The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is the oldest conservatory in the American West. Since founded in 1917, it has earned an international reputation for producing musicians of the highest caliber. On April 24, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Gala was celebrated in honor of Colin Murdoch’s 20th anniversary as the school’s president.

Along with Conservatory faculty and students, the pre-dinner concert featured performances by cellist Bonnie Hampton and opera star Frederica von Stade. Also performances by music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, and principal pianist of the San Francisco Symphony, Robin Sutherland. Longtime Trustee Kent Baum and his wife Marie-José served as co-chairs of the event, which surpassed revenue projections in addition to raising $262,000. The money they raised was used to create a new chamber music scholarship named after Murdoch and his wife Sam.

Catering for the event was provided by McCalls Catering and Events and elegant décor by J. Riccardo Benavides of Ideas. The official Corporate Patrons of the Gala were Wells Fargo and CM Capital. RedCarpetSF captured the event as the electronic media sponsor.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located at 50 Oak Street, and online at www.sfcm.edu.

Photos courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography