Stanford Shelter Music
About Us
Spurred by stories of convenience stores and metro stations using classical music as a deterrent for unhoused individuals, Stanford Shelter Music began as a passion project to counteract this harmful narrative. Since then, it has grown into a thriving program that seeks to bring interactive, engaging classical music concerts to homeless shelters throughout the Bay Area. Based in Palo Alto, CA, Stanford Shelter music draws from student and professional musicians, local and visiting, and partners with HomeFirst, LifeMoves, and WEHope to pair groups with shelters.
Core Services
Artists
We work with artists from student groups to professional ensembles, providing community engagement opportunities for them to broaden their horizons.
Shelters
Partnering with LifeMoves, HomeFirst, and WEHope, we work to put together musical performances at shelters once every few months, depending on our availability of performers.
Interactivity
In all of our programs, we strive to directly involve residents in the performance. Activities range from instrument demos to performing music inspired by creative output from residents.
Outreach
We believe that community music is an essential part of being a musician, holding workshops to prepare student musicians for shelter and community concerts.
Our Team
Spencer Cha
Co-Founder
Spencer Cha is a pianist and composer from Los Altos, CA, and a cofounder of Stanford Shelter Music. Spencer is a current undergraduate at Stanford studies piano with Dr. Elizabeth Schumann, and plays in a piano trio with Audrey and Chris Costanza as part of the Stanford chamber music program. A winner of the 2024 Stanford Concerto Competition, Spencer will play Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in November 2024. He also plays rock, jazz, and funk with student bands on campus. Spencer is studying music and Bioengineering at Stanford, and, outside of classes, he enjoys running and skiing.
Audrey Kim
Co-Founder
Audrey Kim is a violinist from Los Angeles, CA and a cofounder of Stanford Shelter Music. She previously studied the violin with Geoff Nuttall and currently studies with Owen Dalby, both of the St. Lawrence String Quartet. A chamber music lover, Audrey has played in a piano trio with Spencer and Chris Costanza for the past two years. Outside of music, Audrey is a chemistry major and serves as a student manager of Cardinal Free Clinics. She also enjoys hiking, attempting to cook with friends, and serving as an EMT on campus.
