A century ago, Irish and German Jewish descendants of immigrants founded the San Francisco Symphony. Their Italian counterparts funded and participated in the creation of San Francisco Opera.
San Francisco Bach Choir, founded in 1937, is believed to be the oldest continually performing choir in the western United States. The current Artistic Director Corey Jamason hasn't been around that long, but he served a good stretch of time, and he is stepping down as of next March.
Berkeley Symphony Music Director Joana Carneiro, missing in action here last month, has been named principal conductor of the Portugal National Symphony, whose home is the Teatro de São Carlos in Lisbon, Carneiro's birthplace.
