Season 2023-24

May 2024

40th Anniversary Concert

An unforgettable showcase at of Crowden alumni, mentors, and friends at Hertz Hall, including BONNIE HAMPTON, AUDREY VARDANEGA, the CATALYST QUARTET , and more. This program features perennial Crowden favorites paired with special moments, including a work composed by our greatest benefactor, composer GORDON GETTY , and the world premiere of a double violin concerto by SAMUEL CARL ADAMS , commissioned for our 40th anniversary and premiered by two acclaimed Crowden violinists: NORA CHASTAIN , a student of our founder Anne Crowden, and alumnus DAVID MCCARROLL ( ’ 99) , Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, formerly a membor of the famed Vienna Piano Trio.

40th Anniversary Brunch

Join us at Crowden the day following our Anniversary Concert to reconnect and celebrate with this legacy and community. We invite alumni from all programs, alum families from all eras, and current and former faculty from throughout Crowden’s history to join us for a joyous brunch honoring Crowden alums from the past 40 years.

JUNE 2024

Cello Bash

How many celli fit into Hoefer Auditorium? Find out at our informal cello play-in!

November 12, 2023

Sundays @ Four: Jay Campbell (’03)

February 17–19, 2024

Alexander String Quartet “Festival”

March 3, 2024

Sundays @ Four: Fry Street Quartet

April 21, 2024

Sundays @ Four: Catalyst Quartet

May 25, 2024

40th Anniversary

Hertz Hall Concert

“Crowden is indebted to Jim and Joan, who have provided crucial support and unwavering dedication to our mission and organization," reflects new Board Chair Eric Hallstein.” After years of supporting Crowden as both a parent and then a trustee since 2016, Jim stepped up to serve as our Board chair during this recent time of transition with determination, grace, and vision. Joan has served as a Crowden board member for nearly 30 years, and her role as a champion of our educational philosophy and alumni in the larger classical music world has grown our musical family and mentor network exponentially. Both will always be dear members of the Crowden community.”

May 26, 2024

Alumni Brunch

June TBD

Cello Bash

Community Collaborations

Crowden students benefited from artistic collaborations with Bay Area cultural institutions this spring.

Crowden concluded its year-long collaboration with the SAN FRANCISCO CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PLAYERS this May. The acclaimed ensemble, the Bay Area’s oldest devoted to new music, served as 2022-23 Ensemble-in-Residence for the JOHN ADAMS YOUNG COMPOSERS PROGRAM . For spring semester, our Young Composers composed original music designed to accompany, comment on, or subvert other works of art. “Music can tell all sorts of stories, through sound,” reflects Program Director (and Crowden alum, ’05) MATTHEW CMIEL “This semester, the students have collaborated closely with SF Contemporary Music Players to make this [storytelling] happen for them.”

In April, Crowden joined POST:BALLET, BERKELEY BALLET

THEATER, and KRONOS PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION for still be here, a collaborative collection of new music and dance works. Performances featured original scores commissioned for “50 for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire,” with original choreography. Crowden’s string quartet of KIRA BAYER, ISAIAH INY-WOODS, THOMAS RENTON, and ZANDER LEE ( ’ 00) joined ensembles from OAKLAND SCHOOL OF THE ARTS and the

SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC to appreciative crowds at San Francisco’s YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS