Presidio Concerts Spotlight Young Talent
Presidio of San Francisco (February 17, 2010) — One of San Francisco’s cultural gems returns to the Presidio as the popular Concerts at the Presidio series opens its fifth season with an evening of string music by musicians from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The series, a showcase for young artists, premieres Thursday and Friday, February 25 and 26. Performances begin at 7:30 pm at the Presidio Golden Gate Club. A five dollar donation is requested.
“These unique concerts are one of our most popular ongoing programs,” says Jeff Weik public programs manager for the Presidio Trust. “They showcase an under-appreciated art form, provide a platform for talented young performers, and offer a top-flight entertainment and cultural experience to the community.”
“The success of the concerts is due in no small measure to the generosity of the Presidio Trust,” says Bryant McComber, the driving force behind the series. “The heart of this is the tremendous relationships we’ve been able to build both with the Trust and the Conservatory of Music. They’ve been fabulous partners in these efforts.”
For McComber, who exudes an obvious passion for classical music and opera, the concerts truly are a labor of love. What began as a way to generate publicity for his Half Moon Bay real estate firm has blossomed into an endeavor that has taken on a life of its own.
“It is a bit like cramming for midterms,” jokes McComber, who serves almost as a one-man production company — doing everything from producing and emceeing the concerts to booking the talent and even laying out the ads.
When his work brought him to the Presidio, he brought the idea with him. The move to San Francisco, and the connection with the Conservancy, offered a chance to refine and expand the program.
“One of the truly nice side benefits of this,” says McComber, “has been the opportunity to work with my daughter Erin.” Erin McComber, the series’ music director, has performed with the San Diego opera and in previous Concerts at the Presidio.
February’s shows feature more than a dozen junior high and high school students from the Conservancy’s preparatory division performing works from Bach, Beethoven, and others, including selections for classical guitar.
The next Concerts at the Presidio will be held Thursday and Friday, February 25 and 26 at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop, on the Presidio’s Main Post. Performances begin at 7:30 pm. Seats can be reserved by calling (415) 447-6274. A $5 donation is requested.
Four more series of concerts — offering everything from Broadway show tunes to opera — are planned throughout the year.
The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to administer the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The areas overseen by the Trust include expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. The park comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to the Presidio’s status as a National Historic Landmark District.