Bay Area Music Groups
The Bay Area is home to literally hundreds of classical music organizations, from community choruses to world-renowned orchestras, opera companies and chamber ensembles. This listing provides all the vital statistics for Bay Area music groups, as well as a summary of what they do best. Search by type of organization or alphabetically. Note to classical music groups: If your organization is not listed here or there is an error in your listing, please email Eric@sfcv.org.
NACUSA San Francisco
The San Francisco Bay chapter of the National Association of Composers, USA produces several about four new music concerts a year, much of the music coming from submissions. (There is a submission form on the website.) Every year, they sponsor a Student Composer Competition, with the winner receiving a professional performance.
Artistic Director: Monica Lynn
Where to hear them: Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose, Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, Palo Alto Art Center in Palo Alto
Napa Porchfest
Founded: 2011
Artistic Director: Juliana Inaman, Napa City Council
Where to hear them: City of Napa
Napa Valley Chorale
Founded: 1963
Artistic Director: Jan Lanterman
Where to hear them: Napa Valley venues: First United Methodist Church, Mont La Salle, Lincoln Theater Napa Valley, St. Mary's Episcopal Church
Napa Valley College Music Department
Artistic Director: Dr. Eve-Anne Wilkes
Where to hear them: Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center
Napa Valley Opera House
The Opera House serves as a cultural center for Napa, presenting a diverse program including jazz, comedy, pocket opera, classical and contemporary music.
Founded: Re-opened in 2001
Artistic Director: Evy Warshawski
Where to hear them: Margrit Biever Mondavi Theatre in downtown Napa
Napa Valley Symphony
The symphony presents classic and pops concerts throughout the year featuring internationally touring performers
Founded: 1932
Artistic Director: Asher Raboy
Where to hear them: Lincoln Theater, Yountville
New Arts Alliance
Founded: 2010
Artistic Director: Meerenai Shim and Kassey LeBow
Where to hear them: Various venues
New Century Chamber Orchestra
Known for their conductor-less performances, this group of professional musicians presents a wide array of chamber music repertoire that ranges from historical classics to international commissions, with an emphasis on innovative performance styles.
Founded: 1992
Artistic Director: Nadja Salerno-Sonenberg
Where to hear them: First Congregational Church, Berkeley; First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto; Herbst Theater, San Francisco; Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael.
New Esterházy Quartet
The New Esterházy Quartet in their first three seasons performed all 68 quartets of Joseph Haydn, the first time the complete cycle has been played on period instruments in America. Since then they have been exploring Haydn's influence and legacy. Mozart was among over a dozen composers to dedicate sets of quartets to Haydn, Beethoven was among dozens of Haydn's students, so NEQ play them together with the works of other composers within Haydn's circle, some familiar, some unheard of. Once a form of home amusement, then of public entertainment, the string quartets of centuries past offer all that plus a window into the souls of our cultural ancestors and thus our own.
Founded: 2006
Artistic Director: Kati Kyme, Lisa Weiss, Anthony Martin, William Skeen
Where to hear them: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco and All Saints' Episcopal Church, Palo Alto
