About San Francisco Classical Voice
Our Story
It was in 1998 that retiring San Francisco Chronicle classical-music critic Robert Commanday and San Francisco composer and philanthropist Gordon Getty had the foresight, wisdom (and, OK, chutzpah) to launch a not-for-profit Web site dedicated to intelligent, professional, and thorough critical coverage of the rich classical music scene here in the Bay Area. Since its inception San Francisco Classical Voice has published more than 3,500 concert reviews of Bay Area classical music groups.
Bob and Gordon fully recognized the steady, inexorable decline of mainstream media's coverage of classical music. What Bob could not possibly have predicted in 1998 was just how incredibly dynamic, interactive, and central to our daily lives the online world would become. With the emergence of interactive Web 2.0 technologies and communities, and the rise of blogs (and, sadly, the continued decline of conventional arts journalism), new opportunities for SFCV arose.
So, with the dawning of its second decade comes the dawn of a new era for San Francisco Classical Voice. Relaunched in March 2009, SFCV is transforming itself into the go-to place for classical music in the Bay Area.
Our Mission
This reconceived San Francisco Classical Voice expands upon its original journalistic mission:
Today, SFCV seeks to inspire and motivate people to attend, listen to, learn about, discuss and actively participate in the Bay Area's vast and varied classical music scene.
In a Web 2.0 world, that means providing information and functionality you can use, as well as a sense of community that connects all the constituencies of the music world: the audience, the artists, and the supporters. It also means recognizing that connections to classical music are as varied and personal as the individuals who seek it out. SFCV is committed to providing resources for all classical music lovers—from the curious novice to the seasoned aficionado.
Our Future
As SFCV set out to expand its content and features, there was no end of good ideas. The new site is chock full of goodies, but there are more to come. With your continued support and your feedback, SFCV will continue to expand and improve its offerings later this year and beyond to include:
- Special ticket deals
- An Online Music Store for Bay Area recordings
- A Classical Marketplace that will enable you to find tickets, instruments, teachers, string quartets, concert-going companions and much more
- Expanded music education and listening resources
Our Impact
Over the years, music lovers and music organizations have spoken out about how much SFCV's committed coverage has meant to them. Here are just a few of the many testimonials we've received:
"I read SFCV because it provides a service that is unavailable elsewhere. No one else is reviewing the types of music that I am interested in, in a comprehensive way that includes all types of music, and organizations of all sizes, not just the big guns in town."— Reader from Redwood City, CA
"I want to let you know what an important service you are providing with your Web site. It fills a very valuable niche in the cultural life of the Bay Area, especially for the smaller arts organizations." —Karen Heather, President, Noe Valley Chamber Music
"I find myself increasingly dependent on SFCV for quality reviews of not only smaller or less-known performing organizations and artists, but also major companies. The difference in quality from the major paper is astounding." —Bass-baritone Tom Hart, a founding member of Chanticleer. "”
Your feedback on the new SFCV is always welcome! Please contact us at editor@sfcv.org with your comments and ideas.