San Francisco Chamber Orchestra

What a wonderful group. Mostly free, 45 minutes performances thru out the SF Bay Area.
Gr8 for family entertainment.
Be sure to buy a T-​Shirt, CD or put some $ in the donation box.

I’ve gone to several free performances in Berkeley and they put out such good shows. Except for the New Year’s Eve performance in Berkeley, there is no problem getting in. Sometimes the host’s speech gets too long, but he’s good at engaging and educating public about classical music. Yesterday’s performance was very well programmed, they played the short and beautiful Mendelssohn first and the familiar Bach piece. After intermission, they played Beethoven’s somewhat unfamiliar, Fuge with the beautiful ending with digital animation.
The church in Berkeley has a great sound system as well, it doesn’t echo as a lot of churches do. They’re not aggressive about donation, either. I’ll go and donate, hoping they’ll sustain and continue putting out great performances.

The Family Concert Series is superb! I have taken my children to the SF Symphony Concerts for Kids and these concerts are far superior and free! Director Ben Simon always delivers a creative, entertaining, and engaging program, perfect for the youngest audience with short attention spans. A wonderful way to introduce classical music to children.

Fantastic performance, great musicians. These guys do something so professional from their big hearts and that’s exactly what you see. Great initiative — well done!

The musicians, conducting, and programming are top-​notch, and the enthusiasm of everyone is a huge plus. I go to the Berkeley performances, and to hear such amazing music in a small venue is an incredible experience. I’ve been a supporting member for three years, which entitles me to early entry and a chance to pick a seat up close. Incredible value!

Top notch classical music accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Wow.

We love the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra! We learned about this orchestra through The Music School in San Mateo where my 4 year old was taking music class. We took our son to one of the «my first concerts» and he absolutely loved it and wouldn’t stop talking about it! This really was the first time he got to see all the instruments together and how they play music! We followed the orchestra to as many family friendly concerts that we could make and he even danced in his seat a few times. Anyway this orchestra really sparked his interest in music (my husband and I are NOT musicians) and he is now taking violin lessons and wants a trumpet for Christmas! These little concerts give children great exposure to music! Thank you SF Chamber Orchestra!

One of the best in the country!!!

It was one of the best orchestra performance in the city for FREE !!! Enjoy and relax to learn lots of musical instruments playing in your ears. Well there is no guarantee you would enjoy everything they perform on the stage. However, sometimes they throw surprises in the show by presenting World Class Performance, like what they did in 2012, when the Italian opera singers were on stage with their orchestra bands. What could go wrong with that, right?

Super lovely. I enjoy music performed by actual musicians and totally appreciate that it can be enjoyed for free. Such a treat!
And you can’t help but admire people who express themselves so colorfully through socks.

Wow, only 14 reviews? These concerts were full (except for that Dinkelspiel little number) so where is everybody?
Proof that nearly all (all but 14) of my fellow audience were fuddy-​duddies Tee-​hee :)
A side note:
I hear the other reviewer who said that part of the audience «may not be as courteous or as quiet as you’d like them to be». Occasionally a baby chorus comes from below the stage (or the side, or the balcony, or combinations of the above). I hope some of those parents reading this would consider the «First Concerts» and «Family Concerts» instead of «Main Stage» series which are for more serious concert goers.
Just a thought.

This review is based on the family concert performed at the Kaiser Lakeside Theatre in Oakland on Feb. 4, 2012. This was the 3^rd time my wife and I took our kids to one of SFCO’s family concerts and this one was the best yet! Along with the talented musicians of SFCO, there was an opera singer who had a great rapport with the kids, calling a number of them up on stage to act as he sang, and then they wrapped up with a few songs with the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir — and this was FREE. The William Tell Overture was done with virtuosity, btw… plenty for both kids and parents to enjoy!
SFCO’s family concerts have always been fantastic. This particular program though was superb!

On December 3^th, 2011 I attended my first SFCO performances in Herbst Theatre. It was for the «I like Ludwig» show and it was incredible. The orchestra itself is filled with incredibly talented performers who made the night one to remember. Then Robin Sharp took the stage and it became something even more special. The hard work, dedication, and raw talent that this woman displayed was breathtaking!
I am looking forward to many more performances in the future.
Be aware that not everyone is accustomed to going to this kind of performance and may not be as courteous or as quiet as you’d like them to be. There were some in the crowd who made noise, etc that you typically not find in a paid show.

I’ve heard this group in a music joint, a night club, and a museum auditorium but strangely never in a concert hall. How could they possibly get away with playing classical music in these places, and how could they possibly be so good?!?
There’s an informality to the performances – enhanced by the affable, engaging conductor – yet the musicians are as skilled and as well practiced as you could want. Classical music has never been this much fun.
Don’t bother with suit and tie or gowns and heels – come as you are and enjoy excellent musicians performing classical music in a down-​home setting.

Free! Delightful! Talented! Professional! (not to mention friendly)
Yeah! What a grand bargain. Thank you all.

Excellent organization! Most of the performances are admission free too! Of course you may express your gratitude with a donation, better yet, become a member. =) Fantastic, easy way to introduce people (kids are people too) to classical music. The concerts are not as formal as the SF Symphony & Opera. Perfomances are also in Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto & San Mateo.
I enjoyed the Places of Note concert which featured a cool trombone jazz piece. The world premier written especially for this concert!

Just heard the concert at the Empress Theater in Vallejo! Fabulous performance by masterful musicians and conductor. Trio Chaskinakuy’s Edmond Badoux, Francy Vidal and Daniel Zamalloa were entertaining and their stories full of warmth. The journey to South America featuring their Andean pipes and drums was magical. The SF Chamber Orchestra members especially Erin lang on French Horn and Eugene Chuklov, Violin 1 were outstanding. Thank you very much to all the musicians for a very fine afternoon.
My favorite piece? Brincadeira by Villa-​Lobos.

I went to a concert by this group via
. Hearing that their concerts are free, I was wondering probably like many other who have never attended their concerts how the quality of their performance would be.
Certainly, the selection and order of pieces were very interesting and even educational. First they played Corelli’s“s Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6, No. 2. It has its own intricacy but simple enough to entice audience’s ears. So many movements so little time was the impression I got since I am used to listen to huge symphonies by Mahler and Bruckner among many. It definitely wet my aural appetite though.
Bach’s Concerto for Mandolin in A minor is a transcription of the violin concerto. That concerto is relatively famous as I happened to have a CD of that piece. Conductor Sherri Richards was talking about how so many voices could be heard at the same time during a pre-​concert lecture. Surely enough, I was able to catch some of (if not all of) such juxtaposition that he talked about, and made me further appreciate seemingly «simple» music by Bach.
The mandolin soloist Avi Avital they invited was lyrical and refreshing to hear. I did not have a chance to listen to his music making via Youtube, but as his playing was so sweet and touching, I immediately bought his CD available at the front table. The fact that a group operated by donations could invite such a good player is astonishing. The encore at the end of the first half by Vivaldi was even sweeter, making me feel glad to be alive since I have never heard of that piece live.
The pleasantness of the first piece and the complex music making of the second piece seemed to be the pattern they followed on the second half of this concert. Beethoven’s Andante con Variazioni for Mandolin and Strings in D Major was also pleasant to hear with its folk song-​like theme yet with enough twists and turns typical of young Beethoven. Again, the mandolin soloist shone through this deceivingly innocent piece as Beethoven composed to try to entice a young countess. You have to show meaningfulness in each variation, and he was fairly successful with that aspect. The orchestra seemed a little under-​practiced during this piece, but that was saved by an unity during the playing of this piece.
Well, listening to Golijov’s Last Round made me imagine that players had to practice a lot on this piece. That this contemporary piece depicted thrill and sorrow evident in tango music is an understatement. It was dangerous. It was scintillating. It made me feel how people in Argentine were brokenhearted of the death of a great tango composer Piazzolla. It had so much interplay among players, and made me think that Bach was easier to listen to (hey, it’s been more than 300 years since he composed that violin concerto, so human beings should have learned from this old master something). Just as players were engaged into this unknown piece by an unknown contemporary composer to convince their audience that this music would mean something, I was engaged into this piece the most.
Two encores were tangos by Piazzolla (whom I have heard his name of), and they sounded somewhat simple after listening to Golijov, but these pieces were an fitting end to this well-​structured concert. First you get to have your ears detect music as much as possible by Corelli and Bach, then relax and enjoy with the playfulness of Beethoven, then engage into the adequately new and unfamiliar music of Golijov, and finally feel good by listening to tangos by whom the Argentinian composer paid the tribute to.
So why the hell am I writing so much about the music and impression I got here? That is because I want to convey the level of joy and learning I got from this concert. Rarely have I gotten to get out of a concert so much from performance, let alone a free one. The conductor mentioned that operating this group is not free, so asked for donation. Never have I been convinced more on paying for good music, so I donated some money for this great cause.

I am a discerning woman. Scratch that, I’m picky as Hades. I went to this 122 908 event at the Herbst expecting a pleasant but nothing earth shattering Haydn/​Handel/​Mozart concert. However, THIS event made my TOP THREE event picks of 2008.
I’ve been to the SF Symphony multiple times; I’ve attended the Berkeley Symphony. I am a fan of classical music (thanks to my Mom). However, I have NEVER been titillated due to humor and appreciation of skill as I was last night at the Herbst Theater.
The music was well executed. Granted it didn’t have the powerful effect of echoing in the symphony hall, but it did evoke positive emotion. One thing that was unusual: you could tell (from my 9^th row member seat – a great member benefit – reserved seating!) — the orchestra members were ENJOYING themselves. I can’t remember the last time I saw a violinist kick his woolen cap underneath the chair (out of sight) and saw other musicians laughing at him.
Ben Simon, the music director & conductor, is dapper & hilarious. He has a delightful sense of humor as exhibited during his pre-​concert lecture. He used his black Macbook to play some excerpts of the composers on the program. He even demonstrated his cell phone ring at one point.
During Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor (the one where the musicians leave one by one), he would gently wave his hand at the departing musicians (causing much tittering among the audience).
Watching Ben conduct the orchestra – one could see the passion displayed from his shoulders and back movements.
During the bows, there was a tall, young guy who would dash up to the stage to present flowers to each of the 3 leading ladies. He caused many smiles at his earnestness and the way he would wrench off his beanie cap as to show his respect. In particular, after Robin Sharp’s performance on violin, the young man seemed in awe of her virtuosity. In Robin’s hands, the violin was a formidable force leading the orchestra.
Intermission seemed longer than most performances, which was nice considering the lengthy ladies’ bathroom line. It was funny that as I was standing in the refreshment line, Gwendolyn Mok (the pianist) was also in line and mentioned to her friends that she ate some Chinese food earlier and it wasn’t sitting well in her stomach. One certainly could not tell from her performance earlier that she wasn’t in anything but perfect health in her role in Valerie Coleman’s Concertino which uses «call and response» a traditional African musical device between the piano and the orchestra to illustrate the beauty of Ghana.
At intermission, Ben Simon auctioned off the chance to lead the orchestra in Auld Lang Syne. Since the audience was mostly filled with folks who came to the «free» concert, I wasn’t surprised that the bid started at $ 200 and only reached $ 350. A tall, lean African American man won the auction. He admitted he had «some» musical training. After a five minute conducting lesson by Ben, (who told the winner that the orchestra doesn’t listen to him anyway) he was deemed ready to go.
The winner’s graceful hands were the focus of audience. I don’t know how much musical training the winner had, but he did a fine job – gesturing when the orchestra was supposed to play softly, then louder and louder and also communicating with his hands during the lengthier notes. The audience was delighted.
Amanda King, by the way, is well on her way to becoming famous.
I bought TWO of her CD’s (she autographed them as well) before I left.
Post intermission, Ben Simon decided to CHANGE the program order and have Amanda go last (NEVER has this ever happened at the SF Symphony, I’m sure!). Amanda sang 5 classic George Gershwin songs. Jeff Neighbor, on double bass, and the one responsible for bringing Amanda, was very energetic and he and Amanda displayed an affectionate connection during «Slap That Bass».
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Classical music doesn’t have to be stuffy, as proven by the SF Chamber Orchestra. (They also have concerts for children.) Read their musician bio’s on their site and download some of their recordings. Their UNIQUE combination of humor and excellence is irresistible. I bought a family membership $ 95 for J & myself. This allows me to reserve two free tickets online (thus gaining access to members’ reserved priority seating and skipping the general line) and I can invite innumerable people under the age of 18 to accompany us.
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Also special thanks to Colleen, the organizational director, who responded to my emails during the weekend and reserved two tickets for me the day before the performance.
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Go see «Leading Ladies» NOW (and become a member simultaneously). There are two more shows (¹²⁄₃₁ in Berkeley & ¹⁄₁ in Palo Alto). Robin Sharp on violin; Gwendolyn Mok on piano and Amanda King, singer.

Another chance to see FREE live orchestra music in SF, Berkeley, & Palo Alto. We went on Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 to see Leading Ladies New year’s Celebration Concert at the Herbst Theater.
We heard:
Georg Frederic Handel Water Music Suite No. 2 in D Major (1717) — nice.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-​flat Major, K. 207 (1775) — Robin Sharp, violinist. Very nice.
Valerie Coleman Concertino for Piano & Chamber Orchestra (2007) — Gwendolyn Mok, pianist. I loved her playing, very modern piece.
Intermission — found out there’s bathrooms up in the center of the Balcony.
Franz Josef Haydn Symphony No. 45 in F-​sharp minor (Farewell) (1772) — nice.
George Gershwin — Five classic songs. Amanda King, jazz singer sang 5 songs: Our love is here to stay, can’t take that away, slap that bass, someone to watch/​Embraceable you; S’Wonderful. Wow! That was really good. Her voice is Great!
You can still see the show in Berkeley — Dec 31, 2008 or Palo Alto– Jan 1, 2009!
FREE show, though they want donations or you can join as a member for $ 50/​yr.
Tip: Pre-​concert talk 30 min before the show. I haven’t seen that yet, might be good.
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