MainStage 2023/24 Family Concerts 2023/24 Very First Concerts 2023/24 Classical at the Freight
History Jory Fankuchen, Principal Conductor Ben Simon, Music Director Emeritus Musicians Board / Staff SFCO Musings
Music for all!
 

Mainstage 2021-22

 
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MS1 - Beethoven’s Third and Russell Double

Two great middle-period Beethoven works including his groundbreaking Third Symphony, plus a charming double concerto for clarinet and cello by Jonathan Russell. Check out Ben’s interview with Jonathan HERE



Ludwig van Beethoven Coriolan Overture

Jonathan Russell Double Concerto (2014)
Hannah Addario-Berry, cello
Jeff Anderle, clarinet

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)

Friday, Oct 22, 2021, 7:30pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, Oct 23, 2021, 7:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Sunday, Oct 24, 2021, 3:00pm
First Congregational Church, Berkeley

New Year’s Eve concerts (Dec 31, 2021-Jan 2, 2022)
Rescheduled to June 24-26

 
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MS3- Beethoven’s 8th and Two World Premieres

Two rising young composers from Gabriela Lena Frank’s Creative Academy of Music have written exciting new works, commissioned by GLFCAM, followed by Beethoven’s masterful Eighth Symphony.


Carlos Simon Breathe
World Premiere for Chamber Orchestra

Jessica Hunt Heat
World Premiere for Chamber Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 8

Friday, Feb 25, 2022, 7:30pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, Feb 26, 2022, 7:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Sunday, Feb 27, 2022, 3:00pm
First Congregational Church, Berkeley

 
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MS4 - Beethoven’s 7th
and Michael Gilbertson’s Denial

Our season finale includes our wonderful concertmaster Robin Sharp performing Vaughan-Williams’ rapturous The Lark Ascending, followed by the world premiere of Michael Gilbertson’s Denial featuring Volti and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.  We end our program with one of Beethoven’s most exciting symphonies, his turbo-charged Seventh. 

Ralph Vaughan-Williams The Lark Ascending
Robin Sharp, violin

Diana Woolner The Fire Cycle
Volti

Michael Gilbertson Denial
2019 commission and World Premiere
Volti & Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir

Frank Ticheli Earth Song
Volti

 Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7

Friday, April 22, 2022, 7:30pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, April 23, 2022, 7:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Sunday, April 24, 2022, 3:00pm
First Congregational Church, Berkeley

 
 
 

MS2 - NYE; Beethoven Four plus Four

RESCHEDULED from New Year’s Eve, 2021-22

The program kicks off with Fanny Mendehlssohn-Hensel’s Overture in C Major. Composed in the 1820’s it was rediscovered and finally published in 1994. Following this charming gem, pianist extraordinaire Hilda Huang returns to perform Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, paired with his least-known – but still wonderful! – Fourth Symphony.

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hansel Overture in C Major

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 4

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4
Hilda Huang, piano

Friday, June 24, 2022, 7:30pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 7:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Sunday, June 26, 2022, 3:00pm
First Congregational Church of Berkeley

 

With great appreciation to our Season Sponsor

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Puppets, young singers, and a playful competition where YOU get to choose the winner!

All concerts are ADMISSION FREE! No tickets required.
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Proof of full Covid-19 Vaccination for Those Over age 12, Masks Required for All

 

Nutcracker Sweet

November 27, 2021, 2:00pm
Noe Valley Ministry, SF

November 28, 2021, 11:00am
Freight and Salvage, Berkeley

November 28, 2021, 3:30pm
Mitchell Park, Palo Alto

Back LIVE by popular demand! Oakland Fairyland’s beloved puppeteers team up with the SFCO for a delightful version of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic. Designed for young audiences, this production features the acrobatic antics of The Puppet Company’s miniature cast accompanied by the SFCO performing highlights from this beloved ballet.

 

The Great Classical Playoff

(Rescheduled from Jan 15/16, 2022)
March 26, 2022, 2:00pm
Noe Valley Ministry, SF

March 27, 2022, 12:00pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center

March 27, 2022, 3:30pm
Mitchell Park, Palo Alto

Join us for a fun, friendly competition between our twelve musicians, as four woodwind, four string, and four brass players vie for the crown of “favorite instrument”. In this delightful and interactive show, the audience gets to vote as each musician plays a short solo from Michael Gilbertson’s charming piece “Jigsaw.”  Who will get to wear the crown?  It’s up to you! 

 
 
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March 20, 2022
Community Music Day at Crowden Music Center

With Strings Attached

A Very First Concert Production
10:30, 11:30, 12:15
Crowden Music Center
1465 Rose St, Berkeley

Join Ben Simon and five SFCO All-Star string players for this family-friendly exploration of the very special qualities of the most important instruments in an orchestra: the violin, viola, cello and double bass. We’ll set our strings in motion to produce wonderful sounds and beautiful music together.

 
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Great chamber music, up close and personal. 

Proof of Full Covid-19 Vaccination Required for those over 5, Masks Required for All

Join San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Music Director and violist Ben Simon for your monthly fix of classical masterpieces.  These friendly and accessible 75-minute programs feature SFCO All-Stars and special guests in the intimate “chamber” of Berkeley’s iconic Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse. 

Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $11; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.

 
 
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David Howard, clarinet

Ben Simon, viola

Ian Scarfe, piano

Kegelstatt Trio

October 11, 2021, 7:30pm

Exploring the little-known corners of the chamber music universe, the Kegelstatt Trio returns to the Freight for a program of Romantic trios by Schumann, Bruch and Glinka. 

 
 

St. Michael Trio

November 8, 2021, 7:30pm

The fabulous St Mike’s Trio, led by San Francisco Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Robin Sharp make their Freight debut in a program of masterworks for piano trio.

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Robin Sharp, violin

Michael Flexer, cello

Russell Hancock, piano

 
 
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Debra Fong, violin

Ezra Costanza, viola

Christopher Costanza, cello

Fong/Costanza Trio

December 13, 2021, 7:30pm

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra principal second violinist Debra Fong brings her talented family to the stage in a program of delightful works for string trio. 

 

POSTPONED

Mozart’s Birthday

TBD

Our annual salute to the Salzburg scribbler, celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 266th birthday with a program of chamber music masterpieces. 

 
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Natasha Makhijani & Jory Fankuchen, violins

Clio Tilton, viola

Samsun van Loon, cello

 

Chamber Music Society of San Francisco

February 14, 2022, 7:30pm

 A return of the fabulous CMS of SF, all San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars and one of the Bay Area’s most popular and exciting chamber ensembles. 

Join the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco and guest artists Stephen Prutsman and Evan Price for a boisterous program featuring works by Amy Beach, Johannes Brahms, and William Grant Still.

Check out the concert details HERE.

 

Kay Stern & Friends

March 14, 2022, 7:30pm

 Back by popular demand, the SF Opera’s stellar concertmaster performs a program of amazing string trios by Beethoven and Dohnanyi with noted Bay Area cellist Gianna Abondolo and erstwhile violist Ben Simon.

 
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Peter Josheff & Friends

April 11, 2022, 7:30pm

                

In his Freight debut, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s principal clarinetist Peter Josheff displays his talent as a performer as well as a composer with five of his own works on the program.  With guests Amy Likar (flute), Haruka Fujii (marimba), and Brenda Tom Vahur (piano), this promises to be a very special Classical at the Freight concert. 

 

Monday Night Chamber Music Society

May 9, 2022, 7:30pm

Five San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars team up for their annual program of viola quintets; no, that’s not five violas but rather a string quartet enhanced by a second violist.  Masterpieces by Mozart and Brahms. 

 
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Hrabba Atladottir & Liana Bérubé, violins

Stephanie Ng & Ben Simon, violas

Michael Graham, cello

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