Center for World Music

Center for World Music A San Diego-based non-profit fostering intercultural awareness and understanding through in-depth encounters with the world’s performing art traditions.

The Center for World Music is a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to foster intercultural awareness and understanding through in-depth encounters with the world’s performing arts traditions. To that end, we sponsor educational outreach, performances, and study abroad programs. Our Vision: Our vision is a world that celebrates cross-cultural understanding, respect, communication, and

healing through the performing arts traditions of cultures East and West. What We Do: We contribute to the realization of our vision through action on several levels. Our community programs in San Diego serve as a model for promoting intercultural communication, awareness, and understanding. Our World Music in the Schools program engages students in music and dance from around the world. Our concerts and workshops in San Diego, other major cities in the United States, and abroad present highly respected musicians that excite and inspire audiences, opening new cultural vistas. Our cultural tours provide transformative experiences of travel and authentic cultural immersion. Concerts: The CWM presents concerts and performing arts festivals of music and dance from traditions from around the world, featuring distinguished San Diego artists as well as visiting international artists from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. The Center also organizes tours of major artists and groups to cities across the United States. Workshops: The CWM also presents public workshops of music and dance traditions from around the world: India, Indonesia, Mexico, Africa, Spain, and more. We are especially proud of our long-standing Odissi Dance School program in North County, San Diego. Connecting You with Musicians: The CWM also connects musicians with performance opportunities. Are you interested in a world music performance at your venue or event? Please contact us.

We just earned our 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparencyfrom Candid! Candid, a respected independent charity evaluator, ver...
08/18/2026

We just earned our 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency
from Candid! Candid, a respected independent charity evaluator, verifies that we operate with full transparency, so you can give with confidence, knowing your support sustains real, measurable music, education, and connection in your community.
Check us out: https://app.candid.org/profile/8394341/center-for-world-music-94-1554813

If you like dance, you will love this!
07/28/2026

If you like dance, you will love this!

Do you have your tickets yet for Dancing Outdoors: Take 4? Head to the link in our bio to get yours today!

Dancing Outdoors: Take 4 is back for one night only this Saturday August 1st! Don’t miss this evening of dance at the beautiful ICA North Campus showcasing Encinitas based artists and companies.

Photo by Ryan Orion Beck

Calling all world musicians and culture bearersThe Center for World Music is actively seeking musicians and dancers who ...
07/19/2026

Calling all world musicians and culture bearers

The Center for World Music is actively seeking musicians and dancers who are interested in performing on our Passport concert series as part of the Global Stage program. These concerts bring the world's performing art traditions to inquisitive audiences in San Diego, focusing on cultural heritage and history. Join us to share the joy of your musical and dance heritage!

To submit materials for consideration, please fill the form at "CWM Prospective Artist Information 2027" on our LinkTree. Submissions are due by July 31

Please also visit CWM's website, YouTube, and Instagram pages to learn more about the organization and to view previous concerts.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Calling all world musicians and culture bearers!The Center for World Music is actively seeking musicians and dancers who...
07/17/2026

Calling all world musicians and culture bearers!

The Center for World Music is actively seeking musicians and dancers who are interested in performing on our Passport concert series, as part of the Global Stage program. These concerts bring the world's performing art traditions to inquisitive audiences in San Diego, focusing on cultural heritage and history. Join us to share the joy of your musical and dance heritage!

To submit materials for consideration, please fill the form at "CWM Prospective Artist Information 2027" on our LinkTree. Submissions are due by July 31.

Please also visit CWM's website, YouTube, and Instagram pages to learn more about the organization and view previous concerts.

We look forward to hearing from you!

07/16/2026
June was a busy time for World Music in the Schools! As the school year comes to a close, we've gathered all the instrum...
07/02/2026

June was a busy time for World Music in the Schools!
As the school year comes to a close, we've gathered all the instruments and are busily making arrangements for new programs in the fall. We took a moment to celebrate with teaching artists and share their exuberance for working with San Diego children. We lauded Stefanie Schmitz for her years of commitment to the Center for World Music, and welcomed the incoming WMS director Laura Lhotsky. We are excited for the future of our education programs in world music and dance!



We’re Hiring!Do you believe in the power of the arts to build connection, spark curiosity, and enrich lives? The Center ...
06/12/2026

We’re Hiring!

Do you believe in the power of the arts to build connection, spark curiosity, and enrich lives? The Center for World Music is seeking a part-time Director of Access to Arts for Seniors to help bring engaging world music and dance programs to senior communities throughout San Diego County.

This hybrid position offers the opportunity to work closely with artists, community partners, and CWM staff while managing a growing program that fosters intercultural understanding through meaningful arts experiences. If you have experience in event coordination, enjoy building relationships, and are passionate about making the arts accessible to all, we’d love to hear from you.

Find a link to the online job posting details in the comments.

Our last concert of the 2026 Passport Concert Season is officially sold out! We are so excited to celebrate the end of o...
06/10/2026

Our last concert of the 2026 Passport Concert Season is officially sold out!

We are so excited to celebrate the end of our spring season with you! If you didn’t get a ticket yet, go ahead over to our website and sign up on our waitlist to be the first to know if any additional tickets open up for this energizing event.

Thank you for your continued support of the world’s performing arts!

From the voice of Sue Ashgari, one our CWM board members:Today was a proud day. The Center for World Music, where I serv...
06/03/2026

From the voice of Sue Ashgari, one our CWM board members:

Today was a proud day. The Center for World Music, where I serve as a board member, received a Torch-Bearer Award from the Peace Run, recognizing its efforts to promote understanding, connection, and peace across communities.

The Peace Run is an international humanitarian initiative that honors individuals and organizations whose work helps bring people together and foster greater understanding across cultures and communities. Over the years, the Peace Run has been supported by and associated with global figures including Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Carl Lewis, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

At a time when it can feel easier to focus on what divides us, I believe there is great value in remaining curious about one another. When we approach people with curiosity instead of assumptions, and openness instead of judgment, we often discover that we have far more in common than we imagined.

That is one of the reasons I am proud to support the Center for World Music. Through music and the performing arts, the organization creates opportunities for people to learn about other cultures and experience the richness of traditions from around the world.

Grateful to the Peace Run for this meaningful recognition and to everyone who helps build understanding, one connection at a time.

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San Diego, CA

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