Going against the general retrenchment of the arts in the face of fiscal constraints and government funding cuts, San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) today announced the largest public concert season in its 108-year history. With a couple of exceptions (see below), all events are free to the public.
The Conservatory has always invited the public, both to share music with the community and to give students a chance to perform before an audience — the news is in the major increase of activity, just when cutbacks are the rule elsewhere. More than 500 performances are scheduled and programming includes chamber, opera, and musical theater productions, orchestral concerts, student and faculty recitals, and masterclasses.
“Our goal is to create formative experiences for our students by exposing them to repertoire, guest artists, and musical adventures that will shape their lives forever,” SFCM’s Music Director Edwin Outwater told San Francisco Classical Voice.
“It’s a big responsibility. When it all works, there is a sense of inspiration and discovery coming from the stage that is unique and exhilarating. I've been really pleased to feel our audiences growing and responding to this feeling in the last few years,” Outwater continued. “The full houses and deep support from the audience helps to inspire the students as well, and reminds them that all of those hours of hard work in the practice room are ultimately for sharing music and spreading joy.”
The Conservatory occupies multiple venues across two locations. Events will take place at both the Ann Getty Center for Education at 50 Oak St. and the Ute and William K. Bowes Jr. Center for Performing Arts at 200 Van Ness Ave. Venues range in size from studios to the 400-seat Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall. Because of limited capacities, advance reservations via links on SFCV’s performance calendar are recommended.
“This season represents a unique opportunity to experience the wonderful artists we manage across the world in joint performances with our brilliant students,” said David H Stull, president of SFCM. “It is also a testament to our interest in new genres and willingness to take risks. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Conservatory soon!”
San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s 25/26 season highlights include the following:
— Sept. 27, Opening concert with the SFCM Orchestra; works by David Conte, Claude Debussy, and Witold Lutoslawski
— Oct. 3, Concerto Competition Winners Concert with conductor Kedrick Armstrong, soprano Cristina Villalobos, and violist Zoe Yost; works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Hector Berlioz, and Béla Bartók
— Oct. 12, SFCM Baroque Orchestra; works by Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Torelli, and Andrè Campra
— Oct. 25, pianist Craig Terry and soprano Christine Goerke present Beyond the Aria
— Nov. 20, SFCM Opera and Musical Theatre presents Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of The Screw
— Dec 7, Faculty Artist Series presents David Conte on Composition
— Dec. 9, Chamber Music Tuesday with pianist Inon Barnatan
— Dec. 15, Faculty Artist Series presents Flautist Yubeen Kim; works by Philippe Gaubert, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Franz Doppler
— Feb. 20, Opera and Musical Theatre Presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
— Mar. 8, Faculty Artist Series presents guitarist Marc Teicholz
— Apr. 30, Roots, Jazz, and American Music Big Band Concert with Billy Childs
