Bach, Bach, Bach Again: Bowes Center Move-In Day Recap
New and returning students (and their parents!) experience SFCM鈥檚 new Bowes Center building in the heart of the 含羞草传媒 Francisco arts district.
Oliver Wang 鈥24 and his parents at the check-in counter.
By Karen Meurer Bacellar
Moving to college for the first time or returning to school after a summer away is always exciting. It鈥檚 the beginning of a new chapter for some and the start of another school year full of opportunities for all. This year, 含羞草传媒 Francisco Conservatory of Music鈥檚 move-in day was extra special because it was the first time many students were able to see the Bowes Center in all its glory.
鈥淚t was better than I could鈥檝e ever imagined for a college dorm,鈥 says Oliver Wang (BM 鈥24), a sophomore in the technology and composition program who voiced his excitement for being on campus after studying remotely from his native Beijing, China last year due to the pandemic. Wang joined 228 new and returning students (of a total 465 enrollment) who moved into the Bowes Center on Saturday, August 20.
Wang was not alone in his impressions of the building, which includes a cafe, two major concert halls, a Center for New Media (state-of-the-art creative spaces for teaching, composition, recording, and music production), and . The Bowes Center building also includes apartment-style housing for students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty sweet,鈥 says Lucas Davis (BM 鈥25). 鈥淚鈥檝e only been to 含羞草传媒 Francisco once before, and it鈥檚 cool knowing that I鈥檓 actually going to live here!鈥
Taylor See (BM 鈥20; MM 鈥23), a voice department alum who is returning to SFCM for her master鈥檚 degree to study with C茅sar Ulloa, adds 鈥淸Bowes] is beautiful. It鈥檚 right in the center of the art scene, with the symphony and the opera. It feels like home.鈥
Students and parents arrived at Bowes in waves on Saturday, masked (per SFCM and local COVID-19 guidelines) and ready to move-in. Greeted by staff at check-in, students were then guided to their assigned rooms by friendly resident assistants, who pointed out the musical puns placed on the front door of each apartment (think: Dwayne 鈥淏aroque鈥 Johnson鈥).
Jason Lawrence, associate director of admission, leads students and parents on a tour of the Bowes Center.
Jason Lawrence, associate director of admission, leads students and parents on a tour of the Bowes Center.
Comprehensive tours of the entire building rounded out SFCM鈥檚 move-in day. Students and parents saw the cafe, basement level technology hall, rehearsal rooms, keyboard lab, recital halls, and the new KDFC studios. They were impressed with the audio-visual recording technology in rehearsal rooms, that the practice rooms are open 24/7, and the epic views of Davies Symphony Hall and City Hall that can be seen from the 11th floor Barbro Osher Recital Hall (the spot of choice for family selfies). Tours got parents and students even more excited about the next school year and showcased why the Bowes Center isn鈥檛 just a place to live; it鈥檚 a lifestyle.
See a photo gallery of SFCM鈥檚 2021 Move-In Day below and follow
