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San Francisco Choral Society The San Francisco Choral Society (SFCS) is a premier symphonic chorus, inspiring and enriching people's lives through the joy and power of choral music. Established in 1989, SFCS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the performance of choral masterpieces and commissioned works, accompanied by professional orchestras and soloists. SFCS appears in San Francisco venues, such as Calvary Presbyterian Church and Davies Symphony Hall, performing spring, summer and fall concerts, as well as a holiday sing-along in December.
Membership
SF Choral comprises 150-200+ singing members, the actual number reflecting repertoire. More than 3,000 singers have sung as members since the chorus’ inception. Current membership includes ten original members.
In 1992, SFCS began auditions for singers who wish to join. To encourage ongoing skills development, SFCS offers annual low-cost classes, taught by professionals or musicians to interested singers, including those who are not members.
Community Outreach
SF Choral reaches out to a broad audience, including future musicians and community leaders.
Next Generation
To encourage the next generation of musicians, SFCS has created two programs:
- In a high school internship program, high school music students have the opportunity to participate in music education classes, rehearsals, and performances at no cost to them.
- The “Tickets for Kids” program offers free tickets to performances for middle school and high school students.
Audience
SFCS also offers complimentary tickets to several Bay Area nonprofit organizations for distribution to staff and those they serve.
To enrich audience experience, concert programs include detailed program notes. When performing a commissioned work, SF Choral presents an on-stage interview with the composer. A post-performance reception enables the audience to meet the composer and learn more about his or her music.
SF Choral's annual holiday concert is designed to appeal to people of all ages, including families with children.
Board Fellows
The San Francisco Choral Society is governed by an all volunteer board of directors. Since 2004 the chorus has participated in the Stanford Board Fellows program.
Each year two board fellows serve on the board as non-voting members in order to learn about and participate in non-profit operation and management as part of their Masters degree program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In exchange for this opportunity, the board fellows undertake projects using their business skills and education to benefit the chorus and further the chorus mission.
The board fellows have provided outstanding assistance in the projects they have undertaken to help the chorus with branding, logo development, website development, and e-marketing initiatives.
Artistic Directors
- Andy Horn (1989-1992)
- Magen Solomen (1992-1993, interim conductor)
- Robert Geary, ASCAP award winner (December 1994-present)
Commissioned Works
- November 2003, Ubi caritas by Kirstina Rasmussen
- August 2005, Songs for the Earth by Emma Lou Diemer
- August 2006, Time Does Not Bring Relief by Felicia Sandler
- November 2007, pax penetralis by Mark Winges
- August 2009, Contraries by Donald McCullough
- November 2010, Seven Songs for Planet Earth by Olli Kortekangas, co-commissioned with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra of Finland, Choral Arts Society of Washington, and Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir
External links
- Official website (http://sfchoral.org)
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Choral-Society/103664575145)
- (http://www.sfcv.org/reviews/silencing-guns-war)
- (http://www.sfcv.org/preview/san-francisco-choral-society/liaisons-with-the-sf-choral-society)
- (http://www.sfcv.org/preview/san-francisco-choral-society/britten-and-beethoven-beckon-at-sf-choral-society-concerts)