Look below to find a list of our upcoming concerts. You can also learn more about the artists by clicking on their names and following the links to their bios and websites.
To respect our artists and patrons, we do not permit infants or toddlers to attend our performances.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Dmitri Matheny Group
Sagebrush Rebellion
Dmitri Matheny, flugelhorn; Matthew Clark, piano; Ruth Davies, bass; Deszon X. Claiborne, drums
The Dmitri Matheny Group presents an evening of fresh, original works—including the World Premiere of Matheny's Sagebrush Rebellion—familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and beloved standards from the Great American Songbook.
"An all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States, the Dmitri Matheny Group is a cohesive and seamless unit, serving up equal parts soulful expression, caressing phrases, imaginative asides, and dedicated lyricism." (All About Jazz). Directed by musician/composer Dmitri Matheny ("the first breakthrough flugelhornist since Chuck Mangione" –San Jose Mercury News), the DMG has developed an engaging repertoire and a strong international following. The group's signature sound pleases both crowds and critics, balancing fresh, original works with familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and beloved standards from the Great American Songbook. "Their music is a fertile landscape without boundaries," writes the Oakland Tribune, "earning Matheny and his cohorts a reputation as one of the most eclectic and daring ensembles on today's jazz scene." Celebrated for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American musician Dmitri Matheny is an honors graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and the Berklee College of Music, Boston. First introduced to jazz audiences in the 1990s as the protégé of Art Farmer, Matheny has matured into "one of the jazz world's most talented horn players" (San Francisco Chronicle), touring internationally and releasing nine critically acclaimed CDs.
TICKETS
Dmitri Matheny Group
Sagebrush Rebellion
Dmitri Matheny, flugelhorn; Matthew Clark, piano; Ruth Davies, bass; Deszon X. Claiborne, drums
The Dmitri Matheny Group presents an evening of fresh, original works—including the World Premiere of Matheny's Sagebrush Rebellion—familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and beloved standards from the Great American Songbook.
"An all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States, the Dmitri Matheny Group is a cohesive and seamless unit, serving up equal parts soulful expression, caressing phrases, imaginative asides, and dedicated lyricism." (All About Jazz). Directed by musician/composer Dmitri Matheny ("the first breakthrough flugelhornist since Chuck Mangione" –San Jose Mercury News), the DMG has developed an engaging repertoire and a strong international following. The group's signature sound pleases both crowds and critics, balancing fresh, original works with familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and beloved standards from the Great American Songbook. "Their music is a fertile landscape without boundaries," writes the Oakland Tribune, "earning Matheny and his cohorts a reputation as one of the most eclectic and daring ensembles on today's jazz scene." Celebrated for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American musician Dmitri Matheny is an honors graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and the Berklee College of Music, Boston. First introduced to jazz audiences in the 1990s as the protégé of Art Farmer, Matheny has matured into "one of the jazz world's most talented horn players" (San Francisco Chronicle), touring internationally and releasing nine critically acclaimed CDs.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013 AT 7:00PM
The Opera Academy of California
Master Class
Yefim Maizel
Please note special time
Yefim Maizel will work one on one with talented singers from OAC’s Emerging Singer Program in an educational performance experience. With an emphasis on character, emotion, movement and staging, Mr. Maizel will guide singers to the ultimate theatrical expression of arias from the greatest opera repertoire. Yefim Maizel has directed and assisted in the former Soviet Union, in Europe, in Japan and in the U.S. at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington Opera, Mariinsky Opera, Wexford Opera Festival, Saito Kinen Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Pacific, Michigan Opera Theater and Opera Santa Barbara. Since 1999 Yefim Maizel has been engaged as a Guest stage Director at the Metropolitan Opera, where for many seasons he directed Madama Butterfly (Puccini) - with Placido Domingo conducting in 2004. He has assisted on productions of Il Trovatore (Verdi), Manon (Massenet), Idomeneo (Mozart), Don Carlo (Verdi), Elektra (Strauss), Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart), Otello (Verdi), The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) and Das Rheingold (Wagner). In 2005, Mr. Maizel established the Opera Academy of California where he serves as CEO, Artistic Director and Stage Director.
TICKETS
The Opera Academy of California
Master Class
Yefim Maizel
Please note special time
Yefim Maizel will work one on one with talented singers from OAC’s Emerging Singer Program in an educational performance experience. With an emphasis on character, emotion, movement and staging, Mr. Maizel will guide singers to the ultimate theatrical expression of arias from the greatest opera repertoire. Yefim Maizel has directed and assisted in the former Soviet Union, in Europe, in Japan and in the U.S. at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington Opera, Mariinsky Opera, Wexford Opera Festival, Saito Kinen Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Pacific, Michigan Opera Theater and Opera Santa Barbara. Since 1999 Yefim Maizel has been engaged as a Guest stage Director at the Metropolitan Opera, where for many seasons he directed Madama Butterfly (Puccini) - with Placido Domingo conducting in 2004. He has assisted on productions of Il Trovatore (Verdi), Manon (Massenet), Idomeneo (Mozart), Don Carlo (Verdi), Elektra (Strauss), Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart), Otello (Verdi), The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) and Das Rheingold (Wagner). In 2005, Mr. Maizel established the Opera Academy of California where he serves as CEO, Artistic Director and Stage Director.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 AT 8:00PM
The Delphi Trio
O1C Artists-in-residence
Liana Bérubé, violin; Michelle Kwon, 'cello; Jeffrey LaDeur, piano
Please come early and join us for a pre-concert talk at 7:30.
The Delphi Trio conclude their residency at Old First Concerts with a concert premiering a newly commissioned work by composer Minna Choi, along with other masterworks of the piano trio repertoire. Praised for their intensity and communicative power, the Delphi Trio burst onto the San Francisco classical music scene in 2010. Liana Bérubé, Michelle Kwon, and Jeffrey LaDeur met while in the prestigious Strings and Piano Chamber Music degree program at the San Francisco Conservatory. The Delphi Trio views trust, integrity, and honesty as the cornerstone of its ensemble, both interpersonally and musically. A devotion to finding truth in music and scores along with an innate spontaneity as an ensemble are the core of their artistic approach. While the Delphi Trio is passionate about the richly diverse standard piano trio repertory, they are also devoted to developing and performing new works. The trio is excited to be part of Old First Concerts' Residency Program, and are focusing their residency around the premieres of three newly commissioned works. For more information please visit thedelphitrio.com.
TICKETS
The Delphi Trio
O1C Artists-in-residence
Liana Bérubé, violin; Michelle Kwon, 'cello; Jeffrey LaDeur, piano
Please come early and join us for a pre-concert talk at 7:30.
The Delphi Trio conclude their residency at Old First Concerts with a concert premiering a newly commissioned work by composer Minna Choi, along with other masterworks of the piano trio repertoire. Praised for their intensity and communicative power, the Delphi Trio burst onto the San Francisco classical music scene in 2010. Liana Bérubé, Michelle Kwon, and Jeffrey LaDeur met while in the prestigious Strings and Piano Chamber Music degree program at the San Francisco Conservatory. The Delphi Trio views trust, integrity, and honesty as the cornerstone of its ensemble, both interpersonally and musically. A devotion to finding truth in music and scores along with an innate spontaneity as an ensemble are the core of their artistic approach. While the Delphi Trio is passionate about the richly diverse standard piano trio repertory, they are also devoted to developing and performing new works. The trio is excited to be part of Old First Concerts' Residency Program, and are focusing their residency around the premieres of three newly commissioned works. For more information please visit thedelphitrio.com.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013 AT 4:00PM
The Opera Academy of California
Aria Afternoon
In the visually stunning and acoustically well balanced venue of the Old First Church, emerging artists from The Opera Academy program will perform in six master classes with world renowned opera directors, singers, and coaches. Audiences can see masters at work and witness the process of the emerging artist improving in performance right on the stage. Artists will also present collections of opera’s finest Arias in three recitals. Works of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and more will be performed. Participating Artists represent some of the finest emerging opera talent of the San Francisco Bay Area and the world.
TICKETS
The Opera Academy of California
Aria Afternoon
In the visually stunning and acoustically well balanced venue of the Old First Church, emerging artists from The Opera Academy program will perform in six master classes with world renowned opera directors, singers, and coaches. Audiences can see masters at work and witness the process of the emerging artist improving in performance right on the stage. Artists will also present collections of opera’s finest Arias in three recitals. Works of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and more will be performed. Participating Artists represent some of the finest emerging opera talent of the San Francisco Bay Area and the world.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013 AT 7:00PM
The Opera Academy of California
Aria Recital
Please note special time
In the visually stunning and acoustically well balanced venue of the Old First Church, emerging artists from The Opera Academy program will perform in six master classes with world renowned opera directors, singers, and coaches. Audiences can see masters at work and witness the process of the emerging artist improving in performance right on the stage. Artists will also present collections of opera’s finest Arias in three recitals. Works of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and more will be performed. Participating Artists represent some of the finest emerging opera talent of the San Francisco Bay Area and the world.
TICKETS
The Opera Academy of California
Aria Recital
Please note special time
In the visually stunning and acoustically well balanced venue of the Old First Church, emerging artists from The Opera Academy program will perform in six master classes with world renowned opera directors, singers, and coaches. Audiences can see masters at work and witness the process of the emerging artist improving in performance right on the stage. Artists will also present collections of opera’s finest Arias in three recitals. Works of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and more will be performed. Participating Artists represent some of the finest emerging opera talent of the San Francisco Bay Area and the world.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 AT 7:00PM
The Opera Academy of California
Master Class
Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano
Introduced to opera as a teenage usher at the Santa Fe Opera, Susanne Mentzer is one of today's foremost mezzo-sopranos, recognized for her generous vocal and interpretive gifts, and widely admired for her versatility from the recital and concert stage to the operatic arena. Susanne has appeared with nearly all the major opera companies, orchestras and festivals of North and South America, Europe and Japan. For over 20 years she has sung leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera. She has collaborated with many of the world’s great conductors and singers, and with a special interest in new works she has debuted the role of Mother in Tan Dun’s opera The First Emperor and premiered song cycles by Libby Larsen, Carlisle Floyd, Stephen Bachicha, Daniel Brewbaker. A mentor to young singers she serves on the board of The George London Foundation and The W.M. Sullivan Foundation, is a Professor of Voice at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, and taught at DePaul University in Chicago and the Aspen Music Festival and School. As an arts advocate she writes a blog for the Huffington Post online. Susanne received the Thelen Award from the Alexian Brothers her efforts to raise over one million dollars for Bonaventure House in Chicago, a residence for homeless people with AIDS.
TICKETS
The Opera Academy of California
Master Class
Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano
Introduced to opera as a teenage usher at the Santa Fe Opera, Susanne Mentzer is one of today's foremost mezzo-sopranos, recognized for her generous vocal and interpretive gifts, and widely admired for her versatility from the recital and concert stage to the operatic arena. Susanne has appeared with nearly all the major opera companies, orchestras and festivals of North and South America, Europe and Japan. For over 20 years she has sung leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera. She has collaborated with many of the world’s great conductors and singers, and with a special interest in new works she has debuted the role of Mother in Tan Dun’s opera The First Emperor and premiered song cycles by Libby Larsen, Carlisle Floyd, Stephen Bachicha, Daniel Brewbaker. A mentor to young singers she serves on the board of The George London Foundation and The W.M. Sullivan Foundation, is a Professor of Voice at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, and taught at DePaul University in Chicago and the Aspen Music Festival and School. As an arts advocate she writes a blog for the Huffington Post online. Susanne received the Thelen Award from the Alexian Brothers her efforts to raise over one million dollars for Bonaventure House in Chicago, a residence for homeless people with AIDS.
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Sarah Cahill
Sarah Cahill, piano
Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne
John Kennedy Naturali Periclitati
Ann Southam selections from Glass Houses
Samuel Carl Adams Piano Step
Stefan Wolpe Dance in the Form of a Chaconne
Sarah Cahill, recently called “fiercely gifted” by The New York Times and “as tenacious and committed an advocate as any composer could dream of” by the San Francisco Chronicle, has commissioned, premiered, and recorded numerous compositions for solo piano. Composers who have dedicated works to her include John Adams, Terry Riley, Frederic Rzewski, Pauline Oliveros, Annea Lockwood, and Evan Ziporyn, and she has also premiered pieces by Lou Harrison, Julia Wolfe, Ingram Marshall, Toshi Ichiyanagi, George Lewis, Leo Ornstein, and many others. Cahill has researched and recorded the music by the important early 20th-century American modernists Henry Cowell and Ruth Crawford, and has commissioned a number of new pieces in tribute to their enduring influence. She enjoys working closely with composers, musicologists, and scholars to prepare scores for performance. Recent appearances include Spoleto Festival USA, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, the Pacific Crossings Festival in Tokyo, the Portland Piano Festival, and the Mendocino Music Festival. sarahcahill.com
TICKETS
Sarah Cahill
Sarah Cahill, piano
Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne
John Kennedy Naturali Periclitati
Ann Southam selections from Glass Houses
Samuel Carl Adams Piano Step
Stefan Wolpe Dance in the Form of a Chaconne
Sarah Cahill, recently called “fiercely gifted” by The New York Times and “as tenacious and committed an advocate as any composer could dream of” by the San Francisco Chronicle, has commissioned, premiered, and recorded numerous compositions for solo piano. Composers who have dedicated works to her include John Adams, Terry Riley, Frederic Rzewski, Pauline Oliveros, Annea Lockwood, and Evan Ziporyn, and she has also premiered pieces by Lou Harrison, Julia Wolfe, Ingram Marshall, Toshi Ichiyanagi, George Lewis, Leo Ornstein, and many others. Cahill has researched and recorded the music by the important early 20th-century American modernists Henry Cowell and Ruth Crawford, and has commissioned a number of new pieces in tribute to their enduring influence. She enjoys working closely with composers, musicologists, and scholars to prepare scores for performance. Recent appearances include Spoleto Festival USA, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, the Pacific Crossings Festival in Tokyo, the Portland Piano Festival, and the Mendocino Music Festival. sarahcahill.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013 AT 4:00PM
Cascada de Flores
Arwen Lawrence, voice, guitar, jarana jarocha, claves, zapateado (dance); Jorge Liceaga, guitar, guitarra de son from Veracruz, banjo, bass, voice; Rick Flores, guitar & voice
Arwen Lawrence and Jorge Liceaga are the creative force behind Cascada de Flores, celebrated for their heartfelt and authentic approach to old classics from Mexico and the Caribbean (bolero, canción, ranchera) weaving in son, traditional poetic dance music from the countryside. The sound of Cascada de Flores echoes the golden radio age of Latin America, where jazzy bolero and earthy traditions from the countryside were joyously juxtaposed. Offering elegant beauties from the lengua española as in casual conversation they make something seemingly foreign or distant, accessible and vibrant. You "learn the roots while listening to experts play music they clearly love. The result is rich, delicate, and lovely." (Sing Out Magazine) Since its inception in 1999, the celebrated combination of artists from vastly different backgrounds that has formed this beloved ensemble has entertained while educating people of all ages and languages: from concert halls like the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM to community arts centers such as La Peña and the Freight and Salvage of Berkeley; from a 7 am concert/sing-along for day laborers at the Graton Labor Center to getting elderly latinos up to dance at the 30th Street Senior Center in San Francisco—the music they play resonates deeper than where differences lie. Dúo Cascada de Flores returns to Old First Concerts in collaboration with classically trained guitarist and composer Richard Flores. This new trio will delve into the intricacies of the communication between voice, guitars and percussive dance, whether in traditional formats such as Cuban or Yucatecan trova, or in creating new settings for pieces usually done in larger ensembles, such as danzón orchestras and mariachi ensembles. cascadadeflores.com
TICKETS
Cascada de Flores
Arwen Lawrence, voice, guitar, jarana jarocha, claves, zapateado (dance); Jorge Liceaga, guitar, guitarra de son from Veracruz, banjo, bass, voice; Rick Flores, guitar & voice
Arwen Lawrence and Jorge Liceaga are the creative force behind Cascada de Flores, celebrated for their heartfelt and authentic approach to old classics from Mexico and the Caribbean (bolero, canción, ranchera) weaving in son, traditional poetic dance music from the countryside. The sound of Cascada de Flores echoes the golden radio age of Latin America, where jazzy bolero and earthy traditions from the countryside were joyously juxtaposed. Offering elegant beauties from the lengua española as in casual conversation they make something seemingly foreign or distant, accessible and vibrant. You "learn the roots while listening to experts play music they clearly love. The result is rich, delicate, and lovely." (Sing Out Magazine) Since its inception in 1999, the celebrated combination of artists from vastly different backgrounds that has formed this beloved ensemble has entertained while educating people of all ages and languages: from concert halls like the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM to community arts centers such as La Peña and the Freight and Salvage of Berkeley; from a 7 am concert/sing-along for day laborers at the Graton Labor Center to getting elderly latinos up to dance at the 30th Street Senior Center in San Francisco—the music they play resonates deeper than where differences lie. Dúo Cascada de Flores returns to Old First Concerts in collaboration with classically trained guitarist and composer Richard Flores. This new trio will delve into the intricacies of the communication between voice, guitars and percussive dance, whether in traditional formats such as Cuban or Yucatecan trova, or in creating new settings for pieces usually done in larger ensembles, such as danzón orchestras and mariachi ensembles. cascadadeflores.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 AT 8:00PM
John Ferguson
Ode to Joy as you’ve never heard it before
John Ferguson, piano
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, completed in 1824, is the crowning work of his life as a composer, and it dominated the imagination of every nineteenth-century composer who followed in its shadow. Its four movements traverse the entire range of human emotion—power and grandeur, tragedy, tranquility, spirituality, and, in the choral finale, utter transcendence of human fallibility in the achievement of universal brotherhood. Franz Liszt, perhaps the greatest piano virtuoso of all time, transcribed all nine of Beethoven's symphonies for solo piano. The transcription of the ninth, completed in 1864. is a true tour de force of Liszt's amazing ability to adapt the structure, color, and effect of an orchestral work to a piano arrangement, miraculously preserving the power and impact of the original. John Ferguson’s performances have been praised for their “proselytizing zeal—along with fleet fingers, power, and fine dynamic control” (Boston Globe) and “impressive qualities of pianistic brilliance, strength, intellect and sensitivity” (Sacramento Bee). Ferguson has performed solo recitals in major cities throughout the US, including concert series’ and festivals in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, and Providence. His programs feature some of the most difficult and epic works in the keyboard literature, including Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata, Bach’s Art of Fugue, and Rzewski’s The People United Will Never be Defeated. Ferguson’s performances have also included music from the Renaissance and Middle Ages, a wide range of contemporary music, including his own compositions, and transcriptions from the Romantic era. He earned his Doctorate from Indiana University where he studied with Edward Auer and Menahem Pressler. Ferguson also holds a degree in Violin, and teaches strings and conducts a Youth Orchestra in Brookline, Massachusetts. johnferguson.org
TICKETS
John Ferguson
Ode to Joy as you’ve never heard it before
John Ferguson, piano
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, completed in 1824, is the crowning work of his life as a composer, and it dominated the imagination of every nineteenth-century composer who followed in its shadow. Its four movements traverse the entire range of human emotion—power and grandeur, tragedy, tranquility, spirituality, and, in the choral finale, utter transcendence of human fallibility in the achievement of universal brotherhood. Franz Liszt, perhaps the greatest piano virtuoso of all time, transcribed all nine of Beethoven's symphonies for solo piano. The transcription of the ninth, completed in 1864. is a true tour de force of Liszt's amazing ability to adapt the structure, color, and effect of an orchestral work to a piano arrangement, miraculously preserving the power and impact of the original. John Ferguson’s performances have been praised for their “proselytizing zeal—along with fleet fingers, power, and fine dynamic control” (Boston Globe) and “impressive qualities of pianistic brilliance, strength, intellect and sensitivity” (Sacramento Bee). Ferguson has performed solo recitals in major cities throughout the US, including concert series’ and festivals in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, and Providence. His programs feature some of the most difficult and epic works in the keyboard literature, including Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata, Bach’s Art of Fugue, and Rzewski’s The People United Will Never be Defeated. Ferguson’s performances have also included music from the Renaissance and Middle Ages, a wide range of contemporary music, including his own compositions, and transcriptions from the Romantic era. He earned his Doctorate from Indiana University where he studied with Edward Auer and Menahem Pressler. Ferguson also holds a degree in Violin, and teaches strings and conducts a Youth Orchestra in Brookline, Massachusetts. johnferguson.org
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2013 AT 4:00PM
Rose & the Nightingale
Spirit of the Garden
Jody Redhage, 'cello, voice, compositions; Sara Caswell, violin & mandolin; Leala Cyr, voice & trumpet; Laila Biali, voice & piano
The Spirit of the Garden Concert celebrates the sublimity of botanical gardens through poetry & song, featuring Rose & the Nightingale's mix of jazz, chamber music, folk, and world.
Inspired by botanical gardens the world over, and the sense of contemplation & connection one can experience in these special spaces, Spirit of the Garden’s lyrical, energetic, and inspiring music features three part vocal harmonies, violin, ‘cello, piano, trumpet, and percussion. Post-concert remarks from audience members have shown Rose & the Nightingale’s ability to cut through to a deeper level of human connection through the energy of music. All the lyrics in Spirit of the Garden are poems celebrating the nexus of spirituality and nature, and the ability to connect and feel a part of something greater through open & aware engagement with the natural world. The songs offer immense gratitude to botanical gardens’ role as contemplative and inspirational spaces. Poets featured include San Francisco poets Silvi Alcivar & Evan Karp, whose poems inspired by the nearby San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park were transformed into the lyrics of new compositions by Rose & the Nightingale. roseandthenightingale.com
TICKETS
Rose & the Nightingale
Spirit of the Garden
Jody Redhage, 'cello, voice, compositions; Sara Caswell, violin & mandolin; Leala Cyr, voice & trumpet; Laila Biali, voice & piano
The Spirit of the Garden Concert celebrates the sublimity of botanical gardens through poetry & song, featuring Rose & the Nightingale's mix of jazz, chamber music, folk, and world.
Inspired by botanical gardens the world over, and the sense of contemplation & connection one can experience in these special spaces, Spirit of the Garden’s lyrical, energetic, and inspiring music features three part vocal harmonies, violin, ‘cello, piano, trumpet, and percussion. Post-concert remarks from audience members have shown Rose & the Nightingale’s ability to cut through to a deeper level of human connection through the energy of music. All the lyrics in Spirit of the Garden are poems celebrating the nexus of spirituality and nature, and the ability to connect and feel a part of something greater through open & aware engagement with the natural world. The songs offer immense gratitude to botanical gardens’ role as contemplative and inspirational spaces. Poets featured include San Francisco poets Silvi Alcivar & Evan Karp, whose poems inspired by the nearby San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park were transformed into the lyrics of new compositions by Rose & the Nightingale. roseandthenightingale.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Robert Howard & Jeffrey LaDeur
Robert Howard, 'cello; Jeffrey LaDeur, piano
Schumann Fantasiestücke
Ginastera Pampeana No. 2
Beethoven Sonata in D major
Chopin Sonata
Robert Howard has performed in the Festival Internacional de Musica in Costa Rica, the Festival de Guadarama in Spain, and on the Mostly Mozart series in Lincoln Center. Locally, he has performed with American Bach Soloists, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, and the San Francisco Symphony. He is joined by pianist Jeffrey LaDeur, whose increasingly busy career as concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician has included performances at the Kennedy Center, Eastman Theater, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and as an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre. Their program will include works by Schumann, Ginastera, Beethoven, and Chopin. rhowardcello.com jeffreyladeur.com
TICKETS
Robert Howard & Jeffrey LaDeur
Robert Howard, 'cello; Jeffrey LaDeur, piano
Schumann Fantasiestücke
Ginastera Pampeana No. 2
Beethoven Sonata in D major
Chopin Sonata
Robert Howard has performed in the Festival Internacional de Musica in Costa Rica, the Festival de Guadarama in Spain, and on the Mostly Mozart series in Lincoln Center. Locally, he has performed with American Bach Soloists, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, and the San Francisco Symphony. He is joined by pianist Jeffrey LaDeur, whose increasingly busy career as concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician has included performances at the Kennedy Center, Eastman Theater, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and as an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre. Their program will include works by Schumann, Ginastera, Beethoven, and Chopin. rhowardcello.com jeffreyladeur.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013 AT 4:00PM
Julio Reyes
Julio Reyes, guitar
Works by Villa-Lobos, Albéniz, Tárrega, and Barrios.
Julio is excited to be returning to Old First Concerts, site of his very first recital at the age of 12. The music he’ll be playing is from the repertoire of the 2 most important icons for the guitar: Andrés Segovia and Agustín Barrios. Geniuses in their own right, together they comprised the best of both worlds: technique and musicianship. Julio will share anecdotal information about these 2 men passed on to him from his father, a former student of a protégé of Barrios. julioreyesguitarist.com
TICKETS
Julio Reyes
Julio Reyes, guitar
Works by Villa-Lobos, Albéniz, Tárrega, and Barrios.
Julio is excited to be returning to Old First Concerts, site of his very first recital at the age of 12. The music he’ll be playing is from the repertoire of the 2 most important icons for the guitar: Andrés Segovia and Agustín Barrios. Geniuses in their own right, together they comprised the best of both worlds: technique and musicianship. Julio will share anecdotal information about these 2 men passed on to him from his father, a former student of a protégé of Barrios. julioreyesguitarist.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013 AT 4:00PM
Resonance Jazz Ensemble
Nancy Bien, 'cello; Ted Burik, bass; Greg German, drums; Georgianna Krieger, saxophones; Michelle Mastin, viola; Stephen McQuarry, piano; Michele Walther, violin; Laura Wiley, flutes
Resonance Jazz Ensemble, a one-of-a-kind jazz octet, performs their “Summer Time” concert, featuring a selection of arrangements and original jazz works for chamber jazz ensemble by composers from the 20th and 21st centuries. The performance will include tunes from Resonance’s newly released CD entitled Introductions with original music by bandleader Stephen McQuarry, as well as McQuarry’s creative arrangements of jazz standards, pop tunes, and classical favorites. The only jazz ensemble in Northern California with this unusual instrumentation, Resonance jazz octet is comprised of saxophone, flute, violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass, keyboard, and drums, resulting in a rich fusion of orchestral and big band sounds. Resonance melds together a mastery of both classical and jazz artists of richly diverse musical backgrounds who have performed with many legendary artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Clare Fischer, Dave Anderson Quartet, Terrence Brewer, Joe Lovano, Jethro Tull, Oakland Jazz Choir, Mingus Amungus, Gloria Estefan, as well as the Marin and Berkeley Symphonies, the Woodminster Theatre Orchestra, and the California Pops Orchestra. resonancejazz.com
TICKETS
Resonance Jazz Ensemble
Nancy Bien, 'cello; Ted Burik, bass; Greg German, drums; Georgianna Krieger, saxophones; Michelle Mastin, viola; Stephen McQuarry, piano; Michele Walther, violin; Laura Wiley, flutes
Resonance Jazz Ensemble, a one-of-a-kind jazz octet, performs their “Summer Time” concert, featuring a selection of arrangements and original jazz works for chamber jazz ensemble by composers from the 20th and 21st centuries. The performance will include tunes from Resonance’s newly released CD entitled Introductions with original music by bandleader Stephen McQuarry, as well as McQuarry’s creative arrangements of jazz standards, pop tunes, and classical favorites. The only jazz ensemble in Northern California with this unusual instrumentation, Resonance jazz octet is comprised of saxophone, flute, violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass, keyboard, and drums, resulting in a rich fusion of orchestral and big band sounds. Resonance melds together a mastery of both classical and jazz artists of richly diverse musical backgrounds who have performed with many legendary artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Clare Fischer, Dave Anderson Quartet, Terrence Brewer, Joe Lovano, Jethro Tull, Oakland Jazz Choir, Mingus Amungus, Gloria Estefan, as well as the Marin and Berkeley Symphonies, the Woodminster Theatre Orchestra, and the California Pops Orchestra. resonancejazz.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Agave Baroque
Aaron Westman, violin; Shirley Hunt, viola da gamba; Kevin Cooper, baroque guitar; JungHae Kim, harpsichord
Johann Christoph Bach Intonation in D minor
Dietrich Buxtehude Trio, Op. 2, No. 3 in G minor, BuxWV 261
J. S. Bach Sonata in G major for viola da gamba and harpsichord, BWV 1029; Sonata No. 4 in C minor for violin and obbligato harpsichord, BWV 1017; excerpts from Suite for Lute in G minor, BWV 996; and Sonata in E minor for violin and continuo, BWV 1023
Jean-Fery Rebel Sonata in G minor for violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord
Heinrich Biber Sonata in E for violin and continuo, C. 108
Agave Baroque is a dynamic, young, Bay Area ensemble specializing in the varied and virtuosic string chamber music of the 17th century. Early Music America said about their recent appearance on the main stage at the 2012 Berkeley Early Music Festival, "Rapturous music and impressive playing." Finalists in both the 2011 EMA/NAXOS and 2012 EMA Baroque Performance Competitions and recent recipient of a grant from San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, Agave Baroque's innovative programming and engaging, lively performances have captivated audiences from New York to Arizona just in the past year. For the first time since their inception, Agave Baroque will perform a program centered around sonatas by the great Johann Sebastian Bach, paired with 17th century sonatas from around Europe in similar compositional vein. Works by J. S. Bach, Johann Christoph Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Jean-Fery Rebel, and Heinrich Biber. agavebaroque.org
TICKETS
Agave Baroque
Aaron Westman, violin; Shirley Hunt, viola da gamba; Kevin Cooper, baroque guitar; JungHae Kim, harpsichord
Johann Christoph Bach Intonation in D minor
Dietrich Buxtehude Trio, Op. 2, No. 3 in G minor, BuxWV 261
J. S. Bach Sonata in G major for viola da gamba and harpsichord, BWV 1029; Sonata No. 4 in C minor for violin and obbligato harpsichord, BWV 1017; excerpts from Suite for Lute in G minor, BWV 996; and Sonata in E minor for violin and continuo, BWV 1023
Jean-Fery Rebel Sonata in G minor for violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord
Heinrich Biber Sonata in E for violin and continuo, C. 108
Agave Baroque is a dynamic, young, Bay Area ensemble specializing in the varied and virtuosic string chamber music of the 17th century. Early Music America said about their recent appearance on the main stage at the 2012 Berkeley Early Music Festival, "Rapturous music and impressive playing." Finalists in both the 2011 EMA/NAXOS and 2012 EMA Baroque Performance Competitions and recent recipient of a grant from San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, Agave Baroque's innovative programming and engaging, lively performances have captivated audiences from New York to Arizona just in the past year. For the first time since their inception, Agave Baroque will perform a program centered around sonatas by the great Johann Sebastian Bach, paired with 17th century sonatas from around Europe in similar compositional vein. Works by J. S. Bach, Johann Christoph Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Jean-Fery Rebel, and Heinrich Biber. agavebaroque.org
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Aleron Trio
Solenn Seguillon, violin; Anne Suda, 'cello; Sophie Zhang, piano
Beethoven Piano Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70, No. 1, 'Ghost'
Shahab Paranaj Piano Trio
Dvorák Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, 'Dumky'
Praised for their “dexterity and breathtaking perfection” by French critics and for their “emotionally compelling” and “masterful execution” by the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco based Aleron Trio draws audiences with their unique energy and commitment to performing. Aleron Trio recently completed a residency with the Southeast Iowa Symphony that included educational outreach presentations at 17 schools and community centers. The residency culminated with three performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. In the summer of 2012 Anne and Solenn performed in Barcelona as the Aleron Duo and the trio returned for the third consecutive year to perform on a critically acclaimed tour of France. During the fall of 2012 Anne and Solenn performed Brahms’ Double Concerto with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony and the trio continues to tour and give concerts throughout the United States this season. Most recently, Aleron Trio participated in the Yehudi Menuhin Chamber Music Seminar and Festival with the Alexander String Quartet and performed in a master class for the Juilliard Quartet. Aleron Trio has been coached and mentored by faculty members at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music including Paul Hersh, Mack McCray, Jennifer Culp and Axel Strauss. Aleron Trio is a fiscally sponsored affiliate of the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music. alerontrio.com
TICKETS
Aleron Trio
Solenn Seguillon, violin; Anne Suda, 'cello; Sophie Zhang, piano
Beethoven Piano Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70, No. 1, 'Ghost'
Shahab Paranaj Piano Trio
Dvorák Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, 'Dumky'
Praised for their “dexterity and breathtaking perfection” by French critics and for their “emotionally compelling” and “masterful execution” by the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco based Aleron Trio draws audiences with their unique energy and commitment to performing. Aleron Trio recently completed a residency with the Southeast Iowa Symphony that included educational outreach presentations at 17 schools and community centers. The residency culminated with three performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. In the summer of 2012 Anne and Solenn performed in Barcelona as the Aleron Duo and the trio returned for the third consecutive year to perform on a critically acclaimed tour of France. During the fall of 2012 Anne and Solenn performed Brahms’ Double Concerto with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony and the trio continues to tour and give concerts throughout the United States this season. Most recently, Aleron Trio participated in the Yehudi Menuhin Chamber Music Seminar and Festival with the Alexander String Quartet and performed in a master class for the Juilliard Quartet. Aleron Trio has been coached and mentored by faculty members at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music including Paul Hersh, Mack McCray, Jennifer Culp and Axel Strauss. Aleron Trio is a fiscally sponsored affiliate of the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music. alerontrio.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 AT 4:00PM
Kindra Scharich & John Boyajy
Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano; John Boyajy, piano
Works by Ned Rorem, Samuel Barber, Gabriel Fauré, and Roger Quilter.
Kindra Scharich, widely praised for her “lush, warm sound” and brilliant acting, teams up with pianist John Boyajy, whose playing has been described as “an odyssey of rich sound.” This recital features works by Ned Rorem, Samuel Barber, Gabriel Fauré and Roger Quilter. John and Kindra, whose sensitive collaborations under the auspices of LIEDER ALIVE! have been keenly appreciated by local audiences, will present a program of beautiful songs encompassing a wide range of human emotion and experience—many in English! kindrascharich.com
TICKETS
Kindra Scharich & John Boyajy
Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano; John Boyajy, piano
Works by Ned Rorem, Samuel Barber, Gabriel Fauré, and Roger Quilter.
Kindra Scharich, widely praised for her “lush, warm sound” and brilliant acting, teams up with pianist John Boyajy, whose playing has been described as “an odyssey of rich sound.” This recital features works by Ned Rorem, Samuel Barber, Gabriel Fauré and Roger Quilter. John and Kindra, whose sensitive collaborations under the auspices of LIEDER ALIVE! have been keenly appreciated by local audiences, will present a program of beautiful songs encompassing a wide range of human emotion and experience—many in English! kindrascharich.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 AT 8:00PM
sfSound
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe; Matt Ingalls, clarinet; John Ingle, saxophone; Christopher Jones, piano, bassoon, conductor; Kjell Nordeson, percussion; Erik Ulman, violin; Monica Scott, 'cello
One of the most exciting and fiercely innovative contemporary music organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, sfSound is a unique collective of composer/performers that performs its own compositions, commissions new work, performs avant-garde repertory and develops highly creative “radical transcriptions” of modern masterpieces. Since 2003, their home concert series (sfSoundSeries) has been presenting programs that explore the continuum between notated composition and free improvisation, theatrical works, works for small and large ensembles, solo performances, conceptual works, live electronic music and acousmatic sound diffusion (most notably with their annual San Francisco Tape Music Festival), and a plethora of new works written and improvised by members of the ensemble. sfsound.org
TICKETS
sfSound
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe; Matt Ingalls, clarinet; John Ingle, saxophone; Christopher Jones, piano, bassoon, conductor; Kjell Nordeson, percussion; Erik Ulman, violin; Monica Scott, 'cello
One of the most exciting and fiercely innovative contemporary music organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, sfSound is a unique collective of composer/performers that performs its own compositions, commissions new work, performs avant-garde repertory and develops highly creative “radical transcriptions” of modern masterpieces. Since 2003, their home concert series (sfSoundSeries) has been presenting programs that explore the continuum between notated composition and free improvisation, theatrical works, works for small and large ensembles, solo performances, conceptual works, live electronic music and acousmatic sound diffusion (most notably with their annual San Francisco Tape Music Festival), and a plethora of new works written and improvised by members of the ensemble. sfsound.org
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 AT 4:00PM
The Andriasov Festival
Arshak Andriasov, piano; Tigran Arakelyan, flute; Scott Macomber, trumpet; Philip Santos, violin; Victor Romasevich, violin; Anatole Wieck, viola & violin; Paul Rhodes, 'cello
image above, left to right: Iosif Andriasov, Arshak Andriasov
Arshak Andriasov “Torch, No. 1” Op. 6 for trumpet, trombone, piano, and strings and Ballet, Op. 7 for string quartet
Iosif Andriasov Flute Sketch, Op. 4; Trumpet Concertino, Op. 14; String Quartet, Op. 1 and 1st Symphony, Op. 12 (piano version)
Iosif Andriasov was a composer-symphonist internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in contemporary world culture. After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory, Iosif Andriasov became a member of the Union of Soviet Composers on the recommendation of Dmitry Shostakovich. The Head of the Armenian-Gregorian Church, Vazgen I, Catolikos of All Armenians, awarded Iosif Andriasov the Special Charter with Recognition and Blessing for his contributions to music and ethics. I. Andriasov won the Soviet Composers' Competition to present Soviet music at the USSR National Celebration in 1974 for his Second Symphony. From 1979, Iosif Andriasov lived in New York City with his family. International Biographical Center of Cambridge, UK selected Iosif Andriasov, among two thousand of the world’s most prominent people, as the "International Man of the Year" for the Year 2000–2001 in recognition of his contributions to music and ethics. Continuing in his father's footsteps, commissioned composer/pianist Arshak Andriasov (b. 1980 in New York City) has performed in numerous venues, including Carnegie Hall. His music draws on a vast array of musical resources, ranging from Armenian folk music to Russian classical music, with certain elements of American jazz, while using means of contemporary language to create a complex system of juxtaposition. Dmitry Shostakovich said of Iosif Andriasov: "When the entire world lost a sense of harmony, composer Iosif Andriasov has not only not lost this sense, but added to harmony a new quality." andriasovstore.com
TICKETS
The Andriasov Festival
Arshak Andriasov, piano; Tigran Arakelyan, flute; Scott Macomber, trumpet; Philip Santos, violin; Victor Romasevich, violin; Anatole Wieck, viola & violin; Paul Rhodes, 'cello
image above, left to right: Iosif Andriasov, Arshak Andriasov
Arshak Andriasov “Torch, No. 1” Op. 6 for trumpet, trombone, piano, and strings and Ballet, Op. 7 for string quartet
Iosif Andriasov Flute Sketch, Op. 4; Trumpet Concertino, Op. 14; String Quartet, Op. 1 and 1st Symphony, Op. 12 (piano version)
Iosif Andriasov was a composer-symphonist internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in contemporary world culture. After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory, Iosif Andriasov became a member of the Union of Soviet Composers on the recommendation of Dmitry Shostakovich. The Head of the Armenian-Gregorian Church, Vazgen I, Catolikos of All Armenians, awarded Iosif Andriasov the Special Charter with Recognition and Blessing for his contributions to music and ethics. I. Andriasov won the Soviet Composers' Competition to present Soviet music at the USSR National Celebration in 1974 for his Second Symphony. From 1979, Iosif Andriasov lived in New York City with his family. International Biographical Center of Cambridge, UK selected Iosif Andriasov, among two thousand of the world’s most prominent people, as the "International Man of the Year" for the Year 2000–2001 in recognition of his contributions to music and ethics. Continuing in his father's footsteps, commissioned composer/pianist Arshak Andriasov (b. 1980 in New York City) has performed in numerous venues, including Carnegie Hall. His music draws on a vast array of musical resources, ranging from Armenian folk music to Russian classical music, with certain elements of American jazz, while using means of contemporary language to create a complex system of juxtaposition. Dmitry Shostakovich said of Iosif Andriasov: "When the entire world lost a sense of harmony, composer Iosif Andriasov has not only not lost this sense, but added to harmony a new quality." andriasovstore.com
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 AT 8:00PM
Wild Rumpus
Amy Sedan, flute; Nathaniel Berman, conductor; Maria Janus, soprano; Joanne de Mars, violonello; Christy Kyong, violin; Dan VanHassel, electric guitar, co-director; Margaret Halbig, piano; Naomi Hoffmeyer, harp; Sophie Huet, clarinet, co-director; Jen Wang, co-director
Contemporary chamber music from around the world, including World Premieres by Nicolas Tzortzis and Jen Wang
Contemporary chamber ensemble Wild Rumpus presents new music from around the world, including world premieres of music by Nicolas Tzortzis and Jen Wang. Tzortzis' vivid, theatrical Incompatibles VI demands that a harpist portray both sides of a contentious relationship in speech and movement, with support from bass clarinet, violin, and ‘cello. Wang's forthcoming piece explores myths of transformation, drawing on a diverse palette of toy and children's instruments. Founded in 2011, Wild Rumpus is a contemporary chamber ensemble dedicated to adventurous new music, with a particular interest in commissioning and collaborating with young/emerging composers. Each year, the ensemble offers commissioned composers the opportunity to work closely with its members through one-on-one meetings and ensemble reading sessions, with the belief that collaboration encourages experimentation, creative growth, and exciting music. To learn more about the ensemble, including upcoming concerts and the annual open calls for scores, please visit wildrumpusmusic.org
TICKETS
Wild Rumpus
Amy Sedan, flute; Nathaniel Berman, conductor; Maria Janus, soprano; Joanne de Mars, violonello; Christy Kyong, violin; Dan VanHassel, electric guitar, co-director; Margaret Halbig, piano; Naomi Hoffmeyer, harp; Sophie Huet, clarinet, co-director; Jen Wang, co-director
Contemporary chamber music from around the world, including World Premieres by Nicolas Tzortzis and Jen Wang
Contemporary chamber ensemble Wild Rumpus presents new music from around the world, including world premieres of music by Nicolas Tzortzis and Jen Wang. Tzortzis' vivid, theatrical Incompatibles VI demands that a harpist portray both sides of a contentious relationship in speech and movement, with support from bass clarinet, violin, and ‘cello. Wang's forthcoming piece explores myths of transformation, drawing on a diverse palette of toy and children's instruments. Founded in 2011, Wild Rumpus is a contemporary chamber ensemble dedicated to adventurous new music, with a particular interest in commissioning and collaborating with young/emerging composers. Each year, the ensemble offers commissioned composers the opportunity to work closely with its members through one-on-one meetings and ensemble reading sessions, with the belief that collaboration encourages experimentation, creative growth, and exciting music. To learn more about the ensemble, including upcoming concerts and the annual open calls for scores, please visit wildrumpusmusic.org
TICKETS
Performance Permalink
