SFCO Virtual Programs
As the COVID-19 pandemic closed our concert halls and forced us all into isolation, your favorite chamber orchestra got to work producing an array of classical music videos, designed to keep our community connected and our musicians engaged. From our early Simon Says Show talks and Name That Classical Tune episodes in the Spring of 2020 through our Chamber Music and MiniMainstage Concerts a year later, these 36 virtual programs feature outstanding performances by our close-knit community of amazing professional musicians. Hosted by Music Director Ben Simon, you will enjoy some great music, get to know our players, learn a few new viola jokes, meet our guest soloists and composers, and experience the joyful music-making for which the SFCO is famous. Enjoy!
With Continuing Gratitude to our 2020-21 Season Sponsor!
Double Flo and Mo
Mini MainStage Concert Series
Brilliant young Bay Area pianist Audrey Vardanega joins seventeen SFCO All- Stars in a wide-ranging program with the youthful Mozart Piano Concerto#12 in A Major at its center. We open the concert with Three Folksongs in Counterpoint by the Black American composer Florence Price. And to close, Tchaikovsky’s boisterous and buoyant Souvenir de Florence, tackled here by our full SFCO string section. (1’32”)
Covid Trio
Chamber Music Series
Both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Max Bruch were intrigued by the combination of clarinet, viola and piano. In this intimate program, Music Director Ben Simon puts down his baton, tunes up his viola, and joins two friends and colleagues – clarinettist David Howard and pianist Ian Scarfe – to perform Mozart’s beautiful “Kegelstatt” Trio plus four of Bruch’s Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola & Piano, op. 83. (53”)
Carlos Simon
New Composers Series
A recipient of the 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, Carlos Simon is a brilliant young composer recently commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Washington National Opera, American Composers Orchestra, and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Join Carlos, Ben, and four outstanding SFCO musicians in a program of conversation and music: Tod Brody (flute), Robin Sharp (violin), Hannah Addario-Berry (cello), and Michel Taddei (double bass), each playing a movement from Carlos' “Between Worlds,” celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. (47”)
Audrey Vardanega
Mother’s Day Special
A Sneak Peak of Mozart’s Piano Concerto #12 including the extended, Director’s Cut of Audrey’s interview with Maestro Ben Simon. Life during the Pandemic has been challenging but has also inspired new creativity and ways to stay connected. (40”)
Michael Gilbertson
New Composers Series
A conversation with the SFCO’s very own 2017-20 BMI Foundation Composer-in-Residence, Michael Gilbertson and SFCO All-Star violinist Hrabba Atladottir. Plus performances of two of Michael’s compositions: For George Pitcher written for solo violin and performed by Hrabba and Mother Chords, an arrangement/expansion for string orchestra of the first movement of his Pulitzer Prize-nominated String Quartet, recorded by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra in February 2021. (27”)
Happy Birthday,Bach!
Simon Says Show
Join us as we celebrate the 336th birthday of the great Johann Sebastian Bach, born March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, Germany. Twenty-six (count 'em!) SFCO All-Stars join together to perform the joyous finale of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #3, and share their thoughts on "Why Bach?" plus lots more: special appearances by two of our recent outstanding young soloists, pianist Hilda Huang and violinist Amaryn Olmeda; Bach scholar Corey Jamason tries his hand with our Bach Trivia Contest and a gigue from outstanding Baroque dancer Jennifer Meller. (1’10”)
Raices de Nuestra Música - Our Musical Roots
Family Concert Series
Meet Leslie (flute), Kyle (oboe), Diane (clarinet), Shawn (bassoon), and Armando (French horn) in this engaging and entertaining presentation with the fabulous five-some of Quinteto Latino. Learn about the instruments as you tap and clap along to some wonderful music. This was available for a limited time only but send us a message if you’d like to have a listen! (20”)
Plus One
Very First Concert Series
Join Maestro Simon and five fabulous SFCO All-Stars (violinists Antoine van Dongen & Rachel Noyes, violist Clio Tilton, cellist Eugene Sor & double bassist Michel Taddei) in an entertaining and engaging concert designed for our youngest listeners about musical colors and combinations. For extra fun, bring some paper and five crayons! (18”)
Celebration of Spring
Mini MainStage Concert Series
A joyous musical celebration of Spring, featuring exciting young violin virtuosa Hannah White performing Vivaldi's famous “Spring” from The Four Seasons and Piazzolla's tango-infused “Spring” from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. Also on the program is a beautiful work for string orchestra by our 2017-2020 BMI Foundation Composer-in-Residence Michael Gilbertson, Mother Chords (2017/18), based on his Pulitzer-Prize nominated String Quartet. Plus pre-concert talks with both Hannah and Michael, and a chance to watch (and listen to) twelve SFCO All-Stars playing together live from Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage. (50”)
Squid Inc
Chamber Music Series
Back by popular demand, the fab four of this genre-bending, high-octane string quartet - all SFCO All-Stars!!! Violist/founder Darcy Rindt, violinists Hrabba Atladottir & Jory Fankuchen and cellist Beth Vandervennet perform three amazing works and speak eloquently about the value of music and arts education. Darcy has added a gorgeous and moving slide show presentation to her amazing composition 19: A Tribute to the Granite Mountain Hotshots - you won’t want to miss this! (46”)
Amateur Music Network Workshop
Community Engagement
Continuing a long collaboration with Lolly Lewis and her Amaeur Music Network, Maestro Ben Simon and five SFCO All-Stars (Liana Bérubé, George Hayes, Darcy Rindt, Samsun Van Loon and Michel Taddei) rehearse and play with members of the AMN in the comfort of their own homes via Zoom. Through the creative use of Zoom, Lolly and the SFCO carries on its yearly tradition of a side by side concert with our favorite community players. (48”)
New Year’s Eve
Mini MainStage Concert Series
Our annual Ring-In-The-New-Year-With-Great-Music concert, an uplifting program featuring the brilliant young pianist Hilda Huang and over twenty members of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra performing Handel, Beethoven, and holiday tunes for you. (1’00”)
Mozart’s Birthday
Chamber Music Series
SFCO All-Stars Liana Bérubé (violin), Tod Brody (flute), Michael Graham (cello), Keisuke Nakagoshi (piano), and Ben Simon (viola) perform great chamber music by the Salzburg Scribbler, plus a Mozart Trivia Contest, and more. (1’02”)
Nutcracker Sweet
Family Concert Series
Three amazing puppeteers from the Oakland Puppet Company, team up with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra for a delightful version of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.
Designed for young audiences, you will delight in the acrobatic antics of our miniature cast accompanied by the SFCO performing highlights from this beloved ballet. (40”)
Fong Costanza Trio
Chamber Music Series
Conversation and chamber music with our longtime principal second violinist, Debra Fong, and her talented family: Husband Christopher Costanza (cellist) and child Ezra (violist). A wide-ranging program from Beethoven and Schubert to Messaien and Wiancko. (58”)
Hilda Huang
Simon Says Show
Ben chats with brilliant young pianist Hilda Huang in this special sneak preview of Hilda’s upcoming Mini Mainstage appearance (New Year’s Eve Celebration concert). This young artist has been quite busy since appearing with the SFCO at our Debut Artist in 2011. Hear all about it, plus delightful performances of Beethoven and Bach. (19”)
Mozart, Still, Schubert
Mini MainStage Concert Series
Twelve San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars perform together for the first time in eight months, live from Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage in October, 2020. To celebrate, we open the program with a little party music: a charming Divertimento that Mozart penned at the age of 16, and follow this with William Grant Still’s gorgeous Summerland, performed by our 2020 Debut Artist and rising violin star Amaryn Olmeda. We close this concert with the dark and dramatic first movement of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden string quartet. (53”)
Name That Classical Tune #7
Simon Says Show
This week, we have a near rematch of our first Name That Classical Tune. Alicia Telford, horn, and Owen Miyoshi, trumpet, team up again as Team Brass to face off against violinists Julie Kim and previous show rival, Debra Fong. Soundtrack provided by Keisuke Nakagoshi on melodica and Ben Simon on bike horn and bell.(13”)
Dueling Harps
Chamber Music Series
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s virtuoso harpist, Meredith Clark, is joined in this charming program by the equally brilliant Chloe Tula to perform works by Ravel, Fauré, Bach, Salzedo and more. (1’09”)
Name That Classical Tune #6
Simon Says Show
Fun and games from the classical nerds at your favorite chamber orchestra. This week, it’s gals against guys as Ben and Keisuke Nakagoshi try to stump violinist Natasha Makhijani and violist Darcy Rindt vs. cellist Samsun van Loon and flutist Tod Brody. Hint: it's not Beethoven's 5th. (12”)
Meet Debra Fong
Simon Says Show
Up close and personal with the amazing professional musicians that make the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra so special. This week, we chat with our long-time principal second violinist Debra Fong. (14”)
Meet Hannah Addario-Berry
Simon Says Show
Up close and personal with the amazing professional musicians that make the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra so special. This week, we chat with our long-time co-principal cellist Hannah Addario-Berry and how she’s added an unexpected and amazing new facet to her professional life. (12”)
Beethoven and Friends
Chamber Music Series
Live from the back porch of our Music Director Ben Simon, a trio of San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars perform two delightful chamber music works by Beethoven and Dohnanyi. Starring violinist Liana Bérubé, violist Ben Simon, and cellist Samsun van Loon. (56”)
Name That Classical Tune #5
Simon Says Show
Fun and games from the classical nerds at your favorite chamber orchestra. This week, it’s bowers against blowers as violists Sandy Leem and Jory Fankuchen take on Kathy Conner (oboe) and John Freeman (trumpet), with pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi in the role of orchestra. Who can name that classical tune in the fewest notes? Who will win our grand prize? (12”)
Name That Classical Tune #4
Simon Says Show
This week, we are joined by Hrabba Atladottir (violin) Clio Tilton (viola) Loren Mach (percussion) and Samsun van Loon (cello) as they compete for the title of Most All-Knowing All-Star in this week's Name That Classical Tune. Keisuke Nakagoshi performs as our one-man orchestra. (10”)
Violin vs. Viola
Simon Says Show
What’s the real difference between the violin and the viola? Are they mortal musical enemies or kissing cousins? An engaging talk by our Music Director Ben Simon, a violist (and ex-violinist) himself, complete with musical examples and plenty of viola jokes. (11”)
Meet Michel Taddei
Simon Says Show
This week, we’re visiting with SFCO All-Star and double bassist, Michel Taddei. Michel and Ben sat down to talk creative music-making and music teaching during a pandemic including the silver linings (like guiding the next generation of bass players in Cuba).(13”)
Name That Classical Tune #3
Simon Says Show
It’s time for another SFCO All-Star showdown of Name That Classical Tune. This week, it’s strings vs. winds again as violinists Julie Kim and Rachel Noyes compete with hornist Katie Dennis and bassoonist Karla Ekholm, with pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi in the role of orchestra. Who will be our champions this week? (8”)
When Mozart Was Naughty
Simon Says Show
What was life really like for a young musical genius in the 18th century? Tales and tunes from our favorite classical prodigy, with Music Director Ben Simon. (10”)
Meet Amaryn Olmeda
Simon Says Show
Up close and personal with the amazing young violinist Amaryn Olmeda, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s 2020 Debut Artist. She’s keeping busy during the pandemic by practicing the violin (a lot!), composing music, and taking care of the goats on her family’s hobby farm. You will also get to hear Amaryn play a little Bach, always a very special musical treat. (11”)
Silence and Sound
Simon Says Show
Music Director Ben Simon talks about the power of musical silence, and why Debussy described music as “the space between the notes.” With musical examples by Beethoven and Barber. (7”)
Meet Robin Sharp
Simon Says Show
Ben Simon sat down to chat and hear some music from SFCO All-Star and Concertmaster Robin Sharp. Robin talked about navigating teaching, parenting, and making music plus played for us one of her very first pieces, The Banjo and The Fiddle by William Kroll. (11”)
Name that Classical Tune #2, Opera Edition
Simon Says Show
Fun and games from the classical nerds at your favorite chamber orchestra. This week, it’s our Opera Edition as Liana Bérubé (violin) and Hannah Addario-Berry (cello) battle Stacey Pelinka (flute) and Peter Lemberg (oboe), with pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi supplying the clues, note by note.
Meet Tod Brody
Simon Says Show
Up close and personal with the amazing professional musicians that make the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra so special. This week, we chat with our principal flautist Tod Brody. Champion of New Music, Executive Director of the Marin Symphony, Tod has it all! (10”)
Name That Classical Premiere
Simon Says Show
The premiere of a new show featuring fun and games from the classical nerds at your favorite chamber orchestra. It’s strings v. brass as Debra Fong (violin) and Michel Taddei take on Alicia Telford (French horn) and Owen Miyoshi (trumpet), with pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi in the role of orchestra. Who can name that classical tune in the fewest notes? Who will triumph at our maiden voyage of NTCT? (10”)
Nature’s Best Musicians
Simon Says Show
Bird songs have inspired many of our greatest classical composers, including Antonio Vivaldi and Ludwig van Beethoven. Join Music Director Ben Simon in a brief stroll through Vivaldi’s Spring and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and do a little bird-listening as we go. (8”)
