Episode 18: San Francisco Performances

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Alexander String Quartet and other San Francisco Performances, in the Herbst Theater

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“We're championing a new generation of younger artists to make this art form relevant, contemporary, and even more equitable”

In this episode, our featured voice is Melanie Smith, President of San Francisco Performances. San Francisco Performances is an innovative curator of established classical music, jazz, and dance artists as well as a leading supporter of the next generation of performance artists with a commitment to equity for all. Their artist’s residencies provide opportunities for public school students who encounter music and dance for the very first time—to engage personally with artists and gain a deeper understanding of their work.

Melanie Smith

Melanie Smith returned to San Francisco Performances as the organization’s President in 2016. She had previously served as SFP’s Director of Education/Artistic Administration from 1997 to 2006. Ms. Smith is a performing arts executive with more than 30 years of experience in management and administration both in San Francisco and New York. Her extensive experience in organizational development, change management, goal setting, strategic planning, fundraising and marketing have benefitted organizations including Carnegie Hall, the Midori Foundation, Young Concert Artists, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and San Francisco Performances. Ms. Smith holds a BA in French and Voice from Cal State University Stanislaus and completed graduate studies in Non-Profit Management at the New School in New York.

San Francisco Performances

About SFP

San Francisco Performances has been a leader in the Bay Area cultural scene since our founding in 1979. With a strong curatorial vision and adventurous programming, we are the city’s premier presenter of intimate concerts and solo performances.

We have introduced hundreds of classical music, jazz, and dance artists to audiences, including Yo-Yo Ma, the Juilliard String Quartet, Philip Glass, Wendy Whelan, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. We also champion a new generation of artists who are committed to building a contemporary and equitable repertoire. Through our nationally recognized artist residencies, we provide opportunities for audiences—from those who attend our concerts, to public school students who encounter music and dance for the very first time—to engage personally with artists and gain a deeper understanding of their work.

Please check out all the wonderful virtual work we’ve been creating during the Covid-19 pandemic lock down

Our Mission

San Francisco Performances provides the world’s best artists space and support for innovation in music and dance, and offers the community a transformative experience and a deep connection to the arts through the timeless power of live performance.

The Story of San Francisco Performances

When pianist André Watts walked onto the stage of the brand-new Davies Symphony Hall on November 23, 1980, more than 2,500 people witnessed the birth of what is now internationally recognized as a remarkable success story: San Francisco Performances.

From the beginning, San Francisco Performances has been much more than just another arts organization in a city that is a world cultural capital. Founded by Ruth A. Felt, San Francisco Performances set out to make an important and much-needed contribution to the growth and vitality of an already vibrant arts scene.

From a first season of just seven performances, San Francisco Performances’ annual seasons have grown significantly and now feature more than 50 main-stage performances, and boast a record of more than 100 important debuts and premieres over more than four decades. In addition, dozens of arts education and community engagement programs take San Francisco Performances and its artists beyond the footlights directly into schools and neighborhoods.

Quality, intimacy, access, and connection are the hallmarks of San Francisco Performances. We nurture unique relationships with today’s best artists to create accessible and engaging arts experiences.

Donation / Volunteer

San Francisco Performances is working to raise funds to both continue to produce new virtual performances and podcasts as well as sustain their operations. You can help them get through the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting their Bridge to the Future Campaign Today

You can also becoming an individual donor and patron so San Francisco Performances can continue to bring great artists to center stage.

To find out about volunteering send an email to info@sfperformances.org

Videos

To find out more about San Francisco Performances Shows check out their videos:

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“We’re championing a new generation of younger artists who were also looking at ways to make this art form relevant, contemporary, and even more equitable”

— Melanie Smith, President, San Francisco Performances

Our Sponsorship

We are fiscally sponsored by Intersection for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which allows us to offer you tax deductions for your contributions. Please consider making a donation to help us provide future shows just like this one. If you want to send us a check, please make checks payable to Intersection for the Arts and write [Voices of the Community] in the memo line of your check. This ensures that you’ll receive an acknowledgement letter for tax purposes, and your donation will be available for our project.