It's the expo where music makers create, connect, and grow; a fitting location for San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) students.

Now in the second year of banding together, SFCM is deepening its relationship with Music Expo, announcing a scholarship program, in addition to masterclasses, and lectures by faculty and alumni. 

“If you’re a music professional in the Bay Area, this is one not to miss,” said Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) professor Matt Levine, who gave a presentation at the annual event in 2024. “I had a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues I’ve been working with for decades, and I made some new friends too. There were some excellent technical presentations, as well as up-to-the-minute information on the evolving landscape of the music industry.” 

Taking place November 14-15 at the Midway in San Francisco, Music Expo is two days packed with expert-led workshops, inspiring conversations, hands-on gear demos, and opportunities for networking and mentoring. Much like SFCM's TAC department, it embraces the entire spectrum of creative disciplines involved in music careers from composers and producers to performing musicians to DJs and audio engineers. 

New this year is the Steinberg Scholarship, an initiative in partnership with renowned software company Steinberg, created to support and uplift the next generation of music creators. 

A TAC student works in Studio H at SFCM.

Ten SFCM TAC students will be selected to receive a full Steinberg software bundle including Cubase Pro, Dorico, SpectraLayers Pro, and the Absolute Collection of software instruments—a total value of approximately $2,000 per student. These students will also receive free admission to the event. More than a scholarship, the partnership gives students at the beginning of their careers the opportunity to connect with and learn from the wider music community in the Bay Area, and gain hands-on experience with world-class production tools. 

“This partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music—the most prestigious music institution in San Francisco—represents a powerful fusion of educational excellence and future-forward vision,” said Loic Maestracci, the founder and executive producer of Music Expo. “It’s especially meaningful to welcome SFCM alumni as presenters this year. Many of them are now forces in the music industry, and their presence helps inspire and shape the next generation of creators.” 

Speakers present at Music Expo.

One of more than 40 headliners for Music Expo this year is JVNA. A 2019 graduate from SFCM’s TAC program. JVNA is a popular singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ who blends pop and dance music into ethereal soundscapes. Other prominent speakers include artists, producers, and innovators at this year’s two-day festivities. JVNA will also return to SFCM for a seminar in November, meeting with SFCM’s TAC students interested in learning more about her experience and this growing industry. 

In addition to the scholarship program, the partnership also brings composer, pianist, and orchestrator Ching-Shan Chang, who has contributed music to films like the Sonic the Hedgehog series and Zack Snyder's Netflix original Rebel Moon, to SFCM for two masterclasses in November. 

The TAC program gives students a direct path into the worlds of film and video game scoring, live performance, emerging new media like augmented and virtual reality, sound design, and popular music production. The program has ongoing partnerships with Sony, Dolby, Meyer Sound, and SFFILM.

Whether young musicians are refining their sound or breaking into the industry, Music Expo is more than informative: It’s transformative.

Learn more about Technology and Applied Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Learn more about Music Expo held at The Midway in San Francisco November 14-15.