Our 40th anniversary showcases alumni, faculty, and friends from across the decades in a year-long celebration. Filled with sublime performances, original commissions, and a new chamber music festival, the celebration culminates with a Hertz Hall concert and reunion at Crowden!
May 25, 2024, 6:30pm
40th Anniversary Concert
Hertz Hall (101 Cross-Spraul Path, UC Berkeley)
An unforgettable showcase of Crowden alumni, mentors, and friends:
- World premiere! Arches by Samuel Adams (’00): A Crowden 40th anniversary commission featuring globally renowned concert artist Nora Chastain and Pittsburgh Symphony Co-Concertmaster David McCarroll (’99), violin soloists
- Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 by Felix Mendelssohn: Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Catalyst Quartet featuring Karla Donehew Perez (’99) with Menuhin Competition winner Kenneth Renshaw ('08), Abigail Rojansky (’03) of the acclaimed Verona Quartet, and distinguished Crowden faculty members Eugene Chucklov and Eugene Sor.
- Carrot Revolution by Gabriella Smith (’05): New music local superstars, Friction Quartet
- Primavera Porteña (from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) by Astor Piazzolla: Virtuoso Audrey Vardanega (’09), piano, with distinguished summer faculty member Ariana Kim, violin
- Four Traditional Pieces by Gordon Getty (40th Anniversary Concert Honoree): Crowden students conducted by San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Conductor Jory Fankuchin ('91)
- Pizzicato Sonatina by Nicole Targosz (16 year-old John Adams Young Composers Program student): The Crowden School Lower School Orchestra led by Crowden conductor Rachel Durling
- We Are by Ysaye Barnwell: Crowden All-School Chorus led by Crowden conductor La Nell Martin (Oakland Youth Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir)
- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (an Anne Crowden favorite): Crowden mentor and esteemed Bay Area maestro Benjamin Simon conducts Crowden faculty and alumni, internationally recognized violinist Kenneth Renshaw (’08), Concertmaster
May 26, 2024, 11am
40th Anniversary Reunion Brunch
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)
Welcome! Whether you are a Crowden School alum (from the church basement or from Rose Street), an alum of any program, family of an alum, or faculty, staff, Board, or donor of Crowden at any point in the past 40 years, you are invited to attend.
Brunch will be served indoors and outdoors, music will be performed by faculty and alums, welcome addresses will open the day, a pop-up play-in will form for those interested, and time and space will be made for mingling, touring Crowden studios and classrooms, viewing Crowden memorabilia by decade, and snapping photos with old and new friends.
40th ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND CO-CHAIRS
Shelby & Frederick Gans, Bruce Burnam
40th Anniversary Concert Honoree
Gordon Getty
Honorary Co-Chairs
John Adams and Bonnie Hampton
40th Anniversary Honorary Committee
Mason Bates
Jeremy Cohen
Deirdre Cooper
Paul Dresher
Gabriela Lena Frank
Jeremy Geffen
Wei He
Jake Heggie
Leila Josefowicz
Kronos Quartet
Ming Luke
Yo-Yo Ma
Susie Medak
John and Helen Meyer
Jonathan Moscone
Susan Muscarella
Evan Price
Garrick Ohlsson
Joshua Robison
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Frederica von Stade
David Stull
Telegraph Quartet
Michael Tilson Thomas
Mads Tolling
Joseph Young
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Promoter Sponsor
Media Sponsor
Sundays @ Four Concerts featuring illustrious Crowden alumni & faculty
Chamber Music Festival with the Alexander String Quartet
Crowden is proud to present our inaugural chamber music festival with longtime friends and mentors the Alexander String Quartet.
February 17, 2024, 7pm
Faculty Concert: Alexander String Quartet
The inaugural festival faculty concert featured the incomparable Alexander String Quartet on Saturday, February 17, 7pm
Program: Tarik O'Regan: Gradual; Leoš Janáček: String Quartet, No. 1, Kreutzer Sonata; Jean Sibelius: String Quartet, Op. 56 in D minor, Voces Intimate
World Premiere 40th Anniversary Commission
Our Anniversary commemorations officially began at last May's Crowden School Spring concert, where our inspiring young musicians and conductor Eugene Sor premiered our first 40th anniversary commission, Capybaraology by alum Gabriella Smith ('05, John Adams Young composers Program). Watch the riveting performance below!
