If you are already a fan of classical music (and there are some people for whom it is a sustenance as vital as food) then please read on for a bit of our philosophy. If you are new to it, all the better...

Some people may think of “classical music” as being dry and dusty, but nothing could be further from the truth; it is passionate, full of life, and surprising.

Furthermore, the kind of concerts we present—chamber music (small ensembles) and recitals by superb soloists—are sort of a personal conversation between you, the performer and the composer, and Mozart and Beethoven were most interesting people.

We choose our performers not only for their musical abilities, but for their ability to connect with audiences. Otherwise, you may as well stay home and listen to music on Spotify! The thrill of the live concert experience is possible because it is real people performing for real people.

Our belief is that the combination of three key ingredients—top-notch musicians, a willing audience, and an intimate theater—produces an exhilarating experience.

Further, we believe that whenever a person performs in front of a live audience, there is an element of theatre which is intrinsic to the performance. This belief on our part is a thread running through our seasons, and influences our programming, even subtly.

We are enthusiastic about presenting this kind of music, which is not only easy to understand but also, happily, embodies the most personal and heartfelt utterances of the great composers. We strive to have each of our concerts be a memorable event.

Lamplighters Music Led by Music Director Daniel Hope, New Century Chamber Orchestra is one of only a handful of conductorless chamber ensembles in the world that makes musical decisions collaboratively. Since it was founded in 1992, New Century has performed beloved masterworks from the chamber orchestra repertoire and breathed life into commissioned works for audiences all over the San Francisco Bay Area as well as nationally and internationally. Highlights include seven album releases including three on former Music Director Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg’s NSS Music Label; a debut European Tour of Germany and Poland in July 2019; and six San Francisco episodes of Hope@Home – Next Generation broadcasted online to audiences throughout the world in November 2020.

Founded in 1992, Other Minds is a leading proponent for new and experimental music in all its forms, bringing together artists and audiences of diverse traditions, generations and cultural backgrounds. By fostering cross-cultural exchange and creative dialogue, and by encouraging exploration of areas in new music seldom touched upon by mainstream music institutions, OM is committed to expanding and reshaping the definition of what constitutes “serious music.” From festival concerts, weekly radio broadcasts, and the commissioning of new works, to producing and releasing CDs, to archival preservation of thousands of concerts and composer interviews (which OM distributes free on the internet), OM has become one of the world’s major conservators of new music’s ecology.