2020 and 2021 Live Events Postponed
– 2020 Honoree –
Gordon Getty
Celebrated American Composer and Philanthropist
We honor Mr. Getty for the upcoming premiere of his opera Goodbye, Mr. Chips, his longstanding support of the Chorus and his generous contributions to the arts.
The music of American composer Gordon Getty has been performed in such prestigious venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, London’s Royal Festival Hall, Vienna’s Brahmssaal, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall and Bolshoi Theatre, and Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (“The Egg”), as well as at the Aspen, Spoleto and Bad Kissingen Festivals, and Festival Napa Valley.
Plump Jack, Getty’s first opera drawing on the adventures of Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff, was premiered by the San Francisco Symphony and has been revived by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonica, and Munich Radio Orchestra among other Ensembles. Usher House, based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, received its premiere in Cardiff with the Welsh National Opera. The Canterville Ghost, based on the Oscar Wilde story, premiered with Germany’s Leipzig Opera. These last two were later united in a double bill dubbed “Scare Pair” and presented in New York with the Center for Contemporary Opera and in Los Angeles by LA Opera.
Getty’s latest project is an opera based on the novella Goodbye Mr. Chips. It will be work shopped at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and given its world premiere at Festival Napa Valley in 2020.
Gordon Getty’s life as a composer is the subject of the documentary film There Will Be Music by director Peter Rosen, which has been broadcast on PBS in the U.S. and in Europe on ARTE, and also appeared in film festivals and programs across the country. His music is published by Rork Music.
More about Gordon Getty
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~ 2020 Alumnus Honoree ~
Kurt Ribak
Bassist, Composer, Bandleader
When Kurt Ribak was about four years old his mother found him dancing to the sound of the dishwasher. More conventional early musical experiences included playing ‘cello and singing in the San Francisco Boys Chorus, which performed with the San Francisco Symphony and Opera.
While at UC Berkeley, Kurt met keyboardist Greg Sankovich and reconnected with his fellow San Francisco Boys Chorus alumnus, saxophonist Lincoln Adler. Kurt continues to play with Greg and Lincoln.
Kurt’s recordings are played on KCSM-FM, KPFA, KZSC, KZFR, KKUP, San Diego’s Jazz 88, PRI and other jazz stations. He leads his group at venues throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including sold-out appearances at Yoshi’s and performances at SFJAZZ as part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival. His group has also performed at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, San Jose Jazz Festival, Nor-Cal Jazz Festival, Fillmore Street Jazz Festival, and Blue Note Napa.
Kurt’s newest CD, “ONWARD” is available at CDBaby. It is played on KCSM-FM, KPFA and other jazz stations and was featured on PRI’s “Jazz After Hours.”
Kurt’s previous recording, “I Got One More!” also enjoys airplay on KCSM and other jazz stations and was featured on PRI’s “Jazz After Hours.” It was on DJ lists of best jazz recordings of the year, including Bradley Stone of The Creative Source and Michael Burman of KCSM-FM.
More about Kurt Ribak
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We would like to thank our recent Gala and Auction Evening sponsors….
Platinum
Gordon Getty
Gold
Priya and Alex Clemens
Ethel Davies
Carol Kaufman
Silver
James Edmund Datri and Anna Logvinova, M.D.
Bronze
Gary Jones and Christina Jones
Premium Table Buyers
Elizabeth Cordova and Robert Howard
Geoffrey Quinn, M.D.
Robert and Marilyn Weiss
