Community and Press Quotes about the
San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

Composers and Community Leaders
The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players is the most ambitious and far-reaching contemporary music organization in the Bay Area.
—Andrew Imbrie, 2001

The premiere of a new piece of music culminates a long process, but it also begins that work’s life with musicians and audiences. Collaborating with the Music Players gives me the confidence I need in order to be creative in my compositions.
— Pablo Ortiz, Composer, 2004

From the very outset the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players have held a most prominent place in bringing comprehensive varieties of new music from all corners of the world to Bay Area audiences. They are one of those rare ensembles totally committed to giving the finest possible rendition of everything they choose to present.
– Wayne Peterson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, 2001

When the arts are threatened, individuals’ support of quality like the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players represents our only hope for a future to serious contemporary music in America.
– Elliot Carter, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, 1995

The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players’ adventurous programs and fine artists continue enriching the musical diversity of our city.
– Michael Tilson Thomas, 2004

Press

This is the secret of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players: There are listeners eager to live outside the classical music box... Monday’s event nearly filled the Forum and was evenly distributed across generations, roughly from ages 20 to 80.
--Richard Scheinin, San Jose Mercury News, November 2007

The players, Tod Brody, Ellen Ruth Rose and Karen Gottlieb, covered themselves with glory.
--Allan Ulrich, Financial Times, May 2008

Nothing restores a listener’s faith in music like an evening brimming with humor, vivacity, surprise, charm – all the qualities that make new work exciting.
--Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, April 2005

The area’s premier new-music ensemble
--Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, August 2006

The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players gave . . . a performance that was as refined as it was ruggedly wild
--Rich Scheinin, San Jose Mercury News, February 2007

[Pianist Julie] Steinberg played as if the work were her own. . . . every note was probed for its poetic intent.
--Jason Victor Serinus, San Francisco Classical Voice, December 2006


In the Schools

[Our students’] understanding and appreciation of contemporary music has grown incredibly because of our relationship with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.
--Jerry Pannone, orchestra teacher, San Francisco School of the Arts

You revealed a brand new world of music to me.

I was glad that music can be a way of life and that some people are as excited about it as I am.

Every time you stopped midway through a piece, I wanted to shout, “Continue!"
--three students, Lowell High, 2006

Thank you for bringing contemporary music right into our classrooms and making it available to our students at absolutely no cost.
--Michele Winter, orchestra teacher, Lowell High School