 SFCM has named Jose Maria Condemi as its new Director of Opera beginning in July. A stage director noted for bringing theatrical and visual flair to productions at San Francisco Opera and major companies across the U.S. and abroad, Condemi makes his Conservatory debut this season, directing performances of L'elisir d'amore on April 2 and 4. SFCM also announced faculty member Curt Pajer will become Musical and Managing Director of Opera. Read more.
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Shanghai Hosts SFCM at Annual Chamber Music Festival  Now in its fifth year, the Shanghai-San Francisco International Chamber Music Festival is hosted this spring at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Jointly produced by the sister conservatories of San Francisco and Shanghai, the festival showcases chamber masterworks and specially commissioned compositions by students from both schools. President David H. Stull will lead a delegation including seven faculty members and five students for a week of master classes and rehearsals culminating in joint performances on March 27 and 28. Highlights include Shostakovich's Piano Quintet in G Minor, a faculty performance of Mendelssohn's Piano Sextet in D Major and the world premiere of string quartets by Shanghai student Weiyi Dai and SFCM undergraduate Roman Baranskiy, a student of David Garner. For details, visit our festival webpage.
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Game Scoring at SFCM
Takes Flight Students and faculty inaugurated SFCM's state-of-the-art studios by recording the hypnotic soundtrack to the video game Gathering Sky, due to be released this spring. The project charted a course for SFCM's new program in Technology and Applied Composition which will provide professional training in scoring for film, games and new media.
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A Poet's Work Bears Fruit
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 Blood Work, a prize-winning collection of poems by literature and creative writing faculty member Matthew Siegel, will be published next month. In a recent San Francisco Chronicle profile, Siegel called the volume the natural outgrowth of a long and consistent effort. "You produce poems like a tree produces fruit, or something. It's just something that you do. And sometimes the fruit is good, and sometimes the fruit is not good. But you can improve the pruning, so increase the chances of it being good by reading certain things and by thinking about poems in certain ways, and really loving it." Read more.
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An Exotic PremiereThe BluePrint New Music Series spices its concert "Exotic Soundscapes" with flavors from Southeast Asia. The world premiere of Pagihip at Pagtaktak by Robin Estrada '05 embeds indigenous Philippine instruments including single-pitch bamboo tubes, panpipes and bells, within a Western classical chamber ensemble to create Estrada's pan-Pacific aesthetic. As winner of the Hoefer Prize, SFCM's top award in composition, Estrada holds a week-long residency including a master class in composition. BluePrint artistic director Nicole Paiement also conducts Oiseaux exotiques, Olivier Messiaen's synthesis of artistry and natural realism, featuring pianist, alumna and faculty member Sarah Cahill, and a bassoon concerto by faculty member and San Francisco Symphony principal bassoon Stephen Paulson featuring Paulson student Justin Cummings '15. Saturday, March 14, 8 PM*..............  Concert Hall, $20/$15 More information Purchase tickets
*Join Robin Estrada for casual conversation and a glass of wine at BluePrint's pre-concert Tȇte à tȇte event at 7:20 p.m. on the Deleage level.
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Alumni to Star at SFCM GalaThe Conservatory throws its biggest bash of the year and celebrates three distinguished alumni at the 2015 Conservatory Gala on March 23. Co-chaired by trustees Susan Marineau and Deepa Pakianathan, this year's Gala features soprano Elza van den Heever '04, acclaimed for her recent appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, Warren Jones '77, named Collaborative Pianist of the Year by Musical America, and the legendary Canadian Brass, featuring trombonist Achilles Liarmakopoulos '06. Collegiate and Pre-College musicians will also perform for a guest audience of Conservatory supporters. For more information about this year's gala, contact Christian Mills at cmills@sfcm.edu.
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Bates Invited to Dream Big at
Kennedy Center
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 Faculty member Mason Bates has been named the Kennedy Center's first-ever composer-in-residence. In addition to writing music, Bates will curate a new music series and find ways to reach new audiences, according to an article in The Washington Post. On his website blog, Bates notes he'll have a hand in all Kennedy Center events, from symphony and opera performances to jazz and ballet. He also floats a raft of ideas, proven and new, such as presenting classical music in alternate venues and mixing genres like jazz and electronica (both Bates trademarks), as well as tapping smartphones and other technologies to transform the concert experience.
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Hot Air Festival Returns  The Hot Air Music Festival returns to SFCM with gusto, presenting eleven premieres during an eight-hour marathon. The lineup of the homegrown festival is heavy with SFCM composers and performers, including faculty, alumni and students . Areon Flutes, Friction Quartet, One Great City and the International Low Brass Trio take the stage. Also featured are the legendary Mills College Gamelan Ensemble and works by contemporary greats such as Steve Reich and Kaija Saariaho. Sunday, March 15, 1-9 PM............. All SFCM Concert Halls, Free More information
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March Concert HighlightsThe Baroque Ensemble presents L'incoronazione di Poppea, Monteverdi's crowning operatic achievement, featuring a lush and nuanced score and a leading power couple who could go toe-to-toe with Frank and Claire Underwood. Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m.SFCM hosts several world-renowned artists for vocal and instrumental master classes, all of which are free and open to the public. Susan Graham mezzo-soprano Tuesday, March 3, 2:30 p.m.David Russell guitar Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.Jennifer Koh violin Monday, March 16, 9:30 a.m.Jeffrey Thomas conductor Monday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.Faculty member Stephen Tramontozzi '81, assistant principal double bass of the San Francisco Symphony, performs a program of works by Shostakovich, Kazacsay and contemporary composers Monday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Guests include oboe faculty and symphony English horn player Russ deLuna, symphony violinist Sarn Oliver and pianist Marc Shapiro. Faculty member, neuroscientist and soprano Indre Viskontas '08 explores how we experience and judge music in a lecture recital with pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi '06 titled "Music as a Gateway to the Brain" on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. Marimba master and revered percussionist Jack Van Geem performs a faculty recital Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m.The 75th birthday celebration of faculty composer Elinor Armer continues with a recital of her works on Friday, March 20 at 8 p.m. Performers include faculty members Don Ehrlich, viola, Bonnie Hampton, cello, Jodi Levitz, viola, Mack McCray, piano, Bettina Mussumeli, violin, and the Ives Quartet, among others. SFCM welcomes back pianist Yongmei Hu for an Alumni Recital Series concert on Saturday, March 21 at 8 p.m. featuring Schubert's Fantasie in C Major, Op. 15 (D. 760) "The Wanderer" and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
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Upcoming Concerts
FEBRUARY
27 Friday, 8 PM $20/$15..................... 
Chamber Music Presents | Telegraph Quartet with Ian Swensen, violin 28 Saturday, 8 PM $20/$15............. Orchestra | Scott Sandmeier, conductor William Cedeño, flute Faculty Artist Series
Stephen Tramontozzi '81, double bass
3 Tuesday, 2:30 PM FREE
Master Class | Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano
3 Tuesday, 7:30 PM FREE
Piano Concerto Competition Finals
4 Wednesday, 7:30 PM FREE
Guest Artist Recital | Craig Sheppard, piano
6 Friday, 7 PM FREE
Master Class | David Russell, guitar 6 Friday, 8 PM FREE
Faculty Artist Series | Indre Viskontas '08 soprano/neuroscientist with Vocallective 7 Saturday, 7 PM FREE.......... Baroque Ensemble | Corey Jamason and Elisabeth Reed, directors Monteverdi L'incoronzaione di Poppea8 Sunday, 2 PM FREE.......... Baroque Ensemble | Corey Jamason and Elisabeth Reed, directors Monteverdi L'incoronzaione di Poppea9 Monday, 8 PM FREE Woodwind Chamber Music | Side by Side 10 Tuesday, 7:30 PM FREE Violin Concerto Competition Finals 10 Tuesday, 8 PM FREE Cello Department Recital 11 Wednesday, 8 PM FREE Piano Department Recital 12 Thursday, 8 PM FREE Percussion Ensemble Recital 13 Friday, 6 PM FREE Master Class | Robin Estrada, composer 14 Saturday, 8 PM $20/$15................ Blueprint New Music Series Nicole Paiement, artistic director Exotic Soundscapes 15 Sunday, 1-9 PM FREE..................... Hot Air New music festival 16 Monday, 9:30 AM FREE Master Class | Jennifer Koh, violin 16 Monday, 7:30 PM FREE Master Class | Jeffrey Thomas, conductor 16 Monday, 8 PM FREE, RR*.......... Faculty Artist Series | Jack Van Geem, percussion 18 Wednesday, 8 PM FREE Art Song Competition 19 Thursday, 7:30 PM FREE Master Class | Martin Fröst, clarinet 19 Thursday, 8 PM FREE Guitar Department Recital 20 Friday, 8 PM FREE.................. Faculty Artist Series | Elinor Armer, composition 21 Saturday, 8 PM FREE................ Alumni Recital Series | Yongmei Hu
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View our performance calendar for complete information including concert changes and updates. RR* = Reservations required. Call the Box Office for tickets and reservations at 415.503.6275. Conservatory SupportersTo reserve tickets, please contact June Hom at 415.503.6201 or jhom@sfcm.edu. To become a Conservatory supporter visit our website.
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NPR's From the Top features SFCM's Pre-College Division in an upcoming national broadcast. Tune in Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. on KDFC. Learn more about the Pre-College in this new video.
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Conservatory performances and events dating back nearly 50 years can be heard once again thanks to an ambitious preservation project undertaken by the SFCM Library and Archives. Select recordings of the Audio Digitization Project are available on the archives website, including a 1985 commencement address given by former San Francisco Chronicle music critic Robert Commanday. Read more
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Do you love a good competition? Witnessing fireworks on (and sometimes off) stage? Comparing your opinions with the "experts"? If so, join Conservatory supporters and music lovers at the FREE Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition Finals on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. The winner, to be announced that evening, will appear as a featured soloist with the Conservatory Orchestra next season. Find out more about becoming a Conservatory supporter.
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Meyer's Grammy-Winning WorkWhen violinist Hilary Hahn won a Grammy for Best Classical Small Chamber Ensemble in February, her producer and recording engineer Andreas Meyer '94 was there to bask in the limelight. In 27 Pieces, The Hilary Hahn Encores is Meyer's third Grammy-winning recording. Meyer studied composition at SFCM before joining Sony Music Studios and then founding his own studio in New York. He has also recorded for artists such Joshua Bell, Yo Yo Ma, the Los Angeles Philhamonic and New York Philharmonic.
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Edris Joins Merola ProgramPostgraduate student Amina Edris was chosen to participate in next summer's Merola Opera Program. The New Zealand soprano will train with opera luminaries and experts at the San Francisco Opera Center, including César Ulloa, her studio teacher at SFCM. SFCM hosts Merola's Schwabacher Summer Concert on July 9.
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Violists AppointedTwo alumni violists are scaling heights in western U.S. orchestras. Margaret Dyer '05 has been named assistant principal viola for The Santa Fe Opera. Tiantian Lan '09 won both the principal viola position with the Oakland East Bay Symphony and the associate principal position at the Reno Philharmonic. Dyer is co-founder of A Far Cry, a string orchestra recently nominated for Grammy, and has performed with the nation's top chamber orchestras. Lan currently serves as principal viola with the Berkeley Symphony.
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New Music for a NewbornAlong with the stuffed animals, crib and pink paint, composer Kyle Hovatter '12 decided to adorn his new daughter's nursery with custom-made ambient music. The tracks on Music for Alice's Room, composed by Hovatter and several Conservatory friends, evoke an atmosphere suffused with child-like wonder. Hovatter studied with Elinor Armer.
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Manhattan Choral Ensemble
February 28
The Manhattan Choral Ensemble chose "A Clear Midnight" by Louis Cruz '12 as one of three winners of its 2014 composer competition. But Cruz still has one more round to go. Audience members attending the group's New Music for New York concert will award their favorite composer an additional $500 prize. Cruz was a student of David Conte.
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Barely OperaSan Francisco Opera March 2 For one night only, San Francisco Opera will take over the Rickshaw Stop for an unforgettable pop-up event: Barely Opera. The night will feature opera favorites, Broadway melodies, as well as some unexpected tunes, performed by the Opera's incredible Adler Fellows. Operatically-inspired cocktails, characters in costume, a live DJ, and a host of other surprises are in store.
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Black Box BaroqueMarch 27 & 28 Following a sold-out company debut last March, Black Box Baroque presents its second opera production, Handel's Ariodante. Led by an all-star cast of SFCM alumni including Danielle Reutter-Harrah '11, Kelly Rubinsohn '12, Ellen Presley '14 and company founder Sara Hagenbuch '11, Black Box brings this story of love (and jealousy, treachery and revenge) to San Francisco's intimate EXIT Theater. Performances also feature the noted Bay Area early music ensemble The Albany Consort.
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Café menu with beer and wine available from