The Commonwealth Club of California is hosting an extensive, month-long series of events, titled "Music Matters," that aims to examine the meaning of music in life.
Prominent participants include S.F. Girls Chorus Artistic Director Lisa Bielawa, Philharmonia Baroque Music Director Nicholas McGegan, composer Jake Heggie, Oakland East Bay Symphony Music Director Michael Morgan, S.F. Conservatory of Music President David Stull, and Conservatory alumnus Eugene Rodriguez, who is founder of the Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy for traditional Mexican music and arts in Richmond. They and other guests will discuss how music can rebuild and uplift communities undergoing hardship and conflict.
According to the announcement, the performances will cover everything "from jazz to symphony, hambone to choirs, instruments, film sound tracks, American composers and roof shaking gospels."
This series is sponsored by Ernst & Young and the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation. Admission is free for Commonwealth Club members, $20 for non-members, and discounted for students. More information can be found on the Commonwealth Club's website.
Events include:
- "Who's Afraid of Opera? Exploring the Wonderful World of Music’s Grandest Art," 6 p.m. Aug. 5; with S.F. Opera dramaturg Kip Cranna
- "Cracking the Music Ceiling: Why Women Matter," noon Aug. 7; with composer Lisa Bielawa
- "Beyond the Thirteenth Tone," 6 p.m. Aug. 7
- Why Music? The Confessions of a Willing Prisoner of the Violin," 6 p.m. Aug. 12; with S.F. Symphony Assistant Concertmaster Mark Volkert
- "Baroque Music Matters," noon Aug. 14; with Nicholas McGegan
- "Orchestra Music Grown Locally," 6 p.m. Aug. 25; with Music Director, Oakland East Bay Symphony and Sacramento Philharmonic Music Director Michael Morgan
- "Mozart and Masonic Semiotics," 6 p.m. Aug. 26; with Mozart scholar Steven Machtinger
- "Changing Times and Indian Classical Music," 6 p.m. Aug. 27; with Mahesh Kale
- "The Gift of Music: Building Sanctuaries of Learning and Hope," 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27; with S.F. Conservatory President David Stull
- "Death With Interruptions," 6 p.m. Aug. 28; librettist Thomas Laqueur, soprano Nikki Einfeld, cellist Leighton Fong
CORRECTION: The article originally stated Los Cenzontles was in El Cerrito. Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy is located in Richmond.