About Us
Old First Concerts began presenting concerts in 1970 and has become a fixture on the San Francisco classical music scene.
Our focus is locally based emerging and mid-career professional musicians and their ensembles playing creative programs that frequently include new or rarely heard repertoire. Concerts generally fall into one of four categories: piano solo, chamber music, world/jazz/new music, or holiday concert. Our Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano has become a favorite of local pianists and is lovingly maintained by David Love (www.davidlovepianos.com).
All concerts are held at the Old First Church, home to an affirming and welcoming congregation with a long history of social activism, located on the corner of Sacramento Street and Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Please note that Old First Concerts is a completely separate 501(c)3 organization with no religious affiliation and we strive to feature music that is welcoming and inclusive to all people regardless of their race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, age or any other identifying characteristic.
Matthew Wolka, Director
Director Matthew Wolka started his tenure at Old First Concerts in January 2017. He has worked with the San Francisco Opera Education Department as a composer and teaching artist, and as an accompanist with the San Francisco Girls’ Chorus. He founded the Ravenswood Community Orchestra in Chicago, Illinois and has presented many concerts as a conductor, performer, and organizer over the past 25 years.
Old First Concerts would like to acknowledge the generous support of The City of San Francisco – Grants for the Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and The H. B. and Lucille Horn Foundation. We also receive support through the IBM Matching Grants Foundation and Google for Non-profits.
If you are interested in viewing information about past concerts, please visit our archives page.
View our privacy policy here.
Old First Concerts Board of Directors
Thomas Culp, President
Christopher Burt, Vice President
Darren Presher, Treasurer
Randal P. Wong, Secretary
Walter Kennedy
Donna Kline
Barbara Marré
Bill Rudiak
Stephen L. Taber
Mike Tekulsky
Brett Waxdeck
Meina Xu