The Klein Competition and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Announce 2024-2025 Partnership
(SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL 16, 2024) The Irving M. Klein International String Competition (“the Klein”), this year celebrating 39 years of nurturing the next generation of young artists, and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra (“SFCO”), celebrating in 2024 70 years of bringing accessible and excellent chamber music to the Bay Area, proudly announce their new partnership. This collaboration marks a momentous occasion as both organizations merge their rich legacies to amplify opportunities for emerging musicians.
The partnership will culminate in a series of concerts in April 2025 during SFCO’s 2024-2025 season, when the first-place prizewinner of the 2024 Klein Competition will be showcased as a featured soloist with the orchestra. This unique collaboration combines the extraordinary talents nurtured by the Klein Competition with SFCO’s dedication to bringing excellent, accessible music to the Bay Area.
“We are thrilled to partner with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra to showcase the incredible talent cultivated by the Klein Competition,” said Mitchell Sardou Klein, Artistic Director of the Klein Competition. “This collaboration not only honors our shared commitment to musical excellence but also provides a platform for young artists to shine on a professional stage with a world-class ensemble.”
Jory Fankuchen, Principal Conductor of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “As an organization deeply rooted in the Bay Area’s musical community, we are delighted to collaborate with the Klein Competition in celebrating the next generation of musical talent. We look forward to welcoming the 2024 competition’s winner as a featured soloist in our April concerts.”
For more information on the Klein Competition, visit www.kleincompetition.org, and for details on the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and its 2024-2025 upcoming season, visit www.thesfco.org.
About the Klein Competition
The Irving M. Klein International String Competition is open to musicians between ages 15 and 23 and has achieved international recognition as one of the most prestigious classical music competitions, recognized for the high caliber of the contestants, its unique, nurturing environment, and its commitment to the commissioning of new works.
Its award carries the prestige that has helped many top soloists gain prominence in the competitive world of classical music, including Nikki Chooi, Robert deMaine, Francesca dePasquale, Jennifer Frautschi, Zlatomir Fung, Alban Gerhardt, Vadim Gluzman, Frank Huang, Oliver Herbert, Jennifer Koh, Mark Kosower, Tessa Lark, and Teng Li.
California Music Center, the producer of the Klein, was founded in 1974 by Irving M. Klein, a virtuoso chamber musician and master cello teacher, as the sponsoring organization for a summer music institute and chamber music series for young artists. Following Mr. Klein’s passing in 1985, CMC inaugurated the Irving M. Klein International String Competition (“the Klein”) in 1986; since then, the Klein has become one of the most prestigious events of its kind, attracting entries annually from throughout the world and helping to enhance the developing careers of exceptional young players who have gone on to become renowned soloists, chamber musicians, teachers, and prominent members of the world’s finest orchestras.
The Klein Competition is supported in part by the Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation and the MOCA Foundation; and is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Violin Channel. Learn more at kleincompetition.org
About the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
After 15 years as a violinist/violist for the SFCO, Jory Fankuchen made his conducting debut in May of 2023 to great success and was named Principal Conductor, succeeding the previous Music Director, Benjamin Simon. Founded in 1953 by Edgar Braun, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is a tightly-knit ensemble, comprised of the best musicians in the Bay Area. Combining excellence with accessibility, SFCO’s full season of over 36 performances is admission-free, presenting classical, contemporary, and commissioned works to audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the Bay Area The SFCO is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, partnering with organizations such as the Emerging Black Composers Project and the Sphinx Organization, to bring composers and performers from diverse backgrounds to the stage.
SFCO’s MainStage Concerts, performed in major venues in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Palo Alto, feature their full orchestra (up to 36 players) and world-class soloists in creative programs designed to appeal to seasoned concertgoers as well as those new to classical music. Stories and.musical demonstrations during the concert provide opportunities to deepen one’s knowledge and experience the music more fully.
Equally dedicated to educating the next generation of music lovers, the SFCO presents 45-minute Family Concerts and 20-minute Very First Concerts in community centers, churches, and libraries in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo, and Menlo Park. Summer of 2025 marks the third annual Chamber Music Camp with the ELM (Enriching Lives through Music) School. ELM is a tuition-free music school in the underserved Canal District of San Rafael.
Interviews and high-resolution photos available upon request. Please email zoe@californiamusiccenter.org and darcy@thesfco.org for more information.
