Primary tabs

Lou Fancher

Lou Fancher is a San Francisco Bay Area writer. Her work has been published by WIRED.com, Diablo Magazine, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times, InDance, East Bay Express, Oakland Magazine, SF Weekly, and others.  She is a children's book author, designer and illustrator, with over 50 books in print. Also a choreographer, ballet master and teacher, she coaches professional ballet and contemporary dance companies in the U. S. and Canada.  Visit her website online at www.johnsonandfancher.com.

Articles by this Author

Artist Spotlight
Gloria Cheng Is in the Zone
November 30, 2018
Gloria Cheng Is in the Zone
BY Lou Fancher

The pianist talks about her upcoming concert with Terry Riley and reflects on the transformative power of a life immersed in music.

More »
Feature Article
Chanticleer Still Blazing Trails at 40
November 30, 2018
Chanticleer Still Blazing Trails at 40
BY Lou Fancher

The famed, male a cappella chorus celebrates a milestone with a world tour and holiday concerts at home.

More »
Artist Spotlight
Nadia Sirota Builds Bridges Between Composers and Listeners
November 27, 2018
Nadia Sirota Builds Bridges Between Composers and Listeners
BY Lou Fancher

The in-demand violist chats about her upcoming performance at S.F. Symphony’s SoundBox.

More »
Feature Article
An Opera Singer Conjures a New Career in Indie-Pop
November 16, 2018
An Opera Singer Conjures a New Career in Indie-Pop
BY Lou Fancher

Steeped in opera but drawn to rock, pop, and experimental music, singer/composer Majel Connery talks about reinventing herself.

More »
Upcoming Concert
Fantastic Negrito Takes the Stage in Berkeley With Taj Mahal
October 8, 2018
The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
Fantastic Negrito Takes the Stage in Berkeley With Taj Mahal
BY Lou Fancher

The Grammy-winning Negrito is a musical chameleon who defies easy classification.

More about The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall »
Upcoming Concert
Sara Shelton Mann Gets Down to the Bone with <em>ECHO</em>
    September 28, 2018
    ODC Dance Company
    Sara Shelton Mann Gets Down to the Bone with ECHO
    BY Lou Fancher

    The new dance work set to Pamela Z’s music has a world premiere at ODC.

    More about ODC Dance Company »
    Upcoming Concert
    MTT Takes a Deep Dive Into Stravinsky’s Musical Legacy
    September 18, 2018
    San Francisco Symphony
    MTT Takes a Deep Dive Into Stravinsky’s Musical Legacy
    BY Lou Fancher

    Tilson Thomas talks about how his personal experiences of the composer inform his conducting in the Stravinsky Festival.

    More about San Francisco Symphony »
    Upcoming Concert
    A World Premiere Illuminates Connections Between Persian and Indian Music
    September 11, 2018
    Z Space
    A World Premiere Illuminates Connections Between Persian and Indian Music
    BY Lou Fancher

    The Path of Light is a fresh collaboration between Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Houman Pourmehdi with the Lian Ensemble.

    More about Z Space »
    Artist Spotlight
    Jon Batiste, At Home in Every Genre
    September 11, 2018
    Jon Batiste, At Home in Every Genre
    BY Lou Fancher

    The bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks upcoming projects and his sources of inspiration.

    More »
    Upcoming Concert
    Voices Emerge at the S.F. Electronic Music Festival
      August 31, 2018
      San Francisco Electronic Music Festival
      Voices Emerge at the S.F. Electronic Music Festival
      BY Lou Fancher

      A diverse roster of artists melding human and electronic sounds highlights the 19th iteration of the festival.

      More about San Francisco Electronic Music Festival »
      Upcoming Concert
      Paula West Brings It to the 29th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
      August 8, 2018
      San Jose Jazz
      Paula West Brings It to the 29th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
      BY Lou Fancher

      The beloved singer is all about the music and the festival welcomes her to its all-star roster.

      More about San Jose Jazz »
      Upcoming Concert
      Gospel Great Ed Hawkins Will Be Remembered at Oakland’s Art + Soul Festival
      July 16, 2018
      Art + Soul Oakland
      Gospel Great Ed Hawkins Will Be Remembered at Oakland’s Art + Soul Festival
      BY Lou Fancher

      The Oakland-born composer of “Oh Happy Day” died this past January, and his music will be at the center of Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir’s festival performances.

      More about Art + Soul Oakland »
      Feature Article
      How to Hear Through Your Hands and Other Lessons from the Stanford Music and the Brain Conference
      July 10, 2018
      How to Hear Through Your Hands and Other Lessons from the Stanford Music and the Brain Conference
      BY Lou Fancher

      New research shows how music helps Alzheimer’s patients and inspires us to cooperate.

      More »
      Upcoming Concert
      Valley of the Moon Festival Pushes Historical Performance Forward
      July 6, 2018
      Valley of the Moon Music Festival
      Valley of the Moon Festival Pushes Historical Performance Forward
      BY Lou Fancher

      Schoenberg on gut strings and a run of 19th-century composers, heard on instruments of their time.

      More about Valley of the Moon Music Festival »
      Feature Article
      Music Is a Fount of Optimism for Gabriela Lena Frank
      July 2, 2018
      Music Is a Fount of Optimism for Gabriela Lena Frank
      BY Lou Fancher

      The prolific composer talks about her creative life and her new opera about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

      More »
      Chamber Music Review
      June 25, 2018
      Garden of Memory Cultivates Fresh Music and Art
      BY Lou Fancher

      Creativity blossoms within architectural wonders at the annual solstice event in Oakland's Chapel of the Chimes.

      More »
      Artist Spotlight
      James Rhodes Isn't Mad, But He's Still Angry
      June 19, 2018
      James Rhodes Isn't Mad, But He's Still Angry
      BY Lou Fancher

      The concert pianist offers insights into his haunted early years, his controversial book, and the transformational power of music.

      More »
      Upcoming Concert
      A Panoply of Music at SFJAZZ This Summer
      June 11, 2018
      SFJAZZ
      A Panoply of Music at SFJAZZ This Summer
      BY Lou Fancher

      The 36th San Francisco Jazz Festival offers a diverse range of musical acts from all walks of jazz life.

      More about SFJAZZ »
      Feature Article
      Carol Rosenberger Prevailed Over Personal Tragedy to Become an Inspiring Musician, Teacher, and More
      June 5, 2018
      Carol Rosenberger Prevailed Over Personal Tragedy to Become an Inspiring Musician, Teacher, and More
      BY Lou Fancher

      When polio struck the aspiring pianist, she had to retrain her body how to engage with her instrument and make music in new ways.

      More »
      Upcoming Concert
      You Can Get Anything You Want at the Ethnic Dance Festival
        May 29, 2018
        San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
        You Can Get Anything You Want at the Ethnic Dance Festival
        BY Lou Fancher

        The smorgasbord dance extravaganza celebrates its 40th anniversary in July.

        More about San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival »

        Pages