Cantare

What Cantare does

Cantare (legal name Cantare Con Vivo, 501(c)(3), Oakland, CA, founded 1987) is a community choral music nonprofit that operates an integrated portfolio of tuition-free youth music education programs and adult choral ensembles. On the youth side, Cantare delivers 95 weekly in-school music lessons across 9 Oakland Unified School District elementary schools (Cleveland, EnCompass Academy, Franklin, Greenleaf, La Escuelita, Laurel, Lincoln, Melrose Leadership Academy, Piedmont Ave. Elementary), reaching 2,650+ students in TK-12 grade through Classroom Music Education, Music Stars (after-school choirs for grades 3-5), Nova and Aurora (auditioned advanced youth choirs grades 6-12), Sing Together! (multilingual newcomer/ELL program for TK-1), and a free Summer Music Camp. Adult programming comprises the 100-voice auditioned Cantare Chorale, the 26-voice Chamber Ensemble (currently on hiatus), and a non-auditioned Summer Choir drawing 75-100 singers per season, performing 5-6 concerts annually at East Bay venues including First Presbyterian Church of Oakland and Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.

The organization's teaching methodology is grounded in Kodály music education and Orff-Schulwerk approaches, delivered by 14+ professional teaching artists with specialized credentials, and is aligned with National Core Arts Standards and California History-Social Science Standards. Technology is intentionally minimal: a Salesforce-powered ticketing portal handles concert ticket sales, GiveLively processes donations, and JotForm manages enrollment forms; there is no proprietary technology platform. Revenue streams include individual donations (including matched campaigns and planned giving), foundation and government grants (NEA, California Arts Council, City of Oakland), modest concert ticket revenue ($15-$48 range plus Pay-What-You-Will), and program sponsorships. The organization is led by Founder and Artistic Director David Morales (in his 57th year of professional conducting) and Executive Director Tracy Grant (since January 2025), supported by a small staff of 11-50 employees.

Cantare's strategic posture centers on deepening its Oakland school partnerships rather than geographic expansion, with growth signals concentrated in formalizing program offerings (Summer Camp), upgrading development capacity under new executive leadership, and pursuing episodic institutional funding to diversify beyond individual donors. Notable reputational assets include two Chorus America Education and Community Engagement Awards (2005, 2014), the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award (2022), and reported youth outcomes of 100% high school graduation and 98% college/vocational enrollment among Nova/Aurora alumni. The organization faces dependency risks on government arts funding (recently subject to elimination in Oakland) and a single anchor school district partner.

Name

Cantare

Legal name

Cantare Con Vivo

Website

https://cantareconvivo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cantare is a 501(c)(3) choral music nonprofit in Oakland, CA, providing tuition-free youth music education across 9 Oakland public schools (serving 2,650+ students TK-12) and operating adult auditioned and non-auditioned choral ensembles performing 5-6 concerts annually at East Bay venues, funded primarily through donations, foundation grants, and government arts funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education and Community Choir Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Choral music education
• Youth choir programs
• Adult choral performances
• Community music nonprofit
• Music education access

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Matching Campaigns: Cantare relies heavily on individual donor support, running periodic campaigns such as a Spring Campaign with an anonymous $35,000 matching offer. First-time donors receive a 2-1 match, and increased gifts from returning donors are also matched 2-1. Donations are the primary funding source given near-elimination of government arts funding.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Cantare receives multi-year grants from government bodies and foundations. A $100,000 NEA American Rescue Plan grant was awarded over two years (2022). The California Arts Council awarded $40,000 (Artists In Schools, 2023-2024) and $40,000 (Creative Youth Development, 2023-2024). Oakland city provided a $600,000 emergency pooled fund grant in 2025. Individual donors subsidize school costs that grants do not fully cover.
3. Concert Ticket Sales: Cantare generates modest ticket revenue from adult concert admissions. Pricing ranges from $15 (youth/student) to $48 (general adult), with a 'Pay-what-you-will' model for select performances. All ticket prices include fees. Youth choir concerts are offered free of charge.
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Cantare solicits planned gifts including Retirement Plan Assets/IRAs, Life Insurance/Annuities, cash, stocks/bonds/mutual funds, real estate, and tangible personal property, offering donors tax benefits in return.
5. Program Sponsorships: Cantare accepts concert and program sponsorships as well as in-kind donations, in addition to volunteer engagement, as supplementary revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cantare is a nonprofit choral music organization that runs tuition-free youth music education programs across nine Oakland Unified School District elementary schools and offers adult community choir ensembles (Chorale, Summer Choir, Chamber Ensemble) performing seasonal concerts in the East Bay. It delivers in-school classroom music, after-school choirs (Music Stars, Nova, Aurora, Sing Together!), a free Summer Music Camp, and adult choral performances of classical, ethnic, and American repertoire using Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk methodologies.

Product overview

Cantare is a non-profit choral organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs spanning adult and youth choral music education and performance. The adult program includes three choirs: the flagship Cantare Chorale (100-voice auditioned symphonic choir), Summer Choir (non-auditioned seasonal ensemble), and Chamber Ensemble (26-voice advanced ensemble, currently on hiatus). The youth program serves over 2,650 students through Classroom Music Education (in-school TK-6 instruction at nine partner schools), Music Stars after-school choirs (grades 3-5), Nova and Aurora youth choirs (grades 6-12, both award-winning), Sing Together! multilingual program for newcomers, and a free Summer Music Camp. All youth programs are 100% tuition-free, with programming designed to build community across generational, cultural, and economic boundaries through the power of choral music.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nova: Award-winning, citywide choir for 6th to 12th grade students from any Oakland school. Tuition-free, auditioned choir for vocalists ready for advanced choral singing in multiple languages and styles.
• Aurora
• Music Stars
• Sing Together!

Products and services

• Cantare Chorale An auditioned, 100-voice symphonic adult choir performing diverse repertoire including classical, ethnic, cultural, and American music traditions across multiple annual concerts, often with full orchestra. Open to experienced adult singers via audition.
• Summer Choir A non-auditioned summer adult choir program running approximately one month, drawing 75-100+ singers aged 15 and up for a condensed performance season. Open to community singers without audition.
• Chamber Ensemble An auditioned 26-voice advanced ensemble performing challenging choral music from around the world, including time-honored pieces and new music. Currently on hiatus for the 2025-26 season.
• Classroom Music Education Program In-school music education program providing 95 weekly lessons to TK-6th grade students across nine Oakland Unified School District partner schools, including curriculum delivery, teaching materials, and student assessment aligned with National Core Arts Standards. Tuition-free for students.
• Music Stars Tuition-free after-school choir program for 3rd-5th grade students, teaching choral singing fundamentals and music theory under experienced teaching artists with performances at school and community events.
• Nova Youth Choir Award-winning, auditioned citywide choir for 6th-12th grade students from any Oakland school. Tuition-free, rehearsing Wednesday afternoons with advanced repertoire in multiple languages and styles, featuring a mentorship program for high school students.
• Aurora Youth Choir Award-winning, auditioned citywide choir for 6th-12th grade students from any Oakland school. Tuition-free, rehearsing Tuesday afternoons with advanced repertoire, performing alongside adult choirs and at local festivals.
• Sing Together! Multilingual after-school music program for newcomer and English Language Learner TK-1st grade students and their families, using songs in native languages to build language pride, English proficiency, and school community connections. Tuition-free.
• Summer Music Camp Free summer music camp for rising 4th-9th graders featuring choir rehearsals, musicianship training, percussion instruments, afternoon electives, and a culminating community concert. All participants receive free t-shirt, snacks, and lunch. 100% tuition-free.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Nova/Aurora choir graduates complete high school
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oakland Unified School District (OUSD Expanded Learning)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Oakland Unified School District is Cantare's primary institutional partner. Cantare provides approximately 95 weekly in-school music lessons at 9 OUSD elementary schools (Cleveland, EnCompass Academy, Franklin, Greenleaf, La Escuelita, Laurel, Lincoln, Melrose Leadership Academy, Piedmont Ave. Elementary). OUSD's Expanded Learning program provides grant funding to support these programs.
• First Presbyterian Church of OaklandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cantare holds adult choir rehearsals at the hall adjacent to First Presbyterian Church of Oakland (2619 Broadway). The church serves as Cantare's primary concert venue in Oakland, hosting multiple concerts per season including the December holiday concert and The Three B's performances.
• Walnut Creek Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek) serves as a primary concert venue for Cantare's adult choir performances, including the December holiday concert and The Three B's concerts.
• Oaklandside (Oakland journalism)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Oaklandside (The Oaklandside) has provided extensive coverage of Cantare, including articles on the organization's 25th Chorale anniversary, funding challenges, and community impact. The publication featured Cantare in its coverage of Oakland's $600,000 emergency arts fund.
• Coro HispanominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cantare Chorale has collaborated with Coro Hispano on concert programming, including joint performances that highlight diverse choral traditions.
• Oakland Interfaith Gospel ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cantare has collaborated with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir on concert performances, contributing to community-building across faith traditions through music.
• UC Gospel ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cantare has performed with the UC Gospel Choir in joint concert programming.
• CSUEB Symphonic ChorusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cantare Chorale has collaborated with the California State University East Bay Symphonic Chorus on concert programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir: Oakland-based community choir focused on gospel music and interfaith collaboration; a documented Cantare performance partner and a directly comparable community adult ensemble in the same geography.
• Golden Gate Men's Chorus: Bay Area community men's choral ensemble producing seasonal concert programming and outreach performances, structurally similar to Cantare's adult Chorale and Chamber Ensemble.
• Berkeley Community Chorus: East Bay non-auditioned community chorus producing seasonal concerts, comparable to Cantare's Summer Choir in format (community access, modest ticket prices, accessible adult singing).
• Pacific Boychoir Academy: Oakland-based choral training and academic program for boys, offering tuition-supported vocal music education and performance ensembles similar in mission and structure to Cantare's youth pathway.
• Piedmont Choirs (Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir): East Bay children's and youth choral organization offering auditioned ensembles and music literacy instruction, directly comparable to Cantare's Music Stars and Nova/Aurora choirs.
• San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: Established Bay Area community chorus combining high-level concert performance with community outreach and youth education programs, analogous to Cantare's dual adult-performance and youth-education model.
• San Francisco Girls Chorus: Bay Area choral organization providing comprehensive vocal music education and performance opportunities for girls and young women, with training and concert programming analogous to Cantare's Nova/Aurora youth choirs.
• Coro Hispano: Bay Area Spanish-language choral ensemble collaborating with Cantare on joint performances; directly comparable as a culturally specific adult community choir serving immigrant audiences in the East Bay.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Symphony (Education / Community Programs): Major regional arts institution with substantial school-based music education and youth ensemble programming (including Adventures in Music and Chorus of Children), serving as a broader incumbent whose education portfolio overlaps Cantare's in-school music mission.
• Community Music Center: San Francisco nonprofit offering tuition-subsidized music education across instruments, voice, and ensembles to a diverse student body, overlapping with Cantare's mission of equitable music access but with broader instrument and program scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CantareConVivo
• Xx.com/cantareconvivo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cantare-con-vivo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cantare