About the orchestra
The
mission of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is to bring the immediacy
and intimacy of music for small orchestra and chamber ensemble to
audiences of all ages by presenting classical, contemporary, and
commissioned works as well as to educate and enlighten the next generation
of music lovers through outreach programs.
Founded by conductor Adrian Sunshine, the first concert of the SFCO took
place in April 1953 in Berkeley’s Hillel Foundation. The musicians in
the early years were all members of the San Francisco Symphony, which was
then a very part-time engagement. The name San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
wasn’t used until 1957, when the orchestra made its "debut" at the
University of San Francisco under Maestro Sunshine’s direction.
Edgar
Braun (July 4, 1933 - August 4, 2002)
was a founding conductor of the SFCO in 1955, and took charge of the
ensemble when Maestro Sunshine departed for Europe in 1958. Maestro Braun
led the orchestra for more than forty years until he asked Ben Simon to
take over in January 2002. Under his leadership, the orchestra
presented over 600 admission-free concerts in venues throughout
California, received rave reviews from the press, became the first
orchestra-in-residence at the Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival, and
presented two generations of Bay Area musicians as soloists and ensemble
players.
In January 2002, Benjamin Simon became the
SFCO’s new Music Director. A violist by training and a chamber musician
at heart, Maestro Simon has assembled a team of friends and colleagues to
revitalize this cultural treasure, and to turn the San Francisco Chamber
Orchestra into a vibrant, exciting ‘player’ on the stage of the Bay
Area’s classical music scene. Executive Director Richard Aldag, a new
Board of Directors, and volunteers from our three concert communities -
Palo Alto, Berkeley, and San Francisco - are building a new organization,
based on the solid foundations and accomplishments of the past 52 years.
Artistic
Advisory Board
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is proud to have an Artistic Advisory
Board comprised of leading Bay Area musicians.
Board of Directors
The SFCO Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from all over the Bay Area who love music and dedicate their time to helping the orchestra flourish.
