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.
P-S-F-S (Prince SF Singers)
Founded: Winter 2010
Artistic Director: Ken Malucelli
Where to hear them: Bay Area concerts
Pacific Boychoir Academy
The Academy offers 8 levels of chorus programs for boys age 4 - 18. In 2004 the PBA started a day school with a full academic program.
Founded: 1998
Artistic Director: Kevin Fox
Where to hear them: Venues in San Francisco and the East Bay and in regular appearances with the San Francisco Symphony
Pacific Chamber Symphony
Pacific Chamber Symphony has a season of 3 to 5 concerts sets with performances in San Francisco, Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa counties
Founded: 1989 (as the Chamber Orchestra of San Leandro)
Artistic Director: Lawrence Kohl
Where to hear them: SF Conservatory of Music, Livermore Performing Arts Center, Lafayette Presbyterian Church, El Campanil Theater in Antioch & the Napa Valley Opera House
Pacific Collegium
16th through 18th century small-ensemble vocal and choral music
Founded: 2004
Artistic Director: Christopher Kula
Where to hear them: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Oakland
Pacific Masterworks Chorus
Founded: 2010
Artistic Director: Greg Lyne
Where to hear them: Pleasanton
Pacific Mozart Ensemble (PME)
Despite its name, this Grammy-nominated chorus is known best for innovative programming and collaborations with living composers and artists such as Meredith Monk, Dave Brubeck, David Lang, Quartet San Francisco, Berkeley Symphony and others.
Founded: 1981
Artistic Director: Richard Grant, artistic director and founder, and Lynne Morrow, music director
Where to hear them: Various churches in Berkeley and San Francisco
Pacific Wind Ensemble
The Pacific Wind Ensemble is dedicated to performing distinguished music written for ensembles of eight to thirteen wind instruments.
Founded: 1992
Artistic Director: Todd Willis
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra
Founded: 1966
Artistic Director: Benjamin Simon
Where to hear them: Dinkelpiel Auditorium, Stanford
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra
Founded: by William Whitson in 1966
Artistic Director: Benjamin Simon
Where to hear them: Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto Philharmonic
The Palo Alto Phil is a community orchestra formed by local musicians to serve the Silicon Valley area
Founded: 1988
Artistic Director: Thomas Shoebotham
Where to hear them: Various locations in and around Palo Alto
Palomarin Chamber Music Foundation
Founded: 1996
Artistic Director: Burke Schuchmann
Where to hear them: First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley
Paul Dresher Ensemble
The Paul Dresher Ensemble is one of only a few composer-led organizations and presents experimental and mostly commissioned works that combine electric and acoustic instrumentation. The Ensemble is known for its collaborations with dance companies, theater groups, operas, and other artists and organizations.
Founded: 1987
Artistic Director: Paul Dresher, composer and founder
Where to hear them: Venues in San Francisco
Peninsula Ballet Theatre
Founded: 1967
Artistic Director: Bruce Steivel
Where to hear them: San Mateo Performing Arts Center
