learning about its alumni’s diverse and distinguished accomplishments.
B oard Crowden’s
Zoe Glynn, Parent Liaison Zoe joined the Board in 2021 and has been a parent since 2017, with children in classes of ‘22, ‘25, and ‘27. Zoe’s professional experience is in software engineering and startup leadership. She is “a middling violinist,” having regained enthusiasm during her university years after being introduced to historically informed performance practices for Baroque repertoire.
...continuing into 26-27
The Board gratefully acknowledges Whitney Wu-Chu, who has stepped down after serving as a full-term trustee from 2023 to 2026. It is with great pleasure that we welcome three new Trustees for the upcoming year; Liz Bospflug, Chelsea Coleman, and Kemmeo Parr. The Board would also like to extend a special thanks to Deborah O’Grady, Sukey Lilienthal, and Jane Hammond for actively contributing to the Development Committee. 4
A conversation with...
Kevin Rogers, Head of Music
Driven by a resilient passion for music, Kevin is a professional violinist, educator, and chamber musician.
How did you first become involved in music? Growing up in South Carolina, I first encountered classical music when the Emerson Quartet played Mozart’s String Quintet in g minor one night on PBS. I was so blown away by how the instruments had their own parts while playing together. I started violin late and was woefully behind my peers, but I was willing to put in the effort because the culture I grew up in valued resilience — farm work taught me hard work! I still recall one teacher telling me “you are three years behind, kid. What do you want me to tell you?” I asked for advice, if nothing else, and she said “practice thirds and scales every day for three hours.” So I did exactly that!
What are some of your professional accomplishments? In 2011, I founded the Friction Quartet; we’ve toured internationally and gained a strong reputation in the contemporary music scene. We also received second place at the Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld Competition, performed at Carnegie Hall, and competed in major competitions like Fischoff. I taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in the Professional Development & Community Engagement Center as well as the Collegiate and Pre-College Chamber Music Programs. I consider myself a chamber musician first and foremost—even when I perform solo, I’m really playing chamber music with myself. As I perform, I’m listening, discovering, and responding. And that’s what is most fulfilling for me: the art of discovery, finding freedom, and learning from my peers.
How did you first encounter Crowden? I learned about Crowden through three of its alumni. I was at SFCM with Matt Cmiel, now the director of our John Adams Young Composers Program (JAYCP). My quartet commissioned an inspirational piece, Inyo, by Gabriella Smith. And to this day, I can still remember how I felt after hearing Sam Adams’s Tension Study 1 for The Living Earth Show. All three composers had a certain profoundness to their artistry, which I felt stemmed from their shared Crowden experience. Later, Friction’s cellist, Doug Machiz, began teaching at Crowden School, and we played at Crowden’s 40th Anniversary. All this led me to this incredible musical community.
What is your vision for Crowden? Crowden was created by a generation of passionate musicians, families, and students, and my primary goal is to secure its future. To me, this means cultivating a space where the practice of making music transforms lives and shares joy with the community. I look forward to collaboratively stewarding this organization toward strengthened and sustainable growth! For more information about the Friction Quartet & 5
concerts, please visit frictionquartet.com
From Crowden Parent to Chief Operating Officer:
Introducing Michelle Klucsor
Michelle first learned about Crowden through an advertisement on KDFC (California’s classical music radio station). After her 7-year-old son, Ansel (‘20), attended the Suzuki camp, he was so inspired to attend Crowden that the whole family relocated from Mountain View to Berkeley two years later! Michelle first got involved in the community through volunteering; she appreciates how Crowden parents really get to know one another by regularly attending their children’s performances. Michelle previously worked in biotechnology—leading technical and operational teams, developing products, and scaling operations—and she brought her extensive experience in customer care to the Board in 2021. During her first term, she served as Vice Chair and Chair of the Strategic Admissions Committee and the Strategic Path Committee. This past January with the full support of the Board, Michelle became Crowden’s Chief Operations Officer to work on cost efficiencies and streamlining operations. In the past six months alone, she has saved $120,000 by cutting unnecessary expenses, overhauling outdated system (such as phone and internet providers and payroll methods), and ensuring enrollment, program tuition, and payments are up to date. Michelle finds fulfillment in this role because she is supporting Crowden’s mission. In her own words, “My dream for Crowden is for our building to always be humming with music—especially ensembles, because this means people are connecting with one another and sharing joy through playing.”
New appointments reflect a commitment to collaborative learning:
Co-Principals: Heidi Mattson & Tyler Powles
Heidi came to Crowden in 2004 as a 4th grade Core teacher. She knew she had landed in a very special place, grounded in intentional learning and shared values. Throughout her time at Crowden, she has held several administrative roles in addition to teaching in the classroom, most recently as Dean of Academics. She is looking forward to working alongside Tyler as Co-Principal and being part of a dedicated team doing what Crowden does best: growing confident student voices, building strong community connections, and celebrating the gift of music.
Since joining Crowden in 2021, Tyler has served as Dean of Students and taught 3rd–6th grade science, 3rd grade math, and 5th grade Core. He finds fulfillment in the everyday work of building trust with students and helping them grow academically, socially, and as members of our community. As Co-Principal, Tyler looks forward to translating Crowden’s shared values into clear and consistent practices while preserving the warmth, creativity, and close relationships that make our school special. 6
Financial Overview
Understanding Crowden’s Financial Reality Thanks to the support of donors in years past, Crowden has had the resources to make music education accessible to families with limited means, even through difficult periods of decreased enrollment and the pandemic. However, with neither Crowden School nor Community Programs generating enough revenue to fully cover their operating costs, Crowden is facing the possibility of those resources being depleted. This financial reality requires honest conversations about our sustainability and the future of Crowden.
5 yrs
$1.67M
3–4 yrs
CONSECUTIVE OPERATING DEFICITS
FY26 SHORTFALL
UNTIL RESTRUCTURE NEEDED
Revenue
2023–24
2024–25
2025–26
$5,000,000
Total Revenue
$4,459,350
$2,953,636
$3,146,080
$4,000,000
Total Expenses
$4,898,925
$4,461,133
$4,814,653
Deficit
-$439,575
-$1,507,497
-$1,668,573
Where FY26 revenue came from Tuition and Program Income
$4,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,000,000 $2,500,000
2023–24
2024–25
2025–26
Where FY26 expenses went Personnel
$2,177,358 • 69.2% Contributed Income
$3,433,834 • 71.3% Admin Expenses
$477,306 • 15.2% Investment Income
$703,204 • 14.6% Occupancy
$461,330 • 14.7% Other Income
$30,085 • 1.0%
TOTAL REVENUE
Expenses
$3,146,080
$331,511 • 6.9% Program Expenses
Marketing
TOTAL EXPENSES
$357,465 • 7.4% $145,706 • 3.0%
$4,814,653
Crowden’s Board is committed to transparency about Crowden’s financial future. While Crowden faces important challenges, the organization remains deeply dedicated to its mission and to the students, families, and community it serves.
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Crowden’s Path Forward How We Are Addressing The Challenges We're facing this financial reality head-on. The road ahead includes hard decisions. We're working to build the institution Crowden needs to be for the future. That means strengthening our financial foundation so we can keep serving students and families for years to come while maintaining our deep commitment to excellence in music and academic programs. STRENGTHENING OPERATIONS AND REDUCING COSTS We are carefully evaluating our expenses to ensure every dollar supports Crowden’s mission. This includes eliminating unnecessary costs by identifying opportunities for greater efficiency. These efforts allow us to protect our investment in our faculty, staff, students, and programs while building a more sustainable financial model. BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS We are evaluating our Community Programs and testing various adjustments to ensure that we retain the highest possible value for participants while also creating a sustainable and efficient foundation for these vital offerings for the future. GROWING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT We are pursuing a dual pathway to address Crowden School’s structural deficit: (1) work to achieve full enrollment and (2) expand our endowment to fully fund scholarships. The successful launch of Kindergarten, with nearly 100 percent year-over-year growth in class size, and the creation of first and second grades as the inaugural kindergarteners move up through the grades, signal a strong step forward toward that end. A CLOSER LOOK AT CROWDEN'S ASSETS BOLSTERING OUR ENDOWMENT Amount Asset Category We are deepening relationships with current (as of July 2026) donors and expanding our outreach to new Unrestricted Investments $6,546,800 supporters as part of a targeted fundraising Land & Building $3,149,724 initiative. Our objective is to significantly Instruments $546,352 expand our endowment without Furniture & Equipment $205,265 compromising the strength of our Annual Fund. This effort is led by a highly engaged Endowment & Restricted Funds $1,750,296 and determined Development Committee, Other Assets $304,755 made up of Board members and community Accumulated Depreciation -$2,646,471 volunteers. Total Assets
$9,856,721
BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS We are cultivating partnerships to share resources, leverage expertise, and expand our reach in sustainable ways. For example, Crowden is working with peer arts organizations in Berkeley to promote passage of a citywide arts grant fund. PLANNING AHEAD We are scenario planning for the future so that we can make informed decisions, adapt as needed, and stay committed to providing exceptional music education while maintaining long-term financial sustainability for the community we serve.
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A glimpse into...
Academics at Crowden Learning by
Doing. Learning through
Learning with
Intention.
Learning to
Collaboration. Give Back.
“This year asked Crowden to look deeply at its core foundations. As we flexed with change, the strength of Crowden's legacy—its commitment to its mission and values—held us steady through leadership and staffing transitions. Our community reminded us what is at the heart of what we do: making music together, learning with curiosity, building relationships, growing courage and confidence through leadership and service to others. We saw our students do what they have done for decades, sharing their work through performances and exhibitions, taking ownership of school events, creating lunchtime clubs, sharing their musicianship on tour, and helping the greater community. This is what it means to hold Anne's vision and carry it forward. Our first kindergarteners grew into a joyful, connected class further bolstering Crowden's foundation. Welcoming our first 1st/2nd grade class this fall allows us to complete the transition to a full K-8 school. As we begin the coming year, we stand proud of what our students accomplished together and excited for the wider circle of children who will soon call Crowden home.”
Tyler Powles &
Heidi Mattson Co-Principals 9
The Art of Discipline Learning at Crowden is active, cooperative, and intentional. Collaborative learning means trying and failing, listening, giving and receiving feedback, and trying again. At Crowden, we practice the art of discipline. Students build their learning incrementally, knowing that the skills they practice help them reach for and understand their own progress. The academic program at Crowden moves students toward mastery by growing trust in their own abilities, their teachers, and their peers. Metacognitive awareness is built into the learning process from our youngest students to our graduating class. This year our students showed their grit and creativity in a myriad of ways.
Kindergarten Schedule* *sample daily class order
8th Grade Schedule* *sample daily class order
8:15 - 9:00
Math
8:00 - 8:55
Musicianship
9:00 - 9:45
Phonics
9:00 - 9:50
Ensemble
9:45 - 10:10
Snack/Recess
9:50 - 10:05
Break
10:10 - 10:50
Music
10:10 - 10:50
Advisory
10:55 - 11:35
Writing
10:55 - 11:35
Math
11:40 - 12:15
Lunch
11:40 - 12:15
Lunch
12:20 - 1:00
Science
12:20 - 1:05
History
1:00 - 1:45
Art or P.E.
1:10 - 1:50
French
1:45 - 2:00
Snack/Recess
1:50 - 2:00
Break
2:00 - 2:45
Reading
2:05 - 2:45
Science
2:50 - 3:30
P.E. 10
CROWDEN SCHOOL
Service Projects
Under Tyler’s direction, every year the 5th grade Advisory partners with a local organization to learn more about preserving dignity while giving back. After researching several different groups, this year’s 5th grade chose Homies Empowerment, an East Oakland organization that supports community healing, youth leadership, food justice, and access to fresh, healthy food. The 5th graders visited Homies Empowerment’s Freedom Farm, where they helped distribute food to more than 250 East Oakland residents. They brought that learning back to Crowden by preparing and serving a fresh menu of food at dismissal—the food was free, and donations were accepted to benefit Homies Empowerment. Through our community’s generosity, the 5th raised over $1,000, all of which was donated. Through this experience, students were able to witness the power of service, community, and shared responsibility in action. As part of conversations about wants and needs, the 3rd and 4th grade Advisory created a “Just One Bag” project. Modeled after Ms. Mattson’s story about having a Ziploc bag of shelf-stable food, water, and some toiletries on hand in the car, 3rd and 4th graders decided to assemble their own bags. They brainstormed the kinds of items that would be most needed, appreciated, and practical to fit in a gallonsized Ziploc bag. Then they assembled the bags, including a personal note in each.
Guided by Karen Ginsburg, 8th Grade Leadership takes charge of all-school spirit while also addressing needs within the community — students run meetings, take notes, and vote. Among initiatives like their warm clothing drive and Halloween School Carnival, this past year the 8th graders raised money for a library in rural Uganda after learning about the cause from a former Crowden employee Mr. Medi. They also raised over $1,000 at their Community Music Day bake sale, of which $500 went to World Central Kitchen. 11
Along with wishes for rest andCROWDEN fun over the SCHOOL summer, teachers asked students to do one thing: read. As we settled into the first weeks of school, students came together to share their favorite books in our first All-School Reading Project. From posters and reimagined book covers to character silhouettes, story maps, and reviews, we came together in the Dalby Room to appreciate each other’s ideas. Using sticky notes, students left signed comments on each other’s work, practicing constructive feedback in real time. This project inspired us to pilot reading buddy collaborations. Teachers found meaningful ways throughout the year to allow for cross-grade reading time.
Blue School Award, Weather Machine, & Student Research Karen Ginsburg, our Upper School Science teacher, strongly believes in a hands-on learning approach for students to learn about their local environment. Last Fall, she applied to receive Blue School recognition, and now Crowden has joined a network of schools committed to curriculum focused on the ocean and marine environments! As part of this effort, the 7th and 8th graders led a successful campaign through Ridwell to collect multilayer plastics this past year. Rather than relying on a textbook, Karen advocates for real-world observations and research. Thanks to her grant efforts, Crowden now has an on-site professional-grade weather monitor which allows students to collect and analyze data on the Bay, the ocean, Live Oak creek, and the Berkeley Marina. Karen emphasizes how important it is that students interact with raw data, because real science often yields strange and confusing results, which offers the opportunity to apply critical thinking to realworld situations. Karen’s teaching style also naturally reflects Crowden’s chamber music core — both require students to engage in shared analysis and collaboration.
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“Where are they now?”
A lumni Spotlights
Leila Yokoyama (‘19) is a rising senior at Stanford
University, studying History and Music. Through a grant from Stanford Arts, she interned at Crowden this past
summer to learn about performing arts management.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! David McCann: Challenger School Dia Robles: Berkeley High School Emerson Mastroianni-Allen: Ruth Asawa SOTA Ethan Davila: Novato High School Marcus Parr: San Domenico School Noelle Lai: Hercules High School Oliver Kainz: Berkeley High School Sasha Dennis: Marin Academy
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Credit: Oliver Konkel
This summer, I had the immense honor of speaking with seven alumni and learning their incredible stories. As an alumna myself (‘19), I am greatly inspired by the unique and diverse work these individuals have devoted themselves to — they are the truest example of how a Crowden education offers limitless possibilities. As you read through the spotlights, you may notice that they all share two traits: creativity and thoughtfulness. The artistic muscle and acute awareness of others learned from playing chamber music has visibly remained with each of them, regardless of their career choice. These brief features consist of their verbal words edited by me — thus, if you find the tone to be boastful, please know that this is my own awed interpretation of their accomplishments!
Area Superintendent, Hensel Phelps Co. Oliver Konkel (‘09) stated that he didn’t go to Crowden because he was going to be a professional musician but because it was “a cool place to be.” His proudest Crowden memories include being concertmaster for Fiddle Faddle and earning the highest possible AP Music score in Arkadi Serper’s theory class — which later counted towards his college credits! Oliver continued with chamber music and choir in high school, and at Oberlin, he did lighting and sound design for musicals while studying physics. After graduating from Columbia in Civil Engineering, Oliver assumed he would be a designer, but a project at Sea-Tac airport ignited his passion for construction management. He now works as an Area Superintendent at Hensel Phelps, one of the largest general commercial contractors in the country, and is currently overseeing construction of the NIH’s newest vaccine research lab. However, he hasn’t left music behind — he shared that “managing so many workers and their different trades is almost like witnessing a music ensemble where everybody contributes in their own way and knows where they’re supposed to be.” Oliver played in a community orchestra last year, and recently he acquired an upright piano, which makes his home feel much more complete!
ALUMNI NEWS Credit: Sharon Jacobs
Credit: Nathan Olson
Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony
Professor of Law, UC Berkeley
Nathan Olson (‘01) played chamber music at Crowden even before joining in 5th grade, staying all the way through 9th grade (back when it was offered). During this time, he studied violin with Brigitte Mancini, Rachel Durling, and Anne Crowden, all of whom impressed upon him their love of music and passion for details — he fondly recalls the diligent markings they made in his sheet music! From this age, Nathan was intent on pursuing music; he completed his High School GED in 10th grade and was at the Cleveland Conservatory of Music by 11th grade. After completing his Bachelor’s and a Math minor, he stayed at Cleveland for a Master’s and was selected for the concertmaster training program (which accepted only one student per year).
Sharon Jacobs (‘94) played cello at Crowden, as her concert pianist father, Roy Bogus, was friends with Anne Crowden. Music soon became a serious study — she even negotiated with her high school to leave early every day to practice! Sharon eventually attended the Eastman School of Music and received degrees from the Cleveland Institute and Juilliard.
Since 2011, Nathan has been Co-Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony, where he enjoys the process of “bringing great pieces of music to life” to inspire both the performers and listeners. He also taught at Southern Methodist University and University of North Texas and played in the acclaimed Baumer Quartet with Crowden alumni David Requiro (‘91, cello) and Aaron Requiro (‘95, violin). He describes how throughout his time at Crowden, he was always inspired by “the older kids”; he is honored to mention his alumni musician colleagues, including Noah Bendix Balgley, David McCarroll, Jory Fankuchen, Carla Donahue, and Samuel Adams (from whom Baumer commissioned an incredible piece called Sundial). Nathan is grateful to have gained chamber music experience at such a young age and credits his Crowden training with developing the strong foundation for his later musical accomplishments.
Law was “almost an accidental career.” A course on American Society in the Arts taught by Joseph Polisi first sparked her passion for political events, current affairs, and legal work. Switching from music to law required hard work, but Sharon was able to harness her musical training in creative ways. She explained that “the different ways lawyers interpret a text is similar to how musicians interpret a score. For example, the Originalist approach in law mirrors how some musicians try to approach Bach exactly the way his pieces were played at that time. Similarly, Living Constitutionalism is like keeping in mind that you have modern instruments and artistic influences.” At Harvard Law, she was inspired by Professor Jody Freeman to pursue environmental and administrative law, which led to her practice in the energy and environmental regulatory groups at Covington & Burling LLC. Sharon is now at her “dream” position at UC Berkeley, especially being back in the Bay Area and playing the cello again. Her 10-year-old son is a budding composer who will likely participate in Crowden’s John Adams Young Composers Program next year. Sharon credits Crowden with not only cultivating her love of music but laying the groundwork for her future academic success. She remembers how exciting it was to play music beyond her skill level at Crowden, for it both challenged and inspired her to push the limits on what she could achieve. 14
Credit: Argel Rojo, Courtesy of Los Angeles Performance Practice
COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN Credit: Justine Leichtling
Artist, Animator & Filmmaker
Psychologist, Composer & Violinist
Miranda Kahn (‘01) sang in the Kairos Youth Choir, founded by Laura and Arkadi Serper, before attending Crowden. One of her favorite memories was writing an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty for the class play; this theatrical streak carried her all the way through a BFA in acting at NYU Tisch and an MFA in acting at the California Institute of the Arts. While at CalArts, she encountered the experimental filmmaker and puppeteer Janie Geiser and the stopmotion artist Stephen Chiodo, which inspired her own unique art practice. Her work is extraordinarily meticulous: using a single piece of paper, she will spend hours cutting hundreds of pieces with an XActo knife until a puppet emerges from the light behind the paper. She then brings these characters to life, using stop-motion animation, to create short films and documentaries.
Justine Leichtling (‘02) transferred to Crowden in 6th grade and studied violin with Anne Crowden herself. At Yale, she studied “Computing and the Arts,” which reminded her of what she learned at Crowden through Arkadi Serper’s composition class (she still recalls what her Gregorian chants and fourpart chorales sounded like). Later, she went on to receive a Doctorate in Psychology and received training in psychotherapy.
When asked “why don’t you use a machine to cut out the paper,” Miranda responds that she finds meditation in her craft: the process is as meaningful as the final product. She has created content for the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia & the Environment, the University of St. Louis, and GlassBreaker Films (among others). Her animated documentary, Shadow Life, has been screened at 13 film festivals and won two prizes, and she was also awarded a grant by Studio IX for her documentary A Mother's Journey (UCSF HEAL initiative). Most recently, she completed her second series of paper art pieces on local wildlife for Kaiser, Riverside. Miranda describes Crowden as “a formative and creatively meaningful place, where the discipline of learning an instrument and collaborating with others to create music informed my later arts practice.” To learn explore her work, please visit mirandakahn.com. 15
Through self-reflection, Justine discovered that she missed harnessing her creative side, so she revitalized her love of music through teaching violin and participating in chamber music programs by the St. Lawrence String Quartet. She also began researching the psychological aspects of music, especially the interpersonal relationships within its structure. Today, she simultaneously runs her depth-oriented therapy private practice, plays violin, and composes for festivals, commissions, and films. Justine describes Crowden as being one of the “best times of my life,” and she continues to run into people from Crowden through her current music work. Her compositions explore the space between music and emotion to “capture emotional truth through sound to create an authentic picture of human experience.” Justine’s newest endeavors include learning flamenco, touring with a band called Juliet Garrett & the Wheels of Fortune, and working on her debut EP titled Autopsy, which "examines the death and depth of things and people I have let go of to become my full self and experience my creative capacity.” To be notified of Autopsy’s release date and learn more about Justine’s work, please visit justineleichtling.com.
Credit: Shaleah Feinstein
Credit: Leila Yokoyama
Violinist & Instrument Technician
Composer & Violinist
Emma Eyestone (‘18) was the only violinist in her elementary school until she came to Crowden in 4th grade. One thing she especially appreciated about her Crowden experience was that she could be herself: in her own words, “unlike many other schools, individuality is not something you’ll be teased for here — the environment at Crowden encourages students to express their unique identities.” After graduating, she continued to participate in Youth Chamber Music and take lessons with longtime faculty member, Rachel Durling.
Theo Haber (‘13) started violin in kindergarten but was writing songs even before then. During his time at Crowden and in high school, he participated in the John Adams Young Composers Program (JAYCP), and he always knew he would do music “in some capacity.” Theo fondly recalls how Crowden teachers believed “the goal of playing wasn’t just to perform but to treat learning as a professional endeavor,” something he himself modeled when teaching at the JAYCP camp last summer. When practicing his instruments, Theo would end up improvising instead, and this tendency eventually led him to study composition at the USC Thornton School of Music and receive Masters from both McGill and Yale.
Emma started out as a political science major at UC Davis, but music soon pulled her back — she became the Principal Violist of the symphony and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Music Performance (violin performance emphasis). During college, Emma also continued to return to her second home: she served as Crowden’s Head Camp Counselor for 6 years and acted as a substitute teacher for both music and academics. After graduating, she became Crowden’s Alumni Engagement Coordinator, which involved maintaining Crowden’s alumni database and strengthening alumni engagement through event invitations and outreach. During this time, her mother, Donna McCabe also served on our Board, specifically on the Executive Committee. Currently Emma works in Ifshin Violins’s robust rental program, supporting musicians of all ages to access quality instruments. She is also interested in how mental performance strategies used for athletics can be adapted for musicians, a research area she will pursue through graduate study. She is passionate about supporting musicians to develop the skills needed to manage performance pressure and perform with confidence and consistency.
Theo’s philosophy when it comes to his work is “Am I having fun and being curious?” His work includes film scores, commissions by the Friction Quartet (founded by Crowden’s Head of Music, Kevin Rogers), bluegrass releases, social media cultivation (with over 10 million online streams), and compositions for interesting arrangements (such as left hand on piano, right hand on euphonium, viola, and double bass). Theo also enjoys oil painting, making pottery, and using music as a reason to spend time with friends. He is currently based in New York for its dynamic arts culture. Explore Theo’s latest projects at theodorehaber.com.
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Community Programs A story of resilience: during an especially difficult period of his life, Eric Lee rediscovered his love of playing and found a meaningful community in Adult Chamber Music.
Credit: Leila Yokoyama
Eric Lee has participated in Crowden’s Adult Chamber Music (ACM) program for 8 years now, but his musical journey started back when he was a child. He was an accomplished soloist and orchestra member, playing in both the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Oakland Youth Orchestra (under Kent Nagano). However, entering his young adult life, he chose to pursue different pathways — studying History at Bowdoin University and working in Finance, amongst other ventures.
After leaving the violin behind for nearly 30 years, Eric discovered chamber music for the first time through Crowden, and to him it was “a revelation, like a whole side of me had been set free.” ACM opened a door for him to rediscover his passion and dedication to playing; never having played in small ensembles before, he was amazed by how much flexibility and experimentation they offered. He shared that “chamber music is both soloistic and orchestral: I can shape my part musically while being mindful of the larger vision of the group.” Getting back into playing was quite challenging at first — Eric realized he had forgotten how to read music! With persistence, patience, and finding the right private instructor, he began rebuilding his technique and sensitivity to musicality. However, Eric encountered an unexpected and deeply personal hurdle when his wife was diagnosed with brain cancer. Part of what supported him through this difficult period was music: Eric was seized with a forceful desire to play J. S. Bach’s Chaconne (from his Violin Partita No. 2 in d minor — an extraordinarily difficult and yet one of the most emotionally gut-wrenching pieces of all time. In his own grief, he discovered that Bach wrote it after his own wife had tragically passed away. In addition to playing solo Bach for comfort, Eric found care from within the Crowden community — playing chamber music was a powerful, meaningful escape. In Eric’s own words, “ACM has been incredible for me. It is a very special and unique program and has made my life better: I have grown as a person, and my music has improved and evolved.”
Crowden’s Adult Chamber Music program is a welcoming community of musicians who come together to play, learn, and stay connected through music.. 17
Our Community Programs served more than 1,200 musicians this past year. Whether you are looking to explore private lessons or ensemble coachings, our expert faculty of nearly 40 music educators will support you in your musical journey. For more information, please contact communityed@crowden.org or visit our website at crowden.org.
Private Lessons (ages 6+) We offer private lessons in violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, flute, guitar, and composition.
Suzuki Strings (Ages 3+)
Rooted in the Suzuki method, the program combines lessons and group classes in violin or cello.
Early Childhood Classes
Music Fundamentals I: Singing + Movement | Ages 3–4 Music Fundamentals I: Singing + Movement | Ages 4–5 Music Fundamentals II: Piano Skills + Movement | Ages 5–6
Beginner Group Classes Beginner Piano | Ages 6-8 Beginner Violin I Ages 6-9 Beginner Violin II | Ages 6-9 Beginner Ukulele | Ages 4-9 Beginner Cello | Ages 6-9 (New)
Harmony Road™
Youth Ensemble Training
Hello Music | Ages 3-4 Young Musician Primer | Ages 6-8 Keyboard Prep Primer | Ages 8-11
Chamber Orchestra | Ages 9-14 Youth Chamber Music | Ages 10-18
Summer Camps For All Ages
Scrape, Squawk, and Bang Summer Strings Young Musicians’ Chamber Music Academy Chamber Music Workshop John Adams Young Composers Program Workshop Young Musicians’ Vocal Academy Adult Vocal Intensive Workshop Adult Chamber Music Workshop
John Adams Young Composers Program (Ages 12-18) A one-of-a-kind program where professional musicians bring to life original student works.
Adult Group Classes (Ages 18+) Adult Chamber Music | 3 sessions per year Beginning Guitar (New) Adult Composition - Creativity and Craft (New) Cello Choir (New) 18
Our 2025-2026 Supporters Foundations Christian Humann Foundation East Bay Community Foundation Gates Foundation Pacific Harmony Foundation Ronald Philip Saturno Foundation Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation The Coblens Foundation Government Berkeley Civic Arts Commission Corporate Apple Matching Gifts Program Genentech, Inc. Google Matching Gifts Program Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Microsoft Roblox 25-26 Crowden School Parents Jenan Abdunnur and Paul Lucas Krste Asanovic Samar Birwadker and Madeline Wallace Marie-Therese Ellis Shannon and Adam Gerardin Dylan Jeffress and Kristy Moore-Jeffress Jacqueline Johnson Cliff Hersh and Marika Benko Wai Ling Lee and Oracio Flores Jody Mastroianni-Allen and Kristi Allen Gabrielle Moyer and John Foster Lawrence Talbot and Kemmeo Parr Kirsten Shallenberg and Marcos Saenz Chelsea Coleman Shamal and Nazlee Ranasinghe Xi Yang and Jie Fang Kirsten and Gilad Wolff Eulah and Derek Wilairat John Wana and Monica Gonzalez Nidia Trujillo and German Moran Vinaya Valloppillil and Nishan Degnarain Sonya Sanchez and Orville Jackson Dawn Schrey Colvin and Chris Colvin Brent Rubey and Betony Jones Allyn Robles Yvonne and Michael Craig Gordon Lai
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Faculty and Staff Wendy Clymer Rachel Durling Karen Ginsberg Heidi Mattson Michelle Klucsor and Naomi Marks Tyler Powles Christiana Reining Donna Williams Elizabeth Vandervennet and Tim Carless Kirsten Shallenberg and Marcos Saenz Maestro Circle ($25,000+) John Adams and Deborah O'Grady Bonnie Hampton Shelby and Fredrick Gans Estate of Gary Karr (1941–2025) Virtuoso Circle ($10,000-$24,999) Sallie and Edward Arens Bruce Burnam Anonymous James Marks and Edna Lee Warnecke Monica Spaulding Benefactors ($5,000-$9,999) Angela M. Archie James Bloom Anne Cademenos and Doug Hull Anonymous Ann and Jack Eastman Lynn Glaser Jane Hammond Stephen and Linda Rosen Matthew Specter and Marjan Mashhadi Marie Dalby Szuts (‘93) and Tobi Szuts Patrons ($2,500-$4,999) Nick Gerson Sukey Lilienthal and David Roe Deborah Spaulding Graham and Andrew Graham Alexander and Rita Walsh-Wilson Sustainers ($1,000-$2,499) Joan Balter Noah Bendix-Balgley (Class of ‘97) Dr. Roberta Brokaw Robinson Brown and Sarah Satterlee Blaine Devine Emerson and Sara DuBois Arezoo Fakouri and Doug Yokoyama Charles and Harriett Feltman
Dr. Fran Krieger-Lowitz Douglas MacLaughlin Juna McDaid Kurt Patzner and Carla Picchi Ditsa Pines Jonathan and Reut Pines Victor Rauch and Ingrid Madsen Rosalinda Rupp Elizabeth Sor Whitney Wu-Chu (Class of ‘02) and Ryan Bern Friends ($500-$999) Hans Brightbill and Anthony Perry Mary and Yanek Chiu Shinji Eshima and Sandra Jennings Thomas Foor Martha Jones Sophia Kessinger and Shmuel Katz Kenneth and Jane Heng-Chun Liu Myla and Charlie Manese Susan Medak and Gregory Murphy Mary Lynn Miller and Raymond Meister Richard and Myriam Misrach Bob and Terri Ryan Lynne Tan Helene Toralba Kent Young Supporters (Under $499) Amy Hiraga and Peter Wyrick Amy Silva Anjanine Bonet (Class of ‘97) Anna and Bonnie Lamb Anonymous (2) Anthony and Rosa Martin Barbara Hauser Barbara and Mark Altenberg Barbi Stim Becky Bolen Behrang Mohit Carol Robertson Cathy Yeh Nathan Birnbaum and Claire Peeps Claire Armstrong David and Kippie Lusterman Dean Curtis Daniel Zamalloa and Miriam Chion Eric Lee Eunice Hayes Florence Wong Fran Hill and Larry Frost Fred Konkel and Kathy Kaspar
Henry Field and Lessly Wikle Field Ian Parvin Jackie and Drew Wheeler Janet Garvin and Bob Shumaker Janet Weinstein Jeffrey Green Jennifer Bolen Jim Ronningen and Debbie Carton John Fricke and Andrea Issod Jonathan Lee and Mark Quady Jonathan Leichtling and Wendy Stern Joseph and Lucy Beck Julianne Feldman Juliet Welch Karen Fiske Karen Wilairat Katherine McKenzie Kathie Lowry and Lev Teiblum Kathryn and William Dumas Kerrilyn Renshaw Krehe and Katherine Ritter Laurie Kim and Ca Nguyen Maggie Jones Margaret Thornton Mariko Wyrick (Class of ‘06) Mark Schwartz Mary Wildavsky Michael Hall Patrick Klobas Peter and Jane Jaffe Peter Wecker and Sarah Holt Rachel Fine and Christopher Hawthorne Rick Diamond and Alice Kaswan Robert Clear and Barbara Judd Robert Portnoy and Gunilla Haegerstrom-Portnoy Roy and Susan Bogas Sandra Baker Sarah Norris Sarah Shaver Serena Pon Steve Birnbaum Steve Rubey Susan Acquistapace Susan Hermanson Timothy Smith Toshi Takeuchi and Yonchu Jenkins Valerie Behrendt Venture-Yvette Chalom and Paul Fogel Victoria DeMara Victoria Leonard and Noah Kahn Wayne Heiser and Anthonia Roller William Link
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In Honor of Joan Balter Fran Krieger-Lowitz Henry Field and Lessly Wikle Field Barbara Hauser
In Honor of Eugene Sor Wendy Clymer Roy and Susan Bogas Timothy Smith Bruce Burnam Elizabeth Vandervennet and Tim Carless
In Memory of Ida Braun Anonymous
In Honor of Kate Stenberg Joseph and Lucy Beck
In Memory of Rosa Chacón De Chión Daniel Zamalloa and Miriam Chion
In Honor of Marie Szuts Susan Medak and Gregory Murphy
In Memory of Anne Crowden Kurt Patzner and Carla Picchi
In Honor of Sandy Walsh-Wilson Karen Fiske Stephen and Linda Rosen
In Memory of Robert Curtis Dean Curtis In Memory of Josef Dillmann Barbara and Mark Altenberg
In Honor of Mariko Wyrick Amy Hiraga and Peter Wyrick
In Memory of Mary Ellen Fine Rachel Fine and Christopher Hawthorne
In Honor of Ondine Young Kent Young
In Honor of Phyllis Kamrin Toshi Takeuchi and Yonchu Jenkins Margaret Thornton Jim Ronningen and Debbie Carton Ann and Jack Eastman William Link In Memory of John Lowitz Mary Lynn Miller and Raymond Meister In Memory of Catherine Graff MacLaughlin Douglas MacLaughlin In Honor of Deborah O'Grady and John Adams Shelby And Frederick Gans
In-Kind Gifts Josephine Gallup Kenneth Stein Robert Gage Margaret Fisher John Bernstein Marc Silber Fred Fox and Ethan Barns Sukey Lilienthal and David Roe West Edge Opera Kevin Spain
Acknowledging Eugene Sor This past June we bid farewell to our wonderful Director of Music, Eugene Sor. For over 30 years, Eugene has been a pillar in the Crowden community. Under Anne Crowden’s mentorship, he coached student ensembles, conducted the Lower School orchestra and taught cello. Later, he founded the Young Musicians’ Chamber Music Academy and Adult Chamber Music summer camps. An instrumental figure in the Bay Area music scenes, Eugene also played in the Stockton Symphony and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and taught at multiple local universities. He is now the Resident Conductor and Chamber Music Academy Director of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra (PACO) where he will continue to channel his passion for chamber music and education.
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When reflecting on his Crowden journey, Eugene shared that he is “grateful to have served such an amazing mission and wonderful community. More than any solo accomplishment, I am most proud of the people I've met and the joy we’ve experienced achieving things together.”
Crowden Crowden Tour 2026 Crowden Tour Tour 2026 2026
Every other spring, Crowden’s 7th and 8th graders go on a one-week excursion, performing, participating in masterclasses, attending concerts, and exploring local sights and sounds! This year’s students went to Colorado — Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs.
Some of the musical highlights of the trip were listening to the Colorado Symphony play Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet,” workshops with Basil Vendryes, Meta Weiss, and Emily Gee (a Crowden alumna), performing at multiple venues, and doing an exchange performance with the Northern Colorado Youth Orchestra. The 7th and 8th graders also had multiple opportunities to go sight-seeing and experience the majesty of Colorado’s nature. 22
Crowden School 1475 Rose St. Berkeley, CA 94702