Help us bring social change through the beauty and power of choral music!
Join Cantare’s Fall Fundraising Campaign!
“We believe that music has the capability to change lives. It is more than simply notes on a page or sounds in the air. It is a tool of empowerment. Your donations directly support our ability to make this happen for the more than 2,500 Oakland youth we currently serve.” – David Morales, Artistic Director
We want to keep our youth programs thriving and accessible.
School funding only covers 50% of the cost of our music education classes. Donations and grants allow us to provide tuition-free classes and rehearsals for students.
Cantare is committed to providing equal access to music education for every Oakland public school child through our classes and choirs.
Please give. Every dollar makes a difference.
Sponsorship Opportunities
for Children’s & Youth Programs
$90 >> Classroom Student (LEARN MORE)
$200 >> Music Stars Singer (LEARN MORE)
$415 >> Summer Camper (LEARN MORE)
$1,950 >> Full Classroom (LEARN MORE)
$8,000 >> Music Stars After-School Choir (LEARN MORE)
$51,550 >> Summer Music Camp (LEARN MORE)
Please contact David Morales at david@cantareconvivo.org for more information about sponsoring these or Cantare’s other programs, including youth and adult concerts.
Support our work to continue to spread the joy of choral music to the next generation.
See your effect in our alumni!
Hessie Mae Cash Parham (she/her)
Hessie Mae sang with Lafayette Music Stars and All Stars Singers, and at Oakland School for the Arts. She now works at the Black-owned Town Fare Cafe at the Oakland Museum of California, and is a certified College Coach and Mentor for PeerForward, a college prep program serving under-resourced high school students. Hessie has two AAs from the College of Alameda, where she studied to be a social worker.
“I love the community of it all. You’re learning your part, but at the end of the day you’re a team. It’s a family no matter if you know them or not. ”
Ryan Chen (he/him)
Ryan started singing with Cantare as a kindergartener at Lincoln Elementary in Oakland’s Chinatown, and continued to sang with Lincoln Music Stars and Nova. Ryan graduated from UC Irvine in 2023. He works as a Mechanical Engineer with Northrup Grumann, while completing a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management at UCLA.
“Nova changed my life by giving me a family who I could depend on, laugh with, and most importantly they accepted me for who I am. ”
Dayana Merino (she/her)
Dayana was born and raised in West Oakland. She sang with Lafayette Music Stars, All Stars Singers, and Nova. She earned a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Counseling with specialization in K-12 Schools from SF State, and is now a school counselor in Oakland schools. Dayana sings with Cantare’s adult Chorale and serves on our Board of Directors.
“It takes a village to raise a child; they were my village. It brings me so much happiness to pay forward the support and love I received to the next generation.”
