UPCOMING EVENTS

 Add the Official Awesöme Orchestra Calendar of Events to your Google Calendar here!

Session 103: Jurassic NightLife
Mar
6

Session 103: Jurassic NightLife

Thursday, March 6 2025 6:30-9:30pm

It's time for a second encore of our most popular session ever - Jurassic NightLife! For the first hour, we'll read through a long requested piece, the Berceuse and Finale from Stravinsky's The Firebird! Then we'll hop into two movements from Erika Svanoe's deliriously fun Steampunk Suite, and for the final piece, we'll jump into some of the most epic themes written for film: Highlights from Jurassic Park by John Williams. It's gonna be Dino-Mite.

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In The Name of Love
Jan
18

In The Name of Love

Join Awesöme Orchestra at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland on Saturday, January 18, 2025 for a night of pure magic. 

We're bringing the artistry of Aretha Franklin to life in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for Oakland’s biggest MLK Weekend event presented by Living Jazz and SFJAZZ. We’re honored to participate in five pieces in the program for this amazing Tribute.

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2024 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Concert 2024
Dec 8
End-of-Year Concert 2024

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Join us as we hop back into the concert hall for an unforgettable evening of celebration, awesöme live music with a full orchestra, and fundraising! Get your tickets today for Awesöme Orchestra's eleventh annual End-of-Year Concert on Sunday, December 8, and come support your musical community!

Session 102: Duel of the Fates
Nov 2
Session 102: Duel of the Fates

Saturday, November 2, 11-2pm

Join us at Sports Basement, Berkeley for Duel of the Fates with the Awesöme Chorus!

Session 101: Film Music After Dark
Oct 3
Session 101: Film Music After Dark

Thursday, October 3 6:30-9:30pm

In partnership with After Dark at the Exploratorium, SF

Come join Awesöme Orchestra at The Exploratorium for another After Dark musical adventure! To kick off October, we'll be performing some spine-tingling film scores including Danny Elfman's main title theme to BATMAN 🦇 selections from James Horner's CASPER 👻 as well as his thrilling end credits sequence to THE ROCKETEER 🚀

Session 100: Into the Streets
Sep 5
Session 100: Into the Streets

Thursday, September 5 6:30-8:30pm

In partnership with Into The Streets SF

REPERTOIRE:
Randal Standridge: Vanishing Point (for wind ensemble)Oscaro Navarro Libertadores (for wind ensemble with cellos and basses)

Session 99: Fruitvale Village
Aug 10
Session 99: Fruitvale Village

Saturday August 10, 3-6pm

In partnership with the Activate Oakland Event Sponsorship Program and The Unity Council

REPERTOIRE
Juventino Rosas: "Sobre las Olas"
Arturo Rodriguez: Iridescent Fanfare
Gabriela Lena Frank: Mestizo Waltz from Three Latin American Dances

Session 98: Make Music Day San Jose
Jun 21
Session 98: Make Music Day San Jose

Friday, June 21, 2024

Join us for Internatonal Make Music Day in San Jose!

Session 97: Friday Night @ OMCA!
May 17
Session 97: Friday Night @ OMCA!

Friday, May 17, 2024 from 6:00-8:00pm

Join Awesöme Orchestra and 100+ musicians for a Friday evening serenade filled with internationally acclaimed guest artists and local composers!

Session 96: 7th Street Thrives
Apr 26
Session 96: 7th Street Thrives

Friday, April 26 from 6:30-9pm

Join us as we partner with 7th Street Thrives for an evening of new music by Oakland composers Destiny Muhammad with her trio and a new piece by Lillian Yee!

Session 95: The Planets Extravaganza
Mar 16
Session 95: The Planets Extravaganza

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Join us for Session 95: The Planets Extravaganza on March 16, 2024 from 11am-5pm at Uptown Body Fender in Oakland! 🚀✨ Featuring both a full orchestra and big band, this six-hour celestial celebration will feature The Planets Suite in full by Gustav Holst AND the The Planets: Reimagined arranged for big band by Jeremy Levy.

In the Name of Love
Jan 13
In the Name of Love

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Join Awesöme Orchestra at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland this Saturday, January 13, 2024 for a night of pure magic. We're bringing the vibes of Stevie Wonder to life in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for Oakland’s biggest MLK Weekend event presented by Living Jazz and SFJAZZ. We’re honored to participate in four pieces in the program for this amazing Tribute.

2023 Events

2022 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Concert & Celebration
Dec 3
End-of-Year Concert & Celebration

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Join us as we bring our 10-Year Anniversary Season to a close at Freight & Salvage on Sunday, December 3!

Session 94: Film Music After Dark
Oct 26
Session 94: Film Music After Dark

Thursday, October 26, 2023

An event with Halloween-themed film music, fun interactive science exhibits, AND costumes? Sign us up! No, literally—make sure to sign yourselves up for our most popular event of the year—Session 94 at The Exploratorium in SF! Costumes encouraged!

POSTPONED - Session 93: Friday Nights at OMCA
Sep 15
POSTPONED - Session 93: Friday Nights at OMCA

Friday, September 15, 2023

This event has been rescheduled for Spring 2024

Awesöme Ten-Year Celebration!
Aug 19
Awesöme Ten-Year Celebration!

Saturday, August 19

It's been ten years since Session #1, where we gathered as friends and musical colleagues in a West Oakland warehouse to drink PBRs and play some of our favorite orchestral works in a laid-back setting. We've since grown into this huge, wonderful, and AWESOME family of musicians, audience members, crew members, visual artists, vocalists, MCs, and the list goes on and on.

Session 92: Chapel of the Chimes
Aug 18
Session 92: Chapel of the Chimes

Friday, August 18, 2023

Join us at the world famous Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland for an epic new arrangement of a Billie Holiday classic and new music by Bay Area composer Sandi Poindexter and John Sims.

Session 91: Ferry Building Celebration
Jul 9
Session 91: Ferry Building Celebration

Sunday, July 9, 2023

The Ferry Building is celebrating 125 years of operation since the first ship docked and they’ve asked us to serenade the community! But we’re celebrating with a twist - we’ll be doing Christmas in July with a special Nutcracker session!

POSTPONED - Session 90: The Planets!
Jun 17
POSTPONED - Session 90: The Planets!


This event has been postponed until 2024

Session 89: Jurassic NightLife (encore session!)
May 25
Session 89: Jurassic NightLife (encore session!)

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Back by popular demand! It’s a repeat of our most DINO-MITE session EVER—Jurassic NightLife! (but our sequel will be much better than Jurassic Park 2) We’ll be revisiting our most popular session—complete with music from Jurassic Park and The Land Before Time.

Session 88: Earth Day
Apr 22
Session 88: Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Come join Awesome Orchestra in celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 22 from 4-6pm for our first time playing in the Ask Jeeves Planetarium at Chabot Space & Science Center! We'll be playing a set of pieces for chamber orchestra based on nature and astronomy! Beginning with the rarely performed "Anakin's Theme" from The Phantom Menace, followed by a mysterious and evocative new piece about our perspective of Earth from outside ourselves called Inner Eye by Australian composer Alicia Grant. We'll conclude our planetarium adventure with Stephen Schwartz's epic mini tone-poem "Meadowlark" featuring local opera singer Molly Mahoney. Come ready for another unique musical adventure with us!

Session 87: Video Game NightLife
Mar 23
Session 87: Video Game NightLife

Thursday, March 23, 2023

The Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) descends on SF this week, so we’re teaming up with Cal Academy’s NightLife for a video game themed evening of music, games, and leveling up! The Awesöme Chorus will be joining us for some of your favorite video game music, curated by Awesöme Ambassadors Travis Kindred and Criss Bürki!

Session 86: 10-Year Anniversary Season Kick-off!
Feb 25
Session 86: 10-Year Anniversary Season Kick-off!

Saturday, February 25, 2023

We’re hopping over to SF to kick off our 10-Year Anniversary Season! Join us for a musical adventure including excerpts from Mississippi River Suite by Florence Price, and “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim (arr. Jason Robert Brown) for orchestra and SATB chorus, and one other piece (rep still being finalized and will be announced 2/7).

Featured
Requiem Sinfónica Concert
Dec 3
Malonga Casquelourd Center
Requiem Sinfónica Concert
Malonga Casquelourd Center

Saturday, December 3, 2022

The culminating event of our six-year project with local composer and flutist, Arturo Rodriguez. To mark the six-year anniversary of the Ghost Ship Fire Tragedy, Awesöme Orchestra is hosting a free concert of Rodriguez’s nine-movement requiem without words in Oakland to honor, grieve, and celebrate those lost.

Malonga Casquelourd Center
End of Year Concert 2022
Oct 23
Freight & Salvage
End of Year Concert 2022
Freight & Salvage

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Our End of Year Concert will be earlier this year! Join us at Freight & Salvage on October 23 for our eighth annual End of Year Concert. It will be an unforgettable evening of celebration, genre-bending live music with full orchestra and fundraising!

Freight & Salvage
Session 85: Flower Piano
Sep 17
SF Botanical Garden
Session 85: Flower Piano
SF Botanical Garden

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Join Awesöme Orchestra as we hop back into the SF Botanical Gardens at a magical intersection of music and nature—Flower Piano! An annual event that attracts thousands of people from all over the Bay Area, Flower Piano fills the SF Botanical Garden with pianos and invites people to come play and listen for an afternoon of adventurous serenading. Soloist Elektra Schmidt will be joining Awesöme Orchestra and performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (first movement only) and we’ll end the evening with selected movements from Respighi’s exciting Pines of Rome.

SF Botanical Garden
Session 84: Video Game NightLife
Aug 25
California Academy of Sciences
Session 84: Video Game NightLife
California Academy of Sciences

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Get ready to level up with Awesöme Orchestra as we head back to one of our FAVORITE venues - The California Academy of Sciences - for their popular NightLife Series on Thursday, August 25 from 6:30-9:30pm! It’s a video game themed event, jam-packed with amazing music curated by guest conductor and resident video game expert Travis Kindred and featuring members of local band Super Soul Bros! This event will also feature lots of fun exhibits, including a fossil-inspired Pokémon talk, classic board games, and a Super Smash Bros. tournament—you won’t want to miss this session!! This event is 21+

California Academy of Sciences
Session 83: Raze the Maze!
Aug 12
Oakland Museum of California
Session 83: Raze the Maze!
Oakland Museum of California

Friday, August 12, 2022

On Friday, August 12, join Awesöme Orchestra as we head back to Oakland Museum of California’s beautiful outdoor garden for Session 83 from 6:30-8:30pm (yes, it’s a 2-hour session!). Artistic Director Dave Möschler will start the session off with a big band arrangement of Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations I, II, IV and for the second half of the evening we’ll be joined by special guests RAZE THE MAZE (featuring Moorea Dickason and Tarik Ragab) for two pieces from their new album arranged for orchestra…

Oakland Museum of California
Session 82: An Awesöme Choral Return!
Jul 16
Uptown Body & Fender
Session 82: An Awesöme Choral Return!
Uptown Body & Fender

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Musician Sign-ups Begin 6/28
On Saturday, July 16, join Awesöme Orchestra at Oakland’s Uptown Body & Fender for Session 82 from 1-4pm, featuring the return of our Awesöme Chorus! Guest conductor Ondine Young will lead John Williams’ Hymn To The Fallen from Saving Private Ryan and we’re honored to have guest conductor Martha Stoddard back to lead the group for an exciting new piece by Alexis Alrich called Bell and Drum Tower (give it a listen!). Artistic Director David Möschler will then close out the evening with the thrilling "Dies Irae and Tuba Mirum" from Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem for orchestra and chorus.

Uptown Body & Fender
Awesöme Community Picnic & Potluck!
Jul 2
San Pablo Park
Awesöme Community Picnic & Potluck!
San Pablo Park

Saturday, July 2, 2022

We’re finally doing it! An Awesöme Orchestra event that is purely social! Leave your instruments at home and come hang with our Awesöme Community for an afternoon of food, games, and chillaxing. We picked a park that has a radical playground, so bring the kiddos, too!

San Pablo Park
Session 81: Rainbow First Friday
Jun 3
Chabot Space & Science Center
Session 81: Rainbow First Friday
Chabot Space & Science Center

Friday, June 3, 2022

On Friday, June 3 as part of Oakland’s First Friday, we’ll serenade the stars for Session 81 at Chabot Space & Science Center. The public is invited to join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing. Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets, and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes, and then wander over to the auditorium next door for a symphonic Awesöme Session you won’t forget!

Chabot Space & Science Center
Session 80: Cinco De Mayo After Dark
May 5
The SF Exploratorium
Session 80: Cinco De Mayo After Dark
The SF Exploratorium

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Awesöme Orchestra is excited to be heading back to the Exploratorium in SF for their After Dark series! Join us on Thursday, May 5 for Session 80 — curated by guest conductor Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr. We’ll be playing the Mexican National Anthem, Huapango by José Pablo Moncayo, Intermezzo de Atzimba by Ricardo Castro, and “June” from Camellia by local singer / songwriter Dia Luna. Surrounded by interactive science exhibits, we are expecting this session to fill up quickly, so make sure to sign-up to play when the link goes out on Thursday, April 21 at noon!

The SF Exploratorium
Session 79: Back in Berkeley!
Apr 2
Sports Basement - Berkeley
Session 79: Back in Berkeley!
Sports Basement - Berkeley

Saturday, April 2, 2022

We’re headed back to Berkeley for Session 79 on Saturday, April 2 at Sports Basement! Repertoire and full schedule will be announced on Tuesday, March 22 when sign-ups begin.

Sports Basement - Berkeley
Session 78: Williams, Trumbore, and Franklin & King
Mar 5
Sports Basement Presidio - The Dairy
Session 78: Williams, Trumbore, and Franklin & King
Sports Basement Presidio - The Dairy

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Join us in SAN FRANCISCO on Saturday, March 5 from 1-4pm for Session 78 at SF Sports Basement Presidio (right next to Crissy Field) in their amazing events space - The Dairy. We’ll be taking to the skies with John Williams’ Superman March, playing the Bay Area premiere of Dale Trumbore’s Infinitely and without Apology, and getting soulful with a new arrangement of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Carole King and Aretha Franklin.

Sports Basement Presidio - The Dairy

2021 Events

Featured
End-Of-Year Concert 2021
Dec 12
Freight & Salvage
End-Of-Year Concert 2021
Freight & Salvage

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Join us as we hop back into the concert hall for an unforgettable evening of celebration, genre-bending live music with full orchestra and fundraising! Get your tickets today for Awesöme Orchestra’s seventh annual End-of-Year Concert on Sunday, December 12 and come support your community as we gather together to make music again!

Freight & Salvage
Session 77: Oakland Museum of California!
Oct 16
Oakland Museum of California
Session 77: Oakland Museum of California!
Oakland Museum of California

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Come join Awesöme Orchestra for the first FULL ORCHESTRA session in over 20 months! We’ll be hosted by OMCA in their newly remodeled outdoor garden performance space. Bring a picnic, or sign up to play with us and get ready for an afternoon of music including Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Marquez, songs from Dia Luna arranged for orchestra by Brian Adam McCune, “Sweet Thing” by Chaka Khan, and “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire…

Oakland Museum of California
AÖC Session 76: Outdoor Big Band & Wind Ensemble
Sep 19
YMTC - Outdoor Space
AÖC Session 76: Outdoor Big Band & Wind Ensemble
YMTC - Outdoor Space

Sunday, September 19, 2021

Come join Awesöme Orchestra for Session 76 on Sunday, September 19 from 2-5pm at a new venue - YMTC's Outdoor Stage in Aquatic Park in Berkeley! This brass and woodwinds session (sorry strings - but read below for Session 77!) will feature music from Star Wars, a new piece by Dale Trumbore, and another movement of The Planets suite arranged for big band by Jeremy Levy…

YMTC - Outdoor Space
Music In Place: Virtual Film Premiere
Aug 14
ONLINE
Music In Place: Virtual Film Premiere
ONLINE

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Our amazing collaborators - Music In Place - are proud to present their newest video production, Unknown Tomorrows featuring members of Awesöme Orchestra Collective today Saturday, August 14 at 12pm PST on their YouTube channel!

ONLINE
Session 75: Piazzolla, Elgar, and Mead
Jul 10
Sports Basement Berkeley
Session 75: Piazzolla, Elgar, and Mead
Sports Basement Berkeley

Saturday, July 10, 2021

We've been waiting 17 months to say this - Come join us for our next IN-PERSON Open Session on Saturday, July 10 from 2-5pm at Sports Basement, Berkeley! It’s a STRINGS ONLY session including music by Astor Piazzolla, Edward Elgar, and Holly Mead (MUSICIAN & AUDIENCE SIGN-UPS REQUIRED)…

Sports Basement Berkeley

2020 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Extravaganza 2020
Dec 6
VIRTUAL
End-of-Year Extravaganza 2020
VIRTUAL

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Our annual End-of-Year Concert and Fundraiser is going virtual! While we won't be able to gather in person at Freight & Salvage this year, that won't stop us from celebrating our musical highlights from 2020 and sharing an awesome sneak-peek of what's in store for 2021. We’ll be toasting the best parts of the year, showcasing our community members, chatting with special guests, playing Encore Performances of two…

VIRTUAL
Awesöme Trïvia: Round 2
Nov 15
VIRTUAL
Awesöme Trïvia: Round 2
VIRTUAL

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Who is ready for Round 2 of Awesöme Trïvia?! After a very successful trivia event over the summer, we're back for more, so pick your teammates and be ready to SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT.

VIRTUAL
AÖC Play@Home: A Change Is Gonna Come
Oct 17
VIRTUAL
AÖC Play@Home: A Change Is Gonna Come
VIRTUAL

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Join us for our next (newly re-branded) virtual playing session - our Play@Home event. On October 25 we'll be bringing the community together to perform Sam Cooke's timely classic "A Change is Gonna Come" at home, in a thrilling new orchestral arrangement by local violist-singer Keith Lawrence with Cosa Nostra Strings. Download the sheet music ahead of time and play along with our conductor videos for this amazing collaboration.

VIRTUAL
AÖC Listening Party: Dookie & Stand!
Oct 17
VIRTUAL
AÖC Listening Party: Dookie & Stand!
VIRTUAL

Saturday, October 17, 2020

In November 2013 and again in 2015, over 100 artists walked through the doors of the legendary Fantasy Studios and spent over 22 days recording and mixing 14 tracks. We're going to take a walk down memory lane, hop into the Awesöme Archives…

VIRTUAL
Awesöme Trïvia: Round 1
Aug 30
VIRTUAL
Awesöme Trïvia: Round 1
VIRTUAL

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Join us for Awesöme Trïvia on Sunday, August 30 from 3-4:30pm PST as part of our ongoing virtual series. Resident Awesöme Musicologist Molly Phelan (of Canon Fodder) and her Trivia Master partner Tim Phelan will be hosting a raucous, and yet refined, virtual community-building series with us. We sure miss everyone and hope to see y'all there!

VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #3: Brahms 4.4
Jun 28
VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #3: Brahms 4.4
VIRTUAL

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Join us for another virtual session on Sunday, June 28 from 3-5pm PST as we rehearse and workshop the final movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 4! All are welcome and encouraged to participate, especially any musicians that live outside the Bay Area.

VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #2: España
May 10
VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #2: España
VIRTUAL

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Join us this Sunday, May 10 from 3-5pm PST as we gather on the interwebs (Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch) and make music together!

But How?!
We're testing out something brand new this weekend and we'd love to have you take part in our musical experiment 🧪We've been busy editing together a rehearsal video (complete with Dave conducting!) in an attempt to bring our community together virtually and host a digital open session. You're all invited to play along with the video from the comfort of your own home!

VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #1: Petty Troubles
Mar 29
VIRTUAL
AÖC Digital Adventure #1: Petty Troubles
VIRTUAL

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Bust out the popcorn and don your most comfortable bathrobe this Sunday for Awesöme Orchestra's Inaugural Play-at-Home Watch Party! Join us as we go live on our Facebook Page from 3-4:30pm on March 29 to bring you a mini-documentary about the making of the 2013 orchestral pop album Petty Troubles by Matt Montgomery followed by a Q&A with Artistic Director Dave Möschler and Associate Artistic Director Brian Adam McCune.

VIRTUAL
Session 74: Williams, Trumbore, Smetana
Mar 28
Sports Basement, Berkeley
Session 74: Williams, Trumbore, Smetana
Sports Basement, Berkeley

Saturday, March 28, 2020

— This event CANCELLED due to COVID-19 —

We're excited to announce AÖC Session 74: Williams, Trumbore, Smetana! Come out and join us on March 28 at Sports Basement in Berkeley from 2-5pm . We'll be playing John Williams - Hymn to the Fallen, Dale Trumbore - Infinitely and Without Apology, and Bedrich Smetana - "Moldau" from Ma Vlast.

Sports Basement, Berkeley
Session 73: Groundhog Day!
Feb 2
Sports Basement, Berkeley
Session 73: Groundhog Day!
Sports Basement, Berkeley

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Will Winter continue to drag on, or are we getting an early Spring? Come join Awesöme Orchestra for Session 73: Groundhog Day on Sunday, February 2 from 11:00–2:00pm at Sports Basement in Berkeley to find out! We'll ask you to channel your inner Bill Murray for Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini featuring Naomi Stine on piano. Next, we'll dive into a premiere reading of Aeaea, by local composer Holly Mead, and continuing our Awesöme Big Band trend, we'll also highlight "Venus," another movement of Jeremy Levy's arrangement of The Planets by Gustav Holst.

Sports Basement, Berkeley

2019 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Concert 2019
Dec 8
Freight & Salvage
End-of-Year Concert 2019
Freight & Salvage

Sunday, December 8, 2019

To close out our 2019, we'll be back at Freight & Salvage for our fifth annual End-of-Year Concert on Sunday, December 8. We'll be playing a diverse selection of highlights from our 2019 Open Sessions, but this time we'll actually rehearse!

Freight & Salvage
Session 72: Halloween After Dark @ The Exploratorium
Oct 31
The Exploratorium
Session 72: Halloween After Dark @ The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Who you gonna call? Awesöme Orchestra! We're teaming up with The Exploratorium to bring you the spookiest Awesöme Orchestra session ever - Session 72: Halloween After Dark @ The Exploratorium on Thursday, October 31, from 6:30-9:30pm. Join us for a night of rockin' tunes (ahem... Night on Bald Mountain, The Nightmare Before Christmas Suite, and Ghostbusters!!), creepy mini-lectures from Nerd Nite SF, stories from the odd corners of history, science, art, & adventure with Odd Salon, or stroll around and check out the 650+ interactive exhibits with Exploratorium scientists for an utterly eerie evening.

The Exploratorium
Session 71: '90s NightLife @ Cal Academy
Sep 19
California Academy of Sciences
Session 71: '90s NightLife @ Cal Academy
California Academy of Sciences

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Run, Sonic, Run! We're thrilled to be heading back to the California Academy of Sciences for another NightLife Session and this time we'll be playing your favorite '90s tunes and film scores. Join us for Session 71: '90s NightLife on Thursday, September 19 from 6:30-9:30pm as we take you on a nostalgic romp through the music of one of the best decades, including pieces from Forrest Gump, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Hook.

California Academy of Sciences
Session 70: SFMOMA
Sep 14
SFMOMA
Session 70: SFMOMA
SFMOMA

Saturday, September 14, 2019

On September 14, we'll be getting artsy at SFMOMA for Session 70 in their Public Knowledge Library Room. Repertoire includes The Planets by Gustav Holst (re-imagined for jazz orchestra by Jeremy Levy) and a Bay Area premiere of Marco Valerio Antonini's Butterfly's Metamorphosis.

SFMOMA
Session 69: National Night Out
Aug 6
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Session 69: National Night Out
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

At Session 69 on August 6, we'll be celebrating National Night Out at the Oakland Public Library for the fifth year in a row. Join us in the outdoor courtyard of their central branch while we make some awesöme music for this national community-building event from 6:00-9:00pm. Repertoire includes: a world premiere reading of a new movement of Requiem Sinfónica by local composer Arturo Rodriguez, Sensemayá by Silvestre Revueltas, and Boléro by Maurice Ravel.

Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Session 68: Flower Piano
Jul 13
SF Botanical Garden
Session 68: Flower Piano
SF Botanical Garden

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Things are going to get Botanical as we head back to SF for one of our most popular Sessions––Flower Piano! Join us in the SF Botanical Gardens on Saturday, July 13 from 2:00-5:00pm for Session 68 where we'll be joined by soloists Allison Lovejoy and Serene for some Chopin and Rachmaninoff.

SF Botanical Garden
Awesöme Pröm 2019
Jun 29
Omni Commons
Awesöme Pröm 2019
Omni Commons

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Most orchestras have a gala, and what’s an Awesöme Orchestra version of a gala? Awesöme Pröm!  We’re throwing a 21+ prom-themed fundraiser party! Join us on Saturday, June 29, from 7-11pm at Omni Commons in Oakland!

Omni Commons
Session 67: Larsen, Brahms, and Journey!
Jun 22
Sports Basement, Berkeley
Session 67: Larsen, Brahms, and Journey!
Sports Basement, Berkeley

Saturday, June 22, 2019

We hope you'll join us for Session 67 at Sports Basement in Berkeley on Saturday, June 22 for a fun mix of pieces by Libby Larsen, Johannes Brahms, and Austin Wintory. Come grab a comfy couch, a glass of wine, and spend the afternoon with us!

Sports Basement, Berkeley
UnderCover Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders
May 16
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
UnderCover Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

May 16-May 18, 2019

UnderCover Presents is honoring A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders, an album that bridged the gap between hip-hop and jazz. The show takes place May 16-18, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Given that both YBCA and this album celebrated their 25th anniversaries, UnderCover felt it appropriate to continue to introduce this classic record to new audiences. Not to mention that the messages embedded in this album continue to echo resoundingly as we witness all that is taking place in the world.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Session 66: SF Sunday Streets
Apr 14
San Francisco Public Library
Session 66: SF Sunday Streets
San Francisco Public Library

Sunday, April 14, 2019

What is Sunday Streets SF, you ask? With car-free streets, free activities and plenty of chances to meet your neighbors, Sunday Streets creates a temporary, walkable park to offer guests an intimate way of interacting with the area’s array of authentic and affordable restaurants, small businesses and nonprofit services.

San Francisco Public Library
Session 65: Kev Choice
Mar 23
Oakland Center for Spiritual Living
Session 65: Kev Choice
Oakland Center for Spiritual Living

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Awesöme Orchestra announces their upcoming performance with Oakland’s Kev Choice on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 6:00pm at Oakland Center for Spiritual Living. Doors open at 5:30pm

Oakland Center for Spiritual Living
Session 64: Jurassic NightLife
Mar 21
California Academy of Sciences
Session 64: Jurassic NightLife
California Academy of Sciences

Thursday, March 21, 2019

RRRAAAAAWWRRRRR! Come out and join us for Jurassic NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences for Session 64! On Thursday, March 21 we'll be playing all your dinosaur favorites inside one of SF's coolest museums, so sign-up early to participate!

California Academy of Sciences
Session 63: William Grant Still, Hailstork, Ellington
Feb 23
Sports Basement, Berkeley
Session 63: William Grant Still, Hailstork, Ellington
Sports Basement, Berkeley

Saturday, February 23, 2019

We're thrilled to return to Sports Basement for Session 63! Join us on February 23 as we celebrate black history with a session full of orchestral music from black composers. We'll be kicking off the session with Tribute to the Duke, a piece for jazz band honoring the musical accomplishments of Duke Ellington. Next, we'll dive into William Grant Still's Dismal Swamp (for piano and orchestra). And we'll be closing with Celebration! by Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork…


Sports Basement, Berkeley

2018 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Concert 2018
Dec 2
Freight & Salvage
End-of-Year Concert 2018
Freight & Salvage

Sunday, December 2, 2018

A combination free community event and fundraiser, the End-of-Year Concert supports Awesöme Orchestra’s mission to make orchestral music accessible to players and audience members alike. Enjoy the epic sound of orchestral music in a relaxed and fun-loving environment…

Freight & Salvage
Session 61: Ginastera, Aivi & Surasshu, Dvorak
Nov 10
Sports Basement
Session 61: Ginastera, Aivi & Surasshu, Dvorak
Sports Basement

Saturday, November 10, 2018

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Sports Basement
Session 62: Princess Leia's Stolen Death Star Plans
Oct 20
Hertz Hall
Session 62: Princess Leia's Stolen Death Star Plans
Hertz Hall

Saturday, October 20, 2018

We're excited to be collaborating with Palette-Swap Ninja on the world premiere performance of PRINCESS LEIA'S STOLEN DEATH STAR PLANS!

Hertz Hall
Session 60: SFMOMA
Aug 7
Oakland Library Main Branch
Session 60: SFMOMA
Oakland Library Main Branch

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

We are honored to be asked to collaborate for a fourth time with Oakland Public Library for National Night Out, and we're excited to perform in their outdoor courtyard to help fight crime and make some awesöme music while we're at it!

Oakland Library Main Branch
Session 59: Harry Potter Trivia!
Jul 4
Omni Commons
Session 59: Harry Potter Trivia!
Omni Commons

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

We're beyond thrilled to have our first session at the Omni Commons this July 4! Come celebrate with us for our annual mid-year fundraiser with trivia and music from the world of Harry Potter! Costumes encouraged!

Omni Commons
Session 58: Indiana Jones, Carmen, and Twin Peaks
Jun 21
Plaza de César Chávez
Session 58: Indiana Jones, Carmen, and Twin Peaks
Plaza de César Chávez

Thursday, June 21, 2018

South Bay, we're coming for you with Session 58! We're beyond excited that we've been asked to participate in Make Music San Jose this year on Thursday, June 21! Make Music San Jose is a free, outdoor day of music held on the summer solstice with performances and music-making events happening citywide from sunrise to sunset. Sounds like our kind of adventure!

Plaza de César Chávez
Session 57: Holst & Mahler
May 26
San Francisco Public Library
Session 57: Holst & Mahler
San Francisco Public Library

Saturday, May 26, 2018

We're kicking off our summer season with Session 57 at San Francisco's Public Library Main Branch and it's all about the Gustavs! We'll be playing in the side courtyard outside the Fulton St. entrance so bring your music stands and sunglasses!

San Francisco Public Library
Session 56: SFMOMA
Mar 24
SFMOMA Public Knowledge Library
Session 56: SFMOMA
SFMOMA Public Knowledge Library

Saturday, March 24, 2018

We're excited to finally be back in San Francisco playing at the MOMA for the first time with a fun and eclectic set of pieces!

SFMOMA Public Knowledge Library
Chamber Music Session (BETA!)
Mar 14
San Francisco Public Library - Main Atrium
Chamber Music Session (BETA!)
San Francisco Public Library - Main Atrium

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Before session 56, join us as a listener at the San Francisco Public Library Main Atrium on Wednesday, March 14 from 6:15-7:45pm as we try out our inaugural Awesöme Chamber Session!

San Francisco Public Library - Main Atrium
Session 55: Wagner, Grofé, and Tom and Jerry
Jan 27
Sports Basement - Berkeley
Session 55: Wagner, Grofé, and Tom and Jerry
Sports Basement - Berkeley

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Join Awesöme Orchestra as a musician or a listener for our next musical adventure: Open Session 55 at Sports Basement Berkeley.

Sports Basement - Berkeley

2017 Events

Featured
End-of-Year Concert 2017
Dec 3
Freight & Salvage
End-of-Year Concert 2017
Freight & Salvage

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Join the Bay Area's adventure-seeking orchestra as we round up our 2017 highlights in one special event—our third annual End-of-Year Concert! The concert features special guests Kendra McKinley and Kiefo Nilsson, and the premiere performance of local composer Arturo Rodriguez's Introit from Requiem Without Words, written in commemoration of those lost in Oakland’s Ghost Ship Fire.

Freight & Salvage
Session 54: Film Music @ BAMFA
Oct 8
BAMFA
Session 54: Film Music @ BAMFA
BAMFA

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Join Awesöme Orchestra as a musician or a listener for our next musical adventure: Open Session 54—film music at BAMPFA!

BAMFA
Session 53: Cop Funk with Heat Vision & Jack
Sep 1
Drake's Dealership
Session 53: Cop Funk with Heat Vision & Jack
Drake's Dealership

Friday, September 1, 2017

We're excited to be back at Drake's Dealership for another First Friday extravaganza! For Open Session 53 we’ll be collaborating with the local funk duo Heat Vision & Jack, with Geneva Harrison on drums and Josh Pollock on vocals and guitar. With a few super funky arrangements from TV and other media, this will be a super fun session.

Drake's Dealership
Session 52: National Night Out
Aug 1
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Session 52: National Night Out
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Join Awesöme Orchestra as a musician or a listener for our next musical adventure: Open Session 52 with National Night Out at the Oakland Public Library!

Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Nilsson Sings Nilsson presents: The Point!
Jul 2
The Independent SF
Nilsson Sings Nilsson presents: The Point!
The Independent SF

July 2 - July 3, 2017

THE POINT! Live performance of Harry Nilsson's full album and excerpts of the animated story 'The Point!' with members of Awesöme Orchestra.

The Independent SF
Session 51: Awesöme Wind Ensemble: Copland, Lauridsen, and McCune
Jun 10
Mosswood Park Amphitheater
Session 51: Awesöme Wind Ensemble: Copland, Lauridsen, and McCune
Mosswood Park Amphitheater

Saturday, June 10, 2019

Enjoy the last days of Spring outdoors with AOC and FIGMENT at Mosswood Park Amphitheater in Oakland!

Mosswood Park Amphitheater
UnderCover Tribute to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 50 Years
Jun 3
The UC Theatre
UnderCover Tribute to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 50 Years
The UC Theatre

June 3 - June 4, 2017

UnderCover Presents is working with over 100 artists from 13 Bay Area ensembles to pay homage to The Beatles’ 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' - one of the most iconic albums in the history of recordings. Music Directing and co-curating this lineup is Joe Bagale - multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer.

The UC Theatre
Golden Session 50!
May 5
Brooklyn Preserve
Golden Session 50!
Brooklyn Preserve

Friday, May 5, 2017

Come celebrate 50 sessions with Awesöme Orchestra!

Brooklyn Preserve
Session 49: POSTPONED
Apr 7
Session 49: POSTPONED

Friday, April 7, 2017

This event was postponed until May 5, 2017

Session 48: Márquez, Uematsu, and Lee Jones
Mar 5
Sports Basement
Session 48: Márquez, Uematsu, and Lee Jones
Sports Basement

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Repertoire includes Nobuo Uematsu - "One-Winged Angel" from Final Fantasy VII, Feona Lee Jones - Symphony No. 1 (premiere reading by Oakland composer!) and Arturo Márquez. - Danzón No. 2

Sports Basement

2016 Events

Featured
Session 45: Awesöme New Music
Sep 7
Fantasy Studios
Session 45: Awesöme New Music
Fantasy Studios

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Awesöme Orchestra will be reading through four short works by Bay Area composers in an all world premiere session! Y'all know how enthusiastic I get about new works (nothing is more adventurous!), and this session promises to be truly awesöme, where we'll tackle three new orchestral pieces and even excerpts from an upcoming opera!

Fantasy Studios
Session 44: National Night Out on Bald Mountain
Aug 2
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Session 44: National Night Out on Bald Mountain
Oakland Public Library - Main Branch

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

In our second collaboration with National Night Out, we're excited to perform in the outdoor courtyard of the Oakland Public Library. We're fighting violence in our communities, and making some awesöme music while we're at it!

Oakland Public Library - Main Branch
Session 43: Flower Piano
Jul 16
SF Botanical Garden
Session 43: Flower Piano
SF Botanical Garden

Saturday, July 16, 2016

An open session at SF Botanical Gardens! Part of their awesome program to put pianos out in the park for a few weeks in July.

Repertoire:
Concerto for Flamenco Piano and Orchestra - Alex Conde
Piano Concerto No. 4 - Beethoven (featuring Allison Lovejoy)

SF Botanical Garden
Session 42: Ö Fortuna!
Jun 10
Uptown Body & Fender
Session 42: Ö Fortuna!
Uptown Body & Fender

Friday, June 10, 2016

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (selected movements) with full chorus!

Uptown Body & Fender
Session 41: Film Music
May 6
Drake's Dealership
Session 41: Film Music
Drake's Dealership

Friday, May 6, 2016

May the Fourth be with you! We're excited to celebrate the genius and legacy of American film composer John Williams. We'll be reading selections from his epic Star Wars: Suite for orchestra.

Drake's Dealership
Session 40: MoeTar
Apr 1
Uptown Body & Fender
Session 40: MoeTar
Uptown Body & Fender

Friday, April 1, 2016

We’re heading to Uptown Boday & Fender with MoeTar!
Repertoire:
”You Only Get This Life” - Tarik Ragab
”Join The Parade” - Tarik Ragab
Symphony No. 4 (mvt 1, 6) - Philip Glass

Uptown Body & Fender
Session 39: Video Game Music
Mar 4
Uptown Body & Fender
Session 39: Video Game Music
Uptown Body & Fender

Friday, March 4, 2016

Repertoire:

Akrillic from PLOK - Tim Follin
The Legend of Zelda Suite - Koji Kondo
Super Smash Brothers medley - Koji Kondo

Uptown Body & Fender
UnderCover Presents: Green Day
Feb 19
Oakland's Fox Theater
UnderCover Presents: Green Day
Oakland's Fox Theater

Friday, February 19, 2016

Awesome Orchestra will be performing at the Fox Theater again with UnderCover Presents tribute to Green Day's iconic 1994 album DOOKIE! We'll be appearing onstage with guest artists Casey Crescenzo (of The Dear Hunter) and local band TILT.

Oakland's Fox Theater
Session 38: Phantom of the Curran
Jan 17
Curran Under Construction
Session 38: Phantom of the Curran
Curran Under Construction

Sunday, January 17, 2016

We're back at the Curran: Under Construction in San Francisco, and this time playing homage to the theater's historic run of The Phantom of the Opera next to Sibelius's awesome Symphony No. 3!

Curran Under Construction

 2015 Events

Featured
End of Year Concert 2015
Dec 12
American Steel Studios
End of Year Concert 2015
American Steel Studios

Sunday, December 12, 2015

Full Repertoire: ”Everything is Awesome” - Shawn Patterson and The Lonely Island
Fanfare to La Peri - Paul Dukas
Petty Troubles (“Petty Troubles”, “Though I Try”, “1000 Years”) - Matt Montgomery
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story - Leonard Berstein
The Nightmare Before Christmas Suite - Danny Elfman

American Steel Studios
Session 37: At The Curran!
Nov 22
The Curran Under Construction
Session 37: At The Curran!
The Curran Under Construction

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Repertoire:
Eudaimonia - Joowan Kim
Grand Pianola Music - mvt. 2 “On The Dominant Divide” - John Adams
”Boston” from Twelve - David Jenkins (arr. Brian Adam McCune)

The Curran Under Construction
Session 36: American Steel Studios
Oct 18
American Steel Studios
Session 36: American Steel Studios
American Steel Studios

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Repertoire:
Pines of Rome - Respighi
Waltz No. 2 - Joon Suc-Yu
”Emenius Sleepus” - Green Day (arr. Brian Adam McCune)

American Steel Studios
Session 35: Brahms & Daft Punk
Sep 27
Uptown Body & Fender
Session 35: Brahms & Daft Punk
Uptown Body & Fender

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Repertoire: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 - Johannes Brahms
Tragic Overture, Op. 81 - Johannes Brahms
”Give Life Back to Music” & “Touch medley” - Daft Punk

Uptown Body & Fender
Glide Memorial Church Special Event
Sep 12
Glide Memorial Church
Glide Memorial Church Special Event
Glide Memorial Church

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Repertoire:
”Stand!” - Sylvester Stewart (arr. Brian Adam McCune)
”Waiting for Earthquakes” - Meklit Hadero
”Brown Dreams” - Marcus Shelby”SB 1070” - Diana Gameros
”Some Famous Landmarks” - Carletta Sue Kay - Alex Van Gils

Glide Memorial Church
Session 34: National Night Out
Aug 4
Oakland Public Library
Session 34: National Night Out
Oakland Public Library

Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - National Night Out!

Repertoire:
”Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” from 1973 Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (arr. Wayne Barker)
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein
”The Asteroid Field” from The Empire Strikes Back - John Williams

Oakland Public Library
Session 33: Game of Thrones
Jul 3
American Steel Studios
Session 33: Game of Thrones
American Steel Studios

Friday, July 3, 2015

Repertoire:
Game of Thrones main theme - Dirk Epperson
The Canyon - Philip Glass
Robin Hood Suite (mvt. 1) - Dirk Epperson

American Steel Studios
Session 32: It's A Musical!
Jun 6
Ed Roberts Center
Session 32: It's A Musical!
Ed Roberts Center

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Repertoire:
The Carousel Waltz - Richard Rodgers
”Make Our Garden Grow” - Leonard Bernstein
Symphony No. 7 - Beethoven

Ed Roberts Center
Session 31: Lord of the Fantastique
May 23
Firehouse Arts Hangar
Session 31: Lord of the Fantastique
Firehouse Arts Hangar

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Repertoire:
Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin - Wagner
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Howard Stone
Symphony Fantastique - Berlioz

Firehouse Arts Hangar
Session 30: Firehouse Arts Hangar
Apr 18
Firehouse Arts Hangar
Session 30: Firehouse Arts Hangar
Firehouse Arts Hangar

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Repertoire: Transvylania - Brian Adam McCune
Olympic Fanfare - John Williams
Serenade for Strings - Elgar

Firehouse Arts Hangar
Session 29: Bacharach To The Future!
Mar 9
Ed Roberts Center
Session 29: Bacharach To The Future!
Ed Roberts Center

Monday, March 9, 2015

Repertoire:
Back to the Future Trilogy Suite - Alan Silvestri (arr. Dirk Epperson)
Promises, Promises - Bacharach (arr. Tunick)
Prelude to Partitta no. 3 for violin in E Major - Bach

Ed Roberts Center
Session 28: Let's Get Saxy
Jan 18
Sweets Ballroom
Session 28: Let's Get Saxy
Sweets Ballroom

Sunday, January 18. 2015

Repertoire:
”Stand!” - Sylvester Stewart (arr. Brian Adam McCune)
Concerto for Sax and Orchestra - Alex Van Gils

Sweets Ballroom

2014 Events

Featured
Session 27: San Jose
Dec 19
The Commons San Jose
Session 27: San Jose
The Commons San Jose

Friday, December 19, 2014

Repertoire: Everything is Awesome - Shawn Patterson and The Lonely Island (arr. Jason Eckl)
Final Fantasy Suite - Nobuo Uematsu (arr. Arturo Rodriguez)
The Nightmare Before Christmas - Danny Elfman (arr. Mark MacKenzie)

The Commons San Jose
Session 26: Britten & Copland
Oct 26
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Session 26: Britten & Copland
Contemporary Jewish Museum

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Repertoire:
Appalachian Spring - Copland
Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Britten

Contemporary Jewish Museum
Special Concert: Z Space
Oct 8
Z Space
Special Concert: Z Space
Z Space

October 8 & 9, 2014

Repertoire:
An Invitation and VDP encores - Inara George and Van Dyke Parks

Z Space
Session 25: Mozart & Copland
Sep 19
The Commons San Jose
Session 25: Mozart & Copland
The Commons San Jose

Friday, September 19, 2014

Repertoire:
Overture to The Marriage of Figaro - Mozart
”Non So Piu” from The Marriage of Figaro - Mozart
”Hoe-down” from Rodeo - Copland

The Commons San Jose
Session 24: Bernstein, Crescenzo, Piazolla
Aug 24
Firehouse Art Hangar
Session 24: Bernstein, Crescenzo, Piazolla
Firehouse Art Hangar

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Repertoire:
Libertango - Piazolla
Symphony No. 1 excerpts - Casey Crescenzo
Slava! - Leonard Bernstein
Ballet at the Village Vortex - Leonard Bernstein

Firehouse Art Hangar
Session 23: Djawadi, Southard, Mahler
Aug 3
Firehouse Art Hangar
Session 23: Djawadi, Southard, Mahler
Firehouse Art Hangar

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Repertoire:
Symphony No. 1 (mvt. 1-3) - Mahler
No Interior de Rio de Janeiro - Keane Southard
Game of Thrones main theme - Ramin Djawadi (arr. Dirk Epperson)

Firehouse Art Hangar
Session 22: Film Music
Jul 4
New Parkway Theater
Session 22: Film Music
New Parkway Theater

Friday, July 4, 2014

Repertoire:
E.T. Adventures on Earth - John Williams
”The Forest Battle” from Return of the Jedi - John Williams (arr. Brian Adam McCune)
Princess Mononoke Suite - Joe Hisaishi
Forrest Gump Suite - Alan Silvestri

New Parkway Theater
Michael Jackson Concert
Jun 27
Regency Ballroom
Michael Jackson Concert
Regency Ballroom

Friday, June 27, 2014

Repertoire:
”Man in the Mirror” - Michael Jackson (arr. Brian Adam McCune)
”Bad” - Michael Jackson (arr. Vamsi Tadepalli)
”Thriller” - Michael Jackson (arr. Vamsi Tadepalli)
”Beat It” - Michael Jackson (arr. Vamsi Tadepalli)
”Billie Jean” - Michael Jackson (arr. Vamsi Tadepalli)

Regency Ballroom
de Young Museum
Session 21: Stravinsky, Sondheim, and Williams
de Young Museum
de Young Museum