Two great events this weekend are open to the entire community and Bay Area, free to the public. The first is for younger children, emphasizing interactive participation and introduction to music; the second celebrates Latin-American music in a day-long series of performances at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Sunday, Oct. 20, Community Music Day at the Crowden Center in Berkeley, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Part of a celebration of the center’s 30 year anniversary.
This is one of the most popular community events in the Bay Area and a great introduction to classical music and orchestral instruments. Highlights include an “instrument petting zoo” (including miniature instruments for tiny hands and fingers); a ‘first concert’ presented by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra; class demonstrations; instrument making; face painting; music sale; a chill room showing music-related movies; and a special interactive and educational chamber performance by Crowden faculty members Laura Scarlata and Sharon Lee Kim as "Duo Camaraderie," Crowden School students, and the renowned San Francisco Girls Chorus. Repeat performances at 10:40 a.m.; 11:20 a.m.; 12 p.m. For more information: Community Music Day
Sunday, Oct. 20, S.F. Music Day: Latin-American Connections, sponsored by San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, noon to 7 p.m.
From the John Santos Sextet (jazz) to Quinteto Latino to Coro Hispano to Grupo Falso Baiano (Brazilian choro) to Orquesta la Moderna Tradición (Afro-Cuban dance) and much more, their will be an incredible variety of short concert sets at the annual San Francisco Music Day. There will be tons of student groups performing in the Osher Salon, and in the Recital Hall you can go adventuring with ZOFO piano duo, Quijeremá (folk/ jazz), Vinaccesi Ensemble (Baroque), Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, and a dozen other acts we’ve been admiring for years. Check out the S.F. Music Day event here.
If you decide to go to either of these events, be sure to look for the SFCV table. We’ll be there, so drop by and say hello and tell us what you think about the site, and what you’d like to see more of in the future.