Our SCFM campus is accessible for guests attending appointments and events.  It’s important we know who is coming and going so that we can provide the safest environment for learning.  The Ann Getty Center is staffed by security during normal operating hours, while the Bowes Center has security guards staffed 24 hours for residents. 

Visitors attending events are not required to check-in at security, instead they must present a ticket or seat confirmation with ushers at the event door. Purchase tickets or receive a seat confirmation through the box office or on the event page from the performance calendar. Online tickets can be printed or shown through mobile devices when entering the buildings. While 90% of concerts at SFCM are free and open to the public, all events require a ticket reservation. Read more about Event Health & Safety. Explore upcoming performances.

Guests must check-in with security to receive a visitor pass. The security desk at the Ann Getty Center (50 Oak Street) is located to the left in the main lobby. The security desk at The Bowes Center (200 Van Ness) is located in the center of the main lobby.

All prospective students and their families must schedule a tour through the Office of Admissions. We typically cannot accommodate drop-in visitors. Schedule campus tours on our Connect with Us page.

Prospective students and families coming for live audition days will be sent further information about how to check in with the Admissions Office. 

Get to know our school history and campus by watching the virtual tour videos below! We also encourage you to visit our Facilities page for more virtual tours of the Anne Getty Center, the Bowes Center, and photo tours of our performance venues and classrooms!

Airports

• San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA 94128 
• Oakland Airport, 1 Airport Dr, Oakland, CA 94621

Public Transportation

• BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the San Francisco Bay Area’s subway system. The closest BART station to SFCM is Civic Center / UN Plaza. Plan your trip on BART.gov or call 650-992-2278.
• MUNI: The San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) is operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). A number of buses and light rail cars stop at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and Market Street, which is next to the Ann Getty Center. The Bowes Center is two blocks north of this bus stop. Plan your trip on MUNI or call 415-701-2311.

Ride-Booking App or Taxi

Many visitors prefer to take a taxi or use apps such as Uber or Lyft to visit SFCM. We recommend typing in the physical address of our locations to make sure you are dropped off at the correct building. Select the ‘Building Location’ drop down to review SFCM building locations.

There are several places to park in Hayes Valley and Civic Center in San Francisco including metered street parking, lots, and parking garages. Here are the two closest parking garages.

• Performing Arts Garage: 360 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102. Entrance on Grove, between Franklin and Gough
• Civic Center Plaza Garage: 355 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102

We have a hotel discount with Hotel Enso in Japantown! Please use this partner link to access the 15% discount.

San Francisco is made up of a patchwork of neighborhoods! Past visiting students have had success booking accommodations in the Hayes Valley and Mission Dolores areas to be within walking distance of the SFCM campus. 

However, many visitors choose to stay in other parts of the city to experience the different cultures and vibes. We encourage visitors to read the San Francisco Travel Associations introduction to San Francisco Neighborhoods!

We don’t want lodging costs or availability to stop you from visiting! We may be able accommodate prospective students in The Bowes Center, contingent on room availability. Please reach out to the nccyl@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@ylppa to inquire about on-campus housing during your visit. 

Please note, on-campus options during audition days are very limited and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Due to this, we recommend having a back up option if we are unable to meet your request. We will post more information about requesting rooms and potential availability in December, 2024.

SFCM has a close-knit relationship with the San Francisco Symphony, with many faculty members occupying roles there. Students are occasionally offered free or discounted tickets to Symphony performances and have opportunities to visit the Symphony at the discretion of their private teacher. Learn more about upcoming SFS performances here.

SFCM has a similarly close relationship with the San Francisco Opera: Aside from our SFO-affiliated faculty, many musicians and singers from the SFO have guest-lectured or delivered talks at SFCM, and students are occasionally offered free or discounted tickets to performances. Learn more about their upcoming performances here.

Aside from hosting summer ballet students at the Bowes Center, SFCM alumni and faculty have positions with or have performed with the Ballet Orchestra, and students have also been able to perform with the organization at points. Learn about their upcoming schedule here.  

Several members of SFCM's Roots, Jazz and American Music (RJAM) department belong to the SFJAZZ Collective, the in-house performing ensemble and composers' workshop of the organization—itself the largest non-profit jazz presenter in the world. 

RJAM recitals are frequently held in SFJAZZ's Joe Henderson Lab, and many SFCM faculty perform there frequently as well. Learn more about SFJAZZ's upcoming events here.

Other music and performing arts venues within walking distance of SFCM include Mr. Tipple's Jazz Club, Rickshaw Stop, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and the Golden Gate and Orpheum Theatres. Additionally, SF Performances' Herbst Theatre—a five-minute walk from the Bowes Center—hosts many classical performances throughout the year, and City Arts & Lectures, a popular venue for art panels, lectures, and discussions, is around the corner from the Ann Getty Center.