Guiding Lights of Creativity and Collaboration.
Amelia Chen
Executive Director
Amelia Chen is the visionary force behind DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC, holding a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from NYU and over fifteen years of experience leading cultural non-profits in the Bay Area, making her an expert in blending artistic passion with organizational rigor. Her leadership is defined by a deep-seated belief in the mission to inspire creativity and foster collaboration, driving DPAM’s strategic growth and ensuring the organization remains financially stable and artistically vibrant. She possesses an exceptional ability to connect with artists, educators, and community leaders, utilizing these relationships to create meaningful partnerships that elevate DPAM’s profile and expand its programming reach. Amelia is not just an administrator but a passionate advocate for the arts; she spends several hours a week mentoring young artists, ensuring that her policy decisions are always grounded in the real-world needs of the creative community. Her warm, decisive approach ensures that the culture at 2519 MISSION STREET is one of professionalism, support, and continuous pursuit of excellence, setting the standard for every program and initiative launched by DPAM, and providing the steady hand necessary for long-term community impact and growth.
Dr. Elias Vance
Director of Music Education
Dr. Elias Vance is a distinguished musician, composer, and educator who oversees all aspects of the Musical Arts Track, bringing to DPAM a Ph.D. in Composition from Stanford University and a performance history that includes international orchestral and ensemble work. Elias’s philosophy centers on the idea that music is a collaborative endeavor and a foundational tool for intellectual development, integrating rigorous theory instruction with ample performance and improvisational opportunities. His specialized expertise includes not only classical and jazz traditions but also modern electronic music production and sound design, ensuring that DPAM’s curriculum remains cutting-edge and relevant to today’s diverse musical landscape. Elias is known for his patient and encouraging teaching style, capable of inspiring discipline in advanced students while making complex concepts accessible to beginners. He manages a team of highly qualified music instructors, develops our performance series schedule, and is personally responsible for establishing the technical specifications of our professional-grade recording studios, cementing DPAM’s reputation for musical excellence at our 2519 MISSION STREET location.
Sofia Jimenez
Visual Arts Program Coordinator
Sofia Jimenez manages the entire Visual Arts Track, bringing the perspective of an award-winning painter and mixed-media installation artist whose work has been featured in galleries across the West Coast. She holds a BFA from the California College of the Arts and has a decade of experience curating exhibitions and teaching foundational and advanced studio courses, making her uniquely qualified to design a dynamic and challenging curriculum. Sofia is passionate about the intersection of tradition and technology, constantly introducing new mediums like 3D printing and virtual reality into the curriculum while maintaining a strong emphasis on core skills like life drawing and color theory, ensuring students are well-rounded practitioners. Her background as a working artist means she provides invaluable, practical advice on portfolio development, grant writing, and the professional demands of the contemporary art world. At DPAM, Sofia oversees the gallery spaces, manages the open studio program, and ensures that the visual arts classes consistently promote the spirit of creative exploration and interdisciplinary connection that is central to the organization’s mission, creating an inspiring and aesthetically rich environment.
Marcus Holt
Community Engagement & Outreach
Marcus Holt is the primary link between DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC and the vibrant, diverse communities of San Francisco, especially the Mission District, focusing on making our programs genuinely accessible and widely known. With a background in community organizing and non-profit development, Marcus excels at building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with local schools, businesses, and neighborhood associations, ensuring that DPAM’s resources are directed toward those who need them most. His work involves coordinating our scholarship programs, organizing free public workshops, and managing our extensive volunteer network, all while embodying the welcoming, family-friendly spirit of the organization. Marcus’s enthusiasm for the arts is infectious, and he is often the first face visitors meet at 2519 MISSION STREET, providing guided tours and detailed information about how individuals can join our creative community. He is relentless in his efforts to ensure that DPAM lives up to its promise of inclusivity, actively recruiting from underserved populations and designing outreach initiatives that truly reflect the rich tapestry of the city, making art and music a civic priority.
Community & Engagement
Creating a Shared Cultural Space.
We deeply believe that the most successful creative journeys are supported by a strong foundation of family involvement, which is why DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC actively structures opportunities for parents and guardians to be integrated into their student’s artistic process. We host regular Family Art Days, where parents and children collaborate on creative projects in a relaxed studio environment, allowing families to share in the joy of creation. Our faculty maintains open communication through dedicated parent-teacher conferences and digital progress reports, ensuring families are always informed about their child’s growth and curricular goals. Furthermore, we encourage family attendance at all student showcases, recitals, and exhibitions, providing proud moments of recognition for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our young artists and musicians. This committed approach to family partnership helps reinforce the value of creative pursuit outside of our doors, ensuring that the passion for art and music is nurtured not only within our walls at 2519 MISSION STREET but within the supportive structure of the home, creating a sustainable lifelong love of culture.
Join our team
Advance Your Career in the Creative Sector.
DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC is a growing organization constantly seeking passionate, qualified, and highly skilled individuals to join our team of dedicated arts and music professionals at 2519 MISSION STREET, expanding our capacity to fulfill our mission. We offer a variety of career opportunities, including roles for experienced Music Instructors specializing in classical, jazz, or contemporary instruments, Visual Arts Faculty with expertise in media like painting, sculpture, or digital design, and Administrative/Program Coordinator positions focused on operational management and community outreach. Successful candidates are not only exceptional practitioners in their field but also warm, professional educators who are committed to our core mission of inspiring creativity and fostering collaboration across diverse artistic expressions and age groups. Our employment opportunities offer competitive compensation, a supportive and creative work environment, and the profound satisfaction of contributing directly to the cultural and educational enrichment of the San Francisco community, providing a deeply rewarding career path in the non-profit arts sector.
Team Culture
The team culture at DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC is built on the same foundational principles that guide our programs: collaboration, integrity, and a collective commitment to artistic excellence, creating an environment that is both professional and intensely supportive. We foster a horizontal management structure that encourages open communication and values the creative input of every team member, ensuring that our faculty and staff feel empowered to contribute their unique expertise to curriculum development and organizational strategy. Regular team meetings are not just administrative; they are collaborative sessions where artists and educators share best practices, discuss interdisciplinary project ideas, and collectively brainstorm ways to enhance the student and community experience. Working at DPAM means joining a family of passionate individuals who share a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of the arts, creating a dynamic, respectful, and joyful workplace where personal and professional growth are continuously supported and celebrated.
Application Process
The application process for joining the DANDYS PARLOUR ARTS AND MUSIC team begins with a thorough review of the current openings posted on our website’s career page, which details the specific requirements and responsibilities for each available position. Interested candidates are required to submit a comprehensive application packet via email to info@dpam.lat, which must include a detailed cover letter explaining their alignment with our mission, a professional resume or curriculum vitae, and relevant supporting materials, such as a portfolio of artistic work, video clips of performances, or professional writing samples. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial interview, followed by a potential second interview that may include a teaching demonstration or a practical skills assessment relevant to the role’s primary functions. We are committed to an equitable and thoughtful hiring process, ensuring that every applicant is treated with professionalism and respect, as we look to welcome individuals who are ready to dedicate their skills to inspiring creativity and fostering the kind of impactful collaboration that thrives at 2519 MISSION STREET.