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.
405 Shrader
Founded: November 2011
Artistic Director: Victor Milenski
Where to hear them: 405 Shrader, San Francisco
Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose
Founded: 1980
Artistic Director: Mythili Kumar, Artistic Director
Where to hear them: http://abhinaya.org
Absolute Music at the Friedman Center
Founded: 2004
Where to hear them: Friedman Center in Santa Rosa
Adorno Ensemble
Adorno Ensemble combines a commitment to fostering the creation and presentation of new music through performances in galleries, via online radio and podcasts, and its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to music appreciation, the Kandinsky Listening sessions.
Founded: 2004
Artistic Director: Cynthia Mei, violin, founder and artistic director
Where to hear them: Online and in galleries around San Francisco
Afiara String Quartet
Afiara places a keen interest on music of the 18th and 19th centuries, though it plays music from Haydn to yesterday's ink.
Founded: 2006
Artistic Director: None
Where to hear them: Venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
Agave Baroque
Founded: 2007
Artistic Director: Shirley Hunt & Aaron Westman
Where to hear them: San Francisco & Berkeley
Alameda Civic Ballet
"Our mission is to create and present community accessible ballet performances while educating and engaging the community in the performing arts. Alameda Ballet Academy and its affiliate performing company, Alameda Civic Ballet, were founded in 2003 by the Artistic Director, Abra Rudisill. Both the school and company were created to impart the best elements of the classical ballet tradition to local dance students and the surrounding community of the East Bay. In her lessons and leadership, Rudisill draws upon her 20 years of experience as a Prima Ballerina and Ballet Mistress with Oakland Ballet, and she seeks to carry on her artistic lineage through the education of Bay Area youth. Alameda Civic Ballet was founded in February 2003 and achieved non-profit 501(c)(3) status as a charitable organization in November of 2004. The goal of the company is to create and present quality community accessible ballet performances, while providing young dancers with valuable experience performing alongside professional dancers.
Founded: 2003
Artistic Director: Abra Rudisill
Where to hear them: Kofman Theater - 2200 Central Avenue, Alameda, California
Albany Chamber Orchestra
This long-running community orchestra is composed of strings, winds, brass, and percussion, and plays music from the Baroque to the 21st century. To learn more, please call: (415) 883-4959.
Founded: 1975
Artistic Director: Teresa Colyer
Where to hear them: Concerts 3x per year, usually at Albany High School
Albany Consort
The group is focused on the period 1550 - 1750, with occasional forays into earlier and later centuries.
Founded: 1974 (in London, established in San Francisco in 1981)
Artistic Director: Jonathan Salzedo
Where to hear them: Venues in Berkeley and San Francisco
Alexander String Quartet
Known equally for their interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich, as well as of contemporary music, the ASQ has an international reputation for excellence. Based in San Francisco, the ASQ is Ensemble in Residence with SF Performances and the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. They also direct the Instructional Program of the May Treat Morrison Chamber Music Center at SF State University. The Ensemble also tours internationally and records extensively, primarily for Foghorn Classics.
Founded: 1981
Where to hear them: Herbst Theater, San Francisco, Morrison Artists Series at SFSU, and many other venues in Bay Area and beyond
Alexey Rybnikov Theater Company, Moscow
Founded: 1999
Artistic Director: Alexey Rybnikov
Where to hear them: In Moscow and on tour.
Ali Akbar College of Music
The Ali Akbar College of Music offers education in the classical music of North India at the highest professional level. Our primary instructors have studied with the internationally recognized sarode player, Maestro Ali Akbar Khan, for many years and teach alongside our master of percussion, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. At the college, students learn the necessary musical skills, knowledge and understanding to contribute significantly to musical life. Our international student body ranges from beginner to accomplished professional. Facilities include several practice rooms, classrooms and a concert hall. Students learn to play the classical music of North India on the instrument of their choice, Indian or non-Indian. All are encouraged to learn vocal music. Cross training in raga (melody) and tala (percussion) are encouraged, though typically the student will specialize in either raga or tala.
Don't see your event? Add it here »
SFCV Previews
- Wed May 29, 2013 8:00pm
- Sat June 1, 2013 8:00pm
- Wed June 5, 2013 (All day)