MainStage 2: Celebration and Hope (San Francisco)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra
Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
Camille Saint-Saëns - Havanaise in E major, Op. 83
featuring Hiro Yoshimura, violin - Debut Artist
Haydn Symphony No. 103 "Drumroll"
MainStage 2: Celebration and Hope (Berkeley)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra
Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
Camille Saint-Saëns - Havanaise in E major, Op. 83
featuring Hiro Yoshimura, violin - Debut Artist
Haydn Symphony No. 103 "Drumroll"
MainStage 2: Celebration and Hope (Palo Alto)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra
Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
Camille Saint-Saëns - Havanaise in E major, Op. 83
featuring Hiro Yoshimura, violin - Debut Artist
Haydn Symphony No. 103 "Drumroll"
MainStage 3: String Serenades (San Francisco)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Jessie Montgomery - "Strum"
Evan Price - "A Game of Cat and Mike"
with commissioning support from Maryann Maslan
co-commission with San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Savannah Music Festival and Lakeland Symphony Orchestra
featuring Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall, mandolins
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings, Op. 48
MainStage 3: String Serenades (Palo Alto)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Jessie Montgomery - "Strum"
Evan Price - "A Game of Cat and Mike"
with commissioning support from Maryann Maslan
co-commission with San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Savannah Music Festival and Lakeland Symphony Orchestra
featuring Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall, mandolins
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings, Op. 48
MainStage 3: String Serenades (Berkeley)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Jessie Montgomery - "Strum"
Evan Price - "A Game of Cat and Mike"
with commissioning support from Maryann Maslan
co-commission with San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Savannah Music Festival and Lakeland Symphony Orchestra
featuring Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall, mandolins
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings, Op. 48
MainStage 4: Rising Stars (San Francisco)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Felix Mendelssohn - The Hebrides, Op. 26 (“Fingal’s Cave”)
Nathaniel Heyder - World Premiere, SFCO Commission
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Bela Bartók - Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
featuring Pearl de la Motte, viola - Klein Competition winner
MainStage 4: Rising Stars (Palo Alto)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Felix Mendelssohn - The Hebrides, Op. 26 (“Fingal’s Cave”)
Nathaniel Heyder - World Premiere, SFCO Commission
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Bela Bartók - Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
featuring Pearl de la Motte, viola - Klein Competition winner
MainStage 4: Rising Stars (Berkeley)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
Felix Mendelssohn - The Hebrides, Op. 26 (“Fingal’s Cave”)
Nathaniel Heyder - World Premiere, SFCO Commission
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Bela Bartók - Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
featuring Pearl de la Motte, viola - Klein Competition winner
MainStage 1: New Beginnings (Berkeley)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
George Friedrich Handel - Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 12
Shawn Okpebholo - “Fractured Water”
World Premiere, commissioned by the SFCO
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 1, Op. 21
MainStage 1: New Beginnings (Palo Alto)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
George Friedrich Handel - Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 12
Shawn Okpebholo - “Fractured Water”
World Premiere, commissioned by the SFCO
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 1, Op. 21
MainStage 1: New Beginnings (San Francisco)
REGISTER HERE
PROGRAM:
George Friedrich Handel - Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 12
Shawn Okpebholo - “Fractured Water”
World Premiere, commissioned by the SFCO
with support from the NEA and Emerging Black Composers Project
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 1, Op. 21
MainStage 4: Resilience
Jory Fankuchen, Principal Conductor
Trevor Weston
”Aqua” - World Premiere with Emerging Black Composer Project and the NEA
Ottorino Respighi
Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
MainStage 4: Resilience
Jory Fankuchen, Principal Conductor
Trevor Weston
”Aqua” - World Premiere with Emerging Black Composer Project and the NEA
Ottorino Respighi
Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
A Sensory Friendly Family Concert
Doors Open at 10:30am
We’re excited to launch the SFCO’s first program designed with our Neurodiverse community in mind. What does that mean? We’ll refrain from sudden loud sounds, our string quartet will be an appropriate volume for the size of venue, and the seating will be a bit farther apart. There will also be some fun hands on activities for those kids 0-12 who wish to participate.
MainStage 4: Resilience
Jory Fankuchen, Principal Conductor
Trevor Weston
”Aqua” - World Premiere with Emerging Black Composer Project and the NEA
Ottorino Respighi
Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
Tod Brody and Friends
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s principal flautist Tod Brody returns to Classical at the Freight with a program of trios for flute, viola and harp. Claude Debussy’s colorful work for this ensemble is the centerpiece of our program, plus other trios inspired by Debussy’s unusual combination of instruments. With violist Ben Simon and a harpist soon to be named, this program promises to be a wonderful presentation of infrequently performed works.
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
Family Concert II: ELM Cats Chamber Concert and Side By Side with SFCO
Family Concert II:
ELM CATS CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT AND SIDE BY SIDE WITH
the SFCO
Sunday, March 10, 2024 | 3:00pm
After three incredible Summer Chamber Music Camp collaborations, we continue the amazing partnership with the ELM school in San Rafael. ELM Cats show off their chamber music chops and then perform Side-by-Side with SFCO All Stars. ELM provides youth with an immersive music education and resources that inspire and empower them to pursue their dreams - and it’s tuition free!!! With great thanks to the California Arts Council for making this possible!
Other Supporting Government Organizations
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Kay Stern and Friends
Out of the opera pit and onstage at the Freight, we welcome back the SF Opera’s stellar concertmaster Kay Stern. Her annual Classical at the Freight appearance is always an audience favorite, and Kay will choose which chamber music masterpieces to perform with a crew of San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars. Stay tuned for details!
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
MainStage 3: Quintets and Sextets, All SFCO All Stars, All the Time!
PROGRAM
Hosted by Principal Conductor, Jory Fankuchen
Antonín Dvořák
String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op 77
Jennifer Higdon
Autumn Music for wind quintet
Alfredo Casella
Three Movements from Six Studies,
Op. 70, arr. P. Lemberg
Poulenc
Sextet for Wind Quintet and Piano
Sergei Prokofiev
Overture on Hebrew Themes
String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano
Peter Josheff, clarinet
All SFCO All Stars, All the time! The SFCO Woodwind Quintet, String Quintet, and Piano combine in multiple permutations for a variety of musical colors and characters. First up is Dvořák's vivacious String Quintet (just add the double bass!), followed by "Autumn Music" for wind quintet by Jennifer Higdon, a piece which abounds with vibrant musical imagery. Winds and strings mix it up in the opener of the second half of the program in Casella's tribute to Ravel and Debussy. And for the final pieces on the program, we're joined by SFCO perennial pianist, Keisuke Nakagoshi for Poulenc's Sextet and Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes," a dynamic and festive end to our chamber music party.
Debra Fong and Natasha Makhijani, violins; Sandy Leem, viola; Michael Graham, cello; Bill Everett, Bass; Stacey Pelinka, flute; Peter Lemberg, oboe; Peter Josheff, clarinet; Karla Ekholm, bassoon; Alicia Telford, horn; Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
MainStage 3: Quintets and Sextets, All SFCO All Stars, All the Time!
PROGRAM
Hosted by Principal Conductor,
Jory Fankuchen
Antonín Dvořák
String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op 77
Jennifer Higdon
Autumn Music for wind quintet
Alfredo Casella
Three Movements from Six Studies,
Op. 70, arr. P. Lemberg
Poulenc
Sextet for Wind Quintet and Piano
Sergei Prokofiev
Overture on Hebrew Themes
String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano
Sandy Leem, viola
All SFCO All Stars, All the time! The SFCO Woodwind Quintet, String Quintet, and Piano combine in multiple permutations for a variety of musical colors and characters. First up is Dvořák's vivacious String Quintet (just add the double bass!), followed by "Autumn Music" for wind quintet by Jennifer Higdon, a piece which abounds with vibrant musical imagery. Winds and strings mix it up in the opener of the second half of the program in Casella's tribute to Ravel and Debussy. And for the final pieces on the program, we're joined by SFCO perennial pianist, Keisuke Nakagoshi for Poulenc's Sextet and Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes," a dynamic and festive end to our chamber music party.
Debra Fong and Natasha Makhijani, violins; Sandy Leem, viola; Michael Graham, cello; Bill Everett, Bass; Stacey Pelinka, flute; Peter Lemberg, oboe; Peter Josheff, clarinet; Karla Ekholm, bassoon; Alicia Telford, horn; Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
MainStage 3: Quintets and Sextets. All SFCO All Stars, All the Time!
PROGRAM
Hosted by Principal Conductor, Jory Fankuchen
Antonín Dvořák
String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op 77
Jennifer Higdon
Autumn Music for wind quintet
Alfredo Casella
Three Movements from Six Studies,
Op. 70, arr. P. Lemberg
Poulenc
Sextet for Wind Quintet and Piano
Sergei Prokofiev
Overture on Hebrew Themes
String Quartet, Clarinet and Piano
All SFCO All Stars, All the time! The SFCO Woodwind Quintet, String Quintet, and Piano combine in multiple permutations for a variety of musical colors and characters. First up is Dvořák's vivacious String Quintet (just add the double bass!), followed by "Autumn Music" for wind quintet by Jennifer Higdon, a piece which abounds with vibrant musical imagery. Winds and strings mix it up in the opener of the second half of the program in Casella's tribute to Ravel and Debussy. And for the final pieces on the program, we're joined by SFCO perennial pianist, Keisuke Nakagoshi for Poulenc's Sextet and Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes," a dynamic and festive end to our chamber music party.
Debra Fong and Natasha Makhijani, violins; Sandy Leem, viola; Michael Graham, cello; Bill Everett, Bass; Stacey Pelinka, flute; Peter Lemberg, oboe; Peter Josheff, clarinet; Karla Ekholm, bassoon; Alicia Telford, horn; Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano
Supporting Government Institutions
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
Monday Night Chamber Music Society
Five friends and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars meet for fun and chamber music one Monday each month. Violinists Liana Berubé & Evan Price, violists Stephanie Ng & Ben Simon and cellist Michael Graham are the Monday Night Chamber Music Society, teaming up for their fifth annual Classical at the Freight program of string quartets and quintets. Our program is not finalized yet; we still have several Monday nights to go!
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
Very First II: Homemade Music
Very First Concerts with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
Instruments are really just tubes, sticks, blocks and strings….and it’s all vibration. The SFCO All-Star Brass Quintet makes lots of funny sounds and then shows how we turn it into music!
Very First Concerts, a classical series designed with the youngest listeners in mind. Each interactive, 20 minute concert features a central theme, short selections, and hands-on musical activities geared toward families with young children.
Concerts:
Saturday, Feb 03, 2024; 11:15, 11:45
Mozart Birthday Celebration
Our annual salute to the Salzburg scribbler, celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 268th birthday with a program of chamber music masterpieces. Featuring violinists Debra Fong & Kayo Miki, violists Ezra Costanza & Ben Simon, cellist Chris Costanza and our special guest, French hornist Kate Dennis, this concert presents two outstanding quintets: his playful quintet for horn and strings followed by the dark and powerful String Quintet in G minor, considered one of his greatest works.
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
MainStage 2 - The New and the Great
Jory Fankuchen, Conductor
Sara Flexer, Cello Soloist
Sumi Tonooka
Sketch at Seven
World Premiere with support from Emerging Black Composers Project and the NEA
Robert Schumann
Cello Concerto in a minor, Op 129
Sara Flexer, soloist and Debut Artist
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 “The Great”
______________________
The inspiration for the world premiere of Sumi Tonooka’s “Sketch at Seven” is “a sketch book of drawings and musical journals that I made when I was very young that was sent back to me after some forty years…..When I opened the sketchbook it was like a doorway into the past and future, mysterious and profound.” Following a brand new piece is our brand new Debut Artist, Sara Flexer performing Schumann’s masterful Cello Concerto in a minor. And then on to “The Great.” Why the Great? For “the brilliance and novelty of the instrumentation, the breadth and expanse of the form, the striking changes of mood, the whole new world into which we are transported…”
Sara Flexer, cello
Sumi Tonooka, Composer
Supporting Government Organizations
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
MainStage 2 - The New and the Great
Jory Fankuchen, Conductor
Sara Flexer, Cello Soloist
Sumi Tonooka
Sketch at Seven
World Premiere with support from Emerging Black Composers Project and the NEA
Robert Schumann
Cello Concerto in a minor, Op 129
Sara Flexer, soloist and Debut Artist
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 “The Great”
______________________
The inspiration for the world premiere of Sumi Tonooka’s “Sketch at Seven” is “a sketch book of drawings and musical journals that I made when I was very young that was sent back to me after some forty years…..When I opened the sketchbook it was like a doorway into the past and future, mysterious and profound.” Following a brand new piece is our brand new Debut Artist, Sara Flexer performing Schumann’s masterful Cello Concerto in a minor. And then on to “The Great.” Why the Great? For “the brilliance and novelty of the instrumentation, the breadth and expanse of the form, the striking changes of mood, the whole new world into which we are transported…”
Sumi Tonooka, composer
Sara Flexer, Debut Artist
Supporting Government Organizations
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
MainStage 2 - The New and the Great
Jory Fankuchen, Conductor
Sara Flexer, Cello Soloist
Sumi Tonooka
Sketch at Seven
World Premiere with support from Emerging Black Composers Project and the NEA
Robert Schumann
Cello Concerto in a minor, Op 129
Sara Flexer, soloist and Debut Artist
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 “The Great”
______________________
The inspiration for the world premiere of Sumi Tonooka’s “Sketch at Seven” is “a sketch book of drawings and musical journals that I made when I was very young that was sent back to me after some forty years…..When I opened the sketchbook it was like a doorway into the past and future, mysterious and profound.” Following a brand new piece is our brand new Debut Artist, Sara Flexer performing Schumann’s masterful Cello Concerto in a minor. And then on to “The Great.” Why the Great? For “the brilliance and novelty of the instrumentation, the breadth and expanse of the form, the striking changes of mood, the whole new world into which we are transported…”
Sumi Tonooka, composer
Sara Flexer, Debut Artist
Supporting Government Organizations
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation
Ian Scarfe and Friends
Our favorite pianist returns to the Freight stage with three wonderful San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All Stars in tow. Violinist Antoine van Dongen, violist Ben Simon and cellist Samsun van Loon join Ian to perform two piano quartets, masterpieces by Mozart and Brahms.Piano versus strings: who will emerge as the victor?!?
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
Nutcracker Sweet with the Puppet Company
The Admission Free Fun Continues!
Doors open at 3:00pm
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.
Concerts:
Saturday, November 25, 2022, 2:00 pm, Noe Valley Ministry, SF
Sunday, November 26, 2022, 11:00am, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Sunday, November 26, 2022, 3:00pm, Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Nutcracker Sweet with the Puppet Company
The Admission Free Fun Continues!
Doors open at 10:30am
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.
Concerts:
Saturday, November 25, 2023, 2:00 pm, Noe Valley Ministry, SF
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 11:00am, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 3:00pm, Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Nutcracker Sweet with the Puppet Company
The Admission Free Fun Continues!
Doors open at 1:30pm
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.
Concerts:
Saturday, November 25, 2023, 2:00 pm, Noe Valley Ministry, SF
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 11:00am, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 3:00pm, Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Sharp String Quartet
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s outstanding concertmaster Robin Sharp leads her eponymous ensemble in a program of string quartet masterpieces. Joined by SFCO All-Stars Natasha Makhijani (violin), Ben Simon (viola), and Eric Gaenslen (cello) this kickoff concert to our 2023-24 Classical at the Freight season will be amazing chamber music performed with poise and polish by our A-team of All Stars.
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74 #3, “The Rider”
Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet in Eb Major, Op. 12
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
MainStage 1 - Gratitude and Commemoration
Jory Fankuchen, Conductor
This Concert is Dedicated to the
Memory of Constance Bernstein
Florence Price
Andante Moderato for String Orchestra (1929)
Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110, arranged for String Orchestra
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 3, Op. 56 “Scottish”
Jory Fankuchen, Conductor
Constance Bernstein
We begin our season with three pieces of great vibrancy and depth of meaning. Recently discovered music manuscripts of the African-American Composer, Florence Price (1887-1953) has sparked a revival of her music, with “Andante Moderato” coming from her earlier compositions. While the influence of the late Romantic composers is evident, so too are the distinctive sounds and strength of African American Spirituals. Shostakovich’s “Chamber Symphony” comes from his poignant and dynamic 8th String Quartet, composed in 1960. This quartet was dedicated to the victims of fascism and World War II, with some saying he wrote it as his own epitaph. The program culminates with Mendelssohn’s vibrant “Scottish” symphony, depicting ancient Scottish ruins and their legends, enveloped by the wild landscapes of Scotland.
Supporting Government Organizations
Supporting Foundations
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Bernard Osher Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Family Foundation