San Francisco Symphony Chorus

San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Name	San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Origin	San Francisco, California
Founded	1972
Founders	E. W. "Ted" Nunez; Seiji Ozawa (conductor association)
Genre	Classical choral music
Members	Volunteer SATB choir
Principal conductor	Michael Tilson Thomas (music director association)
Chief conductor	Nicolás Ziegler (chorus director association)
Home	Davies Symphony Hall
Associated acts	San Francisco Symphony

San Francisco Symphony Chorus is the professional volunteer chorus resident with the San Francisco Symphony and a leading American large-ensemble choir. Founded in 1972, the Chorus has collaborated with prominent conductors, orchestras, soloists, and composers across North America, Europe, and Asia. The ensemble is known for performances of symphonic choral repertoire, opera-oratorio works, and contemporary commissions, appearing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and Lincoln Center.

History

The ensemble traces origins to choral forces assembled for Seiji Ozawa-led projects with the San Francisco Symphony and institutional initiatives at Davies Symphony Hall. Early development involved partnerships with civic choirs, conservatory alumni, and choral directors active in the Bay Area including faculty from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of California, Berkeley, and San Francisco State University. The Chorus consolidated a formal identity during the tenure of choral directors who forged links to festivals like the Tanglewood Music Festival and tours to cultural centers such as London, Paris, and Berlin. Over decades the ensemble has navigated artistic shifts tied to music directors of the symphony—Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herbert Blomstedt, and Michael Tilson Thomas—and expanded its role in commissioning new works from composers associated with institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, Yale School of Music, and the Juilliard School.

Leadership and Artistic Direction

Artistic leadership has included a succession of prominent chorus directors and collaborators drawn from American and international choral traditions. Directors have worked with conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Gustavo Dudamel, Pierre Boulez, Leonard Slatkin, and Valery Gergiev to shape a cohesive sound. Administrative stewardship involves partnerships with the San Francisco Symphony executive leadership, production teams from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and donor organizations including foundations that support performing arts in California. Guest choruses and directors from institutions like The Juilliard School, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and BBC Symphony Orchestra have influenced rehearsal methodology and programming. Artistic planning aligns repertoire choices with the programming strategies of international festivals such as the Avery Fisher Hall season and touring networks including European Broadcasting Union partners.

Repertoire and Notable Performances

The Chorus maintains a repertoire spanning Baroque to contemporary works: large-scale staples like Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passions, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Gustav Mahler’s symphonies, and Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem; 20th-century works by Igor Stravinsky, Benjamin Britten, and Dmitri Shostakovich; and premieres by living composers such as John Adams, Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon, and Steve Reich. Notable performances include appearances under Seiji Ozawa at international festivals, collaborations with soloists like Leontyne Price, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, and Jonas Kaufmann, and concert presentations at venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall and Sydney Opera House. The Chorus has participated in landmark cycles such as staged oratorio productions, festival commissions for new choral-orchestral works, and multimedia projects with conductors from the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.

Recordings and Awards

The ensemble’s discography includes commercial recordings on labels affiliated with the symphony and major classical imprints, featuring live and studio recordings of canonical works and contemporary commissions. Collaborations led to award recognition in industry competitions like the Grammy Awards, critical honors from publications including The New York Times and Gramophone (magazine), and prizes from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and state arts councils. Recordings with conductors like Michael Tilson Thomas and composers John Adams have been highlighted in year-end lists and catalogues distributed through international distributors allied with orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Education, Outreach, and Community Engagement

The Chorus engages in education initiatives with local institutions including San Francisco Unified School District, City College of San Francisco, and community organizations that promote choral singing. Outreach programs have included side-by-side rehearsals with student choirs from conservatories, family concerts at Davies Symphony Hall, and participatory singing events in partnership with cultural organizations such as Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Collaborations with non-profit presenters and civic partners help extend access to choral music through discounted performances, residency workshops with composers from universities like Stanford University and University of California, San Diego, and touring residencies that interface with municipal arts programs in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago.

Membership, Auditions, and Training

Membership is competitive and structured through annual audition processes held by the Chorus administration in coordination with the San Francisco Symphony human resources and artistic staff. Auditions assess sight-reading, vocal technique, language proficiency in texts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioachino Rossini, and Georg Friedrich Handel, and ensemble blend. Ongoing training involves sectional rehearsals led by professional coaches drawn from conservatory faculties at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, masterclasses with visiting artists from institutions like Curtis Institute of Music, and programs for vocal health supported by medical partners affiliated with UCSF Medical Center. Membership policies emphasize inclusivity within professional standards and ongoing engagement in the symphony season and touring activities.

Category:Choirs in California Category:Musical groups established in 1972