Community Council for Music in the Schools

Mission Statement

Promoting and supporting public school music education.

Purpose and Projects of the Community Council for Music in the Schools

The Community Council for Music in the Schools (CCMS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 under the umbrella of the San Diego State University Foundation in partnership with the SDSU School of Music and Dance.

  • We believe that music must be an integral part of the school curriculum.
  • Music addresses all three of the major learning styles while involving both sides of the brain in a manner unique in all education.
  • Music affects the whole person in a communication that transcends differences in language and experience.
  • We exist to foster a heightened awareness of the value of music within the educational community for the benefit of the students & the community at large.

CCMS works in partnership with music organizations in the community to provide support and enrichment to music students.

Since 1991, a major project of CCMS has been the collection and repair of donated instruments that are issued to school music teachers for loan to students in the San Diego Unified School District. Prior to the pandemic, more than 1,400 instruments were on loan for use by students in grades K-12.

CCMS depends on cash donations for maintaining the instruments in top playing condition. All contributions are tax deductible.

CCMS has assisted in seeking funds for San Diego Unified Schools instrumental and choral honor concerts and festivals. These concerts provide an opportunity for outstanding music students to perform in advanced ensembles and to receive recognition for their hard work and accomplishments.

The board members of CCMS have given numerous music education advocacy presentations at conferences of music organizations such as the California Music Educators Association and the California Music Teachers Association as well as for philanthropic groups.

Executive Board

Mary MacKenzie, Founder
Ann Marie Haney, Co-Chair
Julie Szweda, Co-Chair
Dr. Kevin Delgado, Treasurer
Dr. Scott Lipscomb, Advisor
Lynn Spafford, Recording Secretary,
Anne Fennell, VAPA Liaison
Matthew Mulvaney, Music Teacher Liaison
Dean Hickman, Instrument Assistant
Mark Nadeau, Instrument Technician
Carina Voly, SDSU Liaison

Supporting Council

Music Departments:

  •  SDSU
  • CSUSM
  • UCSD
  • USD
  • Grossmont College Mesa College
  • Mira Costa College
  • Miramar College
  • Palomar College
  • Point Loma Nazarene University
  • San Diego City College
  • Southwestern College

Advocates for Classical Music
America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society
American College of Musicians
American Guild of Organists - San Diego
American Orff Schulwerk Assocation - San Diego
Arts For Learning San Diego
Civic Youth Orchestra
Classics 4 Kids
CMEA-Southern Border Section
Community Music School
La Jolla Music Society
La Jolla Renaissance Singers
La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Mainly Mozart
Mu Phi Epsilon
Musical Merit Foundation of Greater San Diego
Music Teachers Assoc. of California - San Diego
Musicians Assoc. of San Diego County - Local 325
National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing - San Diego
National Guild of Piano Teachers - San Diego
Pacific Coast Harmony
San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International
San Diego Early Music Society
San Diego Master Chorale
San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus
San Diego Opera
San Diego Sun Harbor Chorus
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
San Diego Unified PTA
San Diego Youth Symphony
Sigma Alpha Iota
Spreckels Organ Society
Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra

CCMS Logo


CCMS Contact Information

Carina Voly, CCMS Staff Liaison
Phone: 619-594-5405
Email: [email protected]

5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, California 92182-7902