Morrison Artists Series
Bringing Bay Area audiences the world’s finest chamber music since 1955, the Morrison Artists Series is “indispensable,” says the San Francisco Chronicle. The Morrison Artists Series concert program presents six free performances each year by acclaimed chamber music ensembles. The concert series is a program of the Morrison Chamber Music Center, which features the Alexander String Quartet, SF State’s quartet-in-residence, coaching chamber musicians from San Francisco State University’s School of Music and Dance and providing outreach.
May Treat Morrison Chamber Music Center
The Morrison Artists Series is a program of the May Treat Morrison Chamber Music Center, established in 1955 by Edward Hohfeld to provide “the finest music in the most accessible way.” Housed at San Francisco State University, in addition to the world-class concert series, the Morrison Chamber Music Center operates a top-notch teaching program. In a strikingly innovative partnership with San Francisco Performances—a collaboration that Chamber Music America cites as a model—the Morrison Center established a residency for the renowned Alexander String Quartet in San Francisco State’s College of Creative Arts in 1989. Since then, the quartet has made its mark on chamber music education, directing the chamber music studies program in the University’s School of Music and Dance, presenting music seminars and encouraging students to carry chamber music’s artistic torch to the recital hall and into the classroom.
History
The special nature of chamber music is that it can unite people in perfect harmony. It is truly an egalitarian medium. It touches people across all categories of culture and educational sophistication. Interpreted by small ensembles and enjoyed in venues intimate enough to invite listener participation, chamber music epitomizes communication, collaboration and democracy. Sensing SF State was a “kindred spirit”—also egalitarian and collaborative—May Treat Morrison executor Edward Hohfeld chose to fund the Morrison Chamber Music Center as an ideal place to study, prepare and disseminate this important music.
Hohfeld, a partner in the law firm Morrison and Foerster, believed music should be taught not only by giving students opportunities to learn from the finest practitioners, but also by seeing them play. As a result, the Morrison Artists Series was endowed as a program presented for free, to encourage parents to bring their children, introducing new generations to classical music and the dedication musicians who perform it.
After 53 years of concerts, seen by more than 100,000 people, the Morrison Artists Series remains on the cutting edge. Each artistic director has reached out to new performers and composers, striving to defy traditional definitions of classical music, inspiring new audiences and ensuring that the series remains ahead of the curve.
