Media contact: DP&A, Inc., David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Union Square in Bloom Enlivens Downtown San Francisco
This Spring & Summer Beginning with March 9 “Tulip Day” Kickoff

Area Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, and Merchants Burst With Floral Decor in 3^rd Annual Activation Celebrating District’s Floral History
with Wide Range of Events, Passport, and the Bloom Gown
www.visitunionsquaresf.com 

21 February 2024 San Francisco, CA: Like fresh spring bulbs bursting forth following a long, damp winter, Union Square in Bloom returns for its third year with oversized floral displays cascading from area hotels, restaurants, bars, and stores. In addition, retail establishments, a wide range of events celebrating arts, culture and nightlife, and cocktail offerings all combine to highlight Union Square’s rich floral history with a modern twist. Residents, workers, and visitors are invited to explore and enjoy the vibrant floral activations by participating in a passport program.

“Union Square in Bloom, our spring and summer initiative, is once again bringing bright color, beauty and positive energy back to San Francisco’s iconic center,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance. “Dozens of vibrant floral displays and interactive programming will create a cohesive and enticing theme throughout the district for guests to explore. Don’t miss out on the main 5 events in the Square: American Tulip Day, Spring Fling, Mother’s Day, Blooms & Bubbles Bar Crawl, and the Bloomies Awards where we announce the best blooms in 10 categories.”

This year’s Union Square in Bloom campaign will feature a wide range of events and activities that will keep visitors and locals entertained throughout the Bloom season. Updates and further information will be available online at www.visitunionsquaresf.com. Below are some of this year’s signature events and activations:

• Saturday, March 9, 12pm – 4pm: Tulip Day:
• Saturday, March 23, 3p-6pm: Spring Fling- Vinyl DJ, Flower Giveaway, Bloom Passport debut.
• Saturday May 12, 3pm -6pm: Mothers Day event- Fashion Show and Salsa Dancing.
• Saturday, July 6, 6pm-10pm: Blooms & Bubbles Bar Crawl
• Saturday, August 17, 3p-6pm: Closing Event & Bloomies Awards

As Union Square in Bloom blossoms each year, the celebration goes beyond embracing the season of flowers. It also serves as an invitation for the community to commemorate our Union Square legacy, interwoven with the timeless allure of flowers. For decades, flowers, particularly daffodils, were handed out to visitors walking through Maiden Lane. Macy’s used to host their annual flower show established here in San Francisco in 1964, and several flower stands brightened up the district.

Adding a refreshing touch to this floral legacy is the revived tradition of Tulip Day scheduled to return on Saturday, March 9 (1pm – 4pm) “… presented in collaboration with Royal Anthos, Consulate General of the Netherlands, the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Office of Mayor London N. Breed, and the Union Square Foundation. In honor of International Women’s Day, a day celebrated globally on March 8, the tradition of American Tulip Day continues, recognizing and appreciating the contributions of women in our community. Since last year’s event attracted an impressive 35,000 attendees and went “viral” on social media, this year, attendees will be limited to 5 minutes in the Tulip Field and crowd management tools will be employed to reduce overcrowding and keep the line moving forward. Volunteers in orange jackets will be on hand to guide people. Anticipating an even larger turnout this year, visitors are encouraged to opt for public transportation and make a day of it in the Square: check out Miller & Lux Provisions in the Park, or make dinner reservations at John’s Grill, Chotto Matte, or Corzetti.

“Union Square continues to bloom with more businesses opening and people shopping and visiting one of the City’s most beloved areas,” said Mayor London Breed. “I am pleased to support this year’s Tulip Day and Union Square in Bloom festivities that will bring more people into our Downtown and boost foot traffic for our local businesses. Events like this build on the excitement and momentum we are seeing as a result of the important work the City and our partners have done to strengthen public safety and make sure businesses, workers, and visitors feel safe and welcome in San Francisco.”

Union Square in Bloom will feature a partnership with a local designer for a bespoke bloom gown to add a fashionable flair. The Bloom Gown, sponsored by Britex Fabrics, is set to bear the exquisite touch of the renowned San Francisco-born Chinese American couturière, Colleen Quen. Colleen’s trajectory has been marked by a decade-long design career for prominent brands like Wilkes Sport, Eileen West, Gap, and more. Her couture designs are inspired by nature’s motifs, portraying the delicate blossoming of flowers and the quiet beauty of butterflies. 

“In the heart of San Francisco, my cherished city, I’ve encapsulated its nostalgic charm and cultural richness in a couture creation for the Union Square in Bloom initiative.” said Quen. “The Dahlia flower, symbolizing elegance and beauty, graces our Bloom 2024 Couture Gown, an ode to 28 years of honoring nature through my couture artistry.”

Local florists from the flower mart will also lend their artistic touch to craft floral installations.

 “Bloom offers local florists the opportunity to collaborate with our Union Square businesses to beautify the district and foster a celebration of art, creativity, and exploration, said Peter Bonavita, Zaddy Blooms. “Transforming the urban landscape by adorning it with flowers is the highlight of my year. With each passing year, the Bloom project grows bigger and brighter.”

One of Bonavita’s projects is in Union Square’s historic theater corridor.

“American Conservatory Theater is excited to continue our participation with In Bloom,” said Adam Thurman, Director of Marketing at A.C.T. “This year the program will help us spotlight ‘A Strange Loop’ and ‘The Lehman Trilogy’, two of the biggest theatrical events in the Bay Area.”

“I am thrilled to celebrate another Union Square in Bloom and show off the floral stylings of the talented SF Flower Mart floral artists,” said Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin. “It’s one of our most popular attractions every year, starting with free wall-to-wall tulips for International Women’s Day and blooming throughout the spring on top of bus shelters, across hotel canopies and hanging from historic lamp posts. Whether you’re staging a photoshoot, taking in a show on the Square or planning a day of shopping, Union Square in Bloom is a fantastic welcome of spring for all ages!”

Last year, the iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel transformed its historic lobby and external facade with Flowers by Edgar.  This resulted in over 105 million media impressions and was an incredible opportunity for foot traffic to the district.

“We’re delighted by the extraordinary success in commemorating Bloom last year, thanks in large part to our partnership with the Union Square Alliance,” says Clif Clark, General Manager of The Westin St. Francis and Area General Manager of Marriott Hotels of San Francisco. “We’re excited to participate once again this year, adorning the Tower Lobby in full bloom with Flowers by Edgar. Additionally, we’ll be offering the ‘Room in Bloom’ package, Sips N Sweets, a special Mother’s Day Tea, and much more.”

The full list of businesses installing floral décor at their entrances, interiors, or in public spaces include: 

291 Geary Street, Axiom Hotel, American Conservatory Theater,Beacon Grand, Chotto Matte, CK Contemporary, Donatello, Harlan Records, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Hotel Adagio, Hotel Nikko, Iron Horse Cocktails, John Fluevog Shoes, John’s Grill, King George Hotel, Marriott Union Square, Moscone Center,The Parc 55,Samuel Scheuer Fine Linens,Taj Campton Place, The Barnes, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, The Chancellor Hotel, The Clift Royal Sonesta, The Flood Building, The Grand Hyatt,The Handlery Hotel, The Inn at Union Square, The Marker SF, Ula Mediterranean Restaurant, and the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

The Union Square Foundation will be supporting a few surprising bursts of flowers in Union Square’s public space. Other sites include:

Maiden Lane gates, SFMTA Bus Stops, Union Square Garage sign, and the Union Square Plaza stage and the “blooming” of a Cable Car courtesy of San Francisco Travel.

“San Francisco Travel is so excited to partner with Union Square Alliance on the annual Union Square in Bloom celebration. We are even more excited to be sponsoring the ‘blooming’ cable car and its display of flower power. Cable cars and flowers, what a perfect way to showcase this incredible city,” said Scott Beck, San Francisco Travel Association’s President and CEO.

Moreover, Bloom’s floral cocktail program not only promises delightful libations but also serves as a dynamic way to promote our district’s active nightlife.

“Hilton Union Square and Parc 55 are thrilled to be part of Bloom once again. We love to see Union Square, and our hotels, bursting with color, creativity, and smiling faces,” said Nick Graham-Wells, Complex Director of Marketing. “It is such a great way to celebrate the arrival of Springtime, and to welcome visitors to San Francisco. In addition to our floral displays, we’ll also be serving several new Bloom-inspired cocktails at our hotels. At Parc 55 guests can look forward to the return of ‘Smoke on the Water’, which won ‘Best Bloom Cocktail’ of 2023.”

Businesses offering floral-inspired cocktails include: 

E&O Kitchen and Bar, Harlan Records, Hotel Nikko, John’s Grill, King George Hotel, Marriott Union Square’s bin480, Parc 55’s Cable 55,The Barnes Tapestry Collection by Hilton, The Clift Royal Sonesta’s Redwood Room, The Marker SF, and Ula Mediterranean Restaurant.

Guests can discover all of the Bloom programming through thePassport which will be available to download from the Union Square Alliance website by March 23, 2024. Visitors can vote for their favorite blooms on www.visitunionsquaresf.com between March 23 and August 2. Winning Union Square businesses will be highlighted at the finale event during the Bloomies award show. 

The presenting sponsor for the 3rd Annual Union Square in Bloom is Amazon.

“Union Square is an iconic part of San Francisco,” said Sally Kay, Public Policy and External Affairs at Amazon. “Amazon is grateful for the work of Union Square Alliance and Union Square Foundation in creating beautiful and immersive experiences in our city that invite residents and visitors alike to enjoy and support our downtown businesses.”

Union Square in Bloom is a vibrant local activation that uniquely merges the artistic expressions of local florists, theater, fashion, and nightlife, creating a dynamic celebration of culture and creativity. The event is one of many programs put on by the Union Square Foundation, Union Square Alliance, and partners to support the vibrancy of Union Square and the greater downtown area. Bolstered by recent investments in public safety and visitor-centered ambassador programs, events like Bloom, Winter Walk, and last summer’s concert series, continue to invite locals and visitors alike to visit Union Square and patronize downtown businesses.

About the Union Square Alliance:
The Union Square Alliance serves members and creates a high-quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the District’s future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco and an international destination where visitors come to enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay. A lively 27-block community surrounding Union Square Park in the heart of San Francisco makes up the Union Square Alliance. It is generally bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street and on the west by Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com.  

About the Union Square Foundation: 
The Union Square Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization existing to establish a renewed ‘sense of place’ for the Union Square Area by supporting diverse artistic, cultural, and culinary programs and projects – and by cultivating a welcoming caring community for all humankind. We provide critical support to both create and maintain a clean, safe, and beautiful environment that serves to enrich its public spaces for the enjoyment of San Francisco’s residents and visitors. For more information on the Foundation, go to https://www.unionsquarefoundation.org/. 

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media contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Bay to Breakers and the San Francisco Giants Team Up
to Launch First-Ever Base to Breakers

Unique Running Challenge will Celebrate the Shared History
Between the Bay to Breakers and San Francisco Giants

Challenge Begins Friday, February 24 alongside the Start of Spring Training
and Culminates Friday, May 17 with Runners Night at Oracle Park
when the Giants face off against the Rockies

20 February 2024, San Francisco, CA: Bay to Breakers, the iconic annual foot race that traverses San Francisco, is teaming up with the San Francisco Giants to introduce an exciting and unique running challenge – Base to Breakers. This collaboration celebrates the shared history between two beloved entities and their strong connections to the city of San Francisco.

On Saturday, February 24, in sync with the first day of Spring Training and the Scottsdale Giant Race presented by Alaska Airlines, the Base to Breakers Challenge will infuse the excitement of baseball into participants’ training routines. The challenge offers a fun and engaging way to stay active in anticipation of the Bay to Breakers race weekend. 

“I’m thrilled to see the collaboration between Bay to Breakers and the San Francisco Giants come to fruition with the launch of the Base to Breakers Challenge,” said Crystian Kumnick of Bay to Breakers /  Motiv Sports. “This unique running challenge celebrates the shared Bay Area history between our iconic race and the Giants, offering runners the opportunity to integrate their training routines with the excitement of their Bay Area home team – an extra layer of motivation and camaraderie. I look forward to seeing runners of all levels come together at Runners Night at Oracle Park on May 17.”

The Base to Breakers Challenge offers three training levels:

• Home Run Challenge (BEGINNER <10 miles per week): Participants run or walk one (1) mile for every home run the Giants hit the previous week. 
• Extra Base Challenge (INTERMEDIATE 10-20 miles per week): Participants run or walk one (1) mile for every extra base the Giants hit the previous week. 
• Strike Out Challenge (HARD 20+ miles per week): Participants take on the challenge of running one (1) kilometer for every batter struck out by a Giants pitcher – aptly referred to as “K’s for K’s”. 

Spanning nine weeks (to mirror the innings of a baseball game), the challenge culminates in a Runners Night at Oracle Park on May 17, the Friday of the Bay to Breakers race weekend. The first 1,500 people who purchase a Runners Night ticket will receive a limited edition Base to Breakers Runners Cap, from our friends at RNNR. Tickets are available at sfgiants.com/specialevents.

For more information and to register for the Base to Breakers Challenge, visit: https://baytobreakers.com/base-to-breakers/

Social Media Handles: @baytobreakers @sfgiants @giantrace

About Bay to Breakers:
Bay to Breakers, like San Francisco, is open to everyone. Participants of all ages and abilities, and oftentimes in costume, line up on Howard Street a few blocks from The Embarcadero on the third Sunday in May (this year, May 19, 2024). The course travels west through the City for 12 kilometers and finishes at the Great Highway, where the breakers crash into Ocean Beach. It truly is a time-honored tradition and the quintessential San Francisco experience.  First run in 1912 as a way to show San Francisco’s resilience and recovery from the Great 1906 Earthquake, Bay to Breakers the world’s longest continuously-run foot rage.

About Giant Race:
The Giant Race presented by Alaska Airlines represents the perfect combination of running and baseball. Launched in 2010 and with previous annual events held in Scottsdale, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco, the Giant Race unites an array of Giants-inspired themes at every level of professional baseball. Historically, after stops in Scottsdale during Spring Training and at Minor League facilities in Sacramento and San Jose, the Series ends on the field at Oracle Park with a 20,000-participant race on the flattest and fastest course in San Francisco. The San Francisco Giants and Giants Enterprises work in concert to provide baseball fans and health & wellness enthusiasts an unforgettable journey of run, walk, fitness and training experiences. For more information, visit www.giantrace.com.

About San Francisco Giants:
One of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, the 141-year old franchise moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958.  After playing a total of 42 years in Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park, the team moved to the privately constructed, downtown ballpark on the corner of 3rd and King in 2000. The organization is widely recognized for its innovative business practices and baseball excellence having been named in the past decade the Sports Organization of the Year by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, Organization of the Year by Baseball America and ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year.  Oracle Park is also the only ballpark in the country to have earned Silver, Gold and Platinum LEED certification for an existing building.    

Since opening its gates, Oracle Park has become internationally-renowned as a premier venue in the world of both sports and entertainment.  On the diamond, more than 69 million spectators have witnessed countless magical moments, including three World Series Championships (2010, 2012 & 2014), the raising of four National League Pennants and eight playoff appearances. The ballpark has also hosted some of music’s biggest acts, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Green Day and Billy Joel.  

media contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry /  (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Film Schedule Announced for
21st Annual International Ocean Film Festival 

 April 12 – 14
 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre Fort Mason and the Smith Theatre San Rafael

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

16 February 2024 —  San Francisco, CA:  San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org) has announced its slate of films for the 21st annual Festival, April 12 – 14 taking place at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason: 34 films representing 13 countries. Especially anticipated is the Festival’s opening night offering: the US Premiere of a film titled Blue Carbon: Unleashing Nature’s Superpower. In an especial honor, the filmmakers will be coming in from London along with key partners, foundations and supporters to launch the film’s screenings here in the US. The film is produced by CNN and will be aired on CNN on April 21st in recognition of Earth Day. 

“It’s a very special year for us with not only a continued focus on environmental issues, but our recent honor by the United Nations,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “Truly, with continued awareness of our fragile ocean world, our work at the International Ocean Film Festival becomes more important every year.”

As part of the United Nations’ ongoing work to combat and educate around climate change and other environmental projects, UNESCO’s Ocean Decade Initiative (www.oceandecade.org) has officially endorsed the efforts of San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival.

The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Sponsors for this year’s International Ocean Film Festival are: RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, RBC Wealth Management and Laura Wais Underwater Photography.Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Below is the full list (in alphabetical order by title, followed by director, country of origin and running time)

• 841 Rachel Burnett, (USA) 16 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• A Disappearing Forest Tyler Schiffman, (USA) 9 min Shorts
• Active Anilao Walter Marti (USA) 5 min Shorts
• Alien Contact Rick Rosenthal, (USA) 50 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Blue Carbon: Unleashing Nature’s Superpower Nicolas Brown, (UK) 85 min Environmental
• Blue Whales: Return of the Giants Hugh Pearson, (UK) 45 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Dahican Boogs Rosales, (Philippines) 16 min Conservation
• Daughters of the Waves Lisa Monin & Sebastien Daguerressar, (France) 53 min Exploration and Ocean Sports
• Deep Look: How Does the Mussel Grow its Beard? (USA) 4 min Shorts
• Deep Trouble Lavinia Currier, (USA) 10 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Disappearing Jewels Will Kim, (USA) 15 min, Environmental
• Expedition Amana Mason Le & Kai Smith & Julian Goodman & Niki Wallin, (USA) 7 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Fish with A Story Karen Logan & Melissa Raemakers, (South Africa) 45 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Great White Summer Nick Armando Budabin, (USA) 79 min Coastal and Island Culture
• HAULOUT, Evgenia Arbugaeva & Maxim Arbugaeva, (UK) 25 min Shorts
• Kahu Mano, David W McGuire, (USA) 22 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Keepers of the Land, Deirdre Leowinata & Douglas Neasloss (Canada) 29 min Coastal and Island Culture
• Kingdom of Ice: Antarctica’s Leopard Seals, Paul Nicklen & Andy Mann, (Canada) 9 min Shorts
• Konstantin’s’ Legacy – Awakening the Love for Nature, Daniel Bichsel, (Germany) 6 min Conservation.
• Orca – Black & White Gold Sarah Nörenberg, (Austria) 93 min Conservation
• Return of the Mangroves, Leo Thom, (USA) 9 min Conservation
• Sequoias of the Sea, Natasha Benjamin & Ana Blanco, (USA) 14 min Conservation
• Shark Researchers: A New Approach to Shark Conservation, Arnau Argemi González, (Spain) 3 min Shorts
• Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief Daniel Kreizberg, (Lithuania) 15 min Shorts
• The Blue Quest Palawan, Clément Pourtal, Jérôme Brousse, (France) 47 min Conservation
• The Granny Grommets, Leah Rustomjee, (Australia) 9 min
• The Passage, Boogs Rosales, (Philippines) 20 min Environmental, Conservation, Shorts
• Turtle Walker, Taira Malaney, (India) 75 min Marine Sciences/Wildlife
• Why Blame the Seagulls? Philip Hamilton, (UK) 36 min Environmental
• Wild Hope: Return of the Manatees, (USA) 16 min Shorts
• With the Tide, Chelsea J Jolly, (USA) 25 min Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Representation
• Zoe, Gaby Scott, (USA) 27 min Exploration and Ocean Sports

The 21st International Ocean Film Festival runs April 12 – 14, 2024 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The International Ocean Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

• www.intloceanfilmfest.org 
• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

media contact: Kate Azima / Kate@northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org

NACD Northern California Announces
New Leadership Council to Help Shape
Corporate Governance in the Region

https://northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org/

21 February 2024 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Today, NACD Northern California (https://northerncalifornia.nacdonline.org/) announced its new leadership council, a group of key advisors and partners of NACD who will help shape the future of corporate governance within Northern California’s board director community.

The NACD Northern California Leadership Council will bring together leaders from various industries who are experts in the world of corporate governance. They will work together to foster and celebrate excellence in the community by sharing thought leadership with expert insights on risks facing the boardroom in the next five years.

The leadership council members include Donoghue Clarke (San Jose managing principal, EY), Keith Dorsey (managing partner and US practice leader, Boyden), Mary Francis (corporate secretary and chief governance officer, Chevron), Kumar Parakala (president, GHD Digital), Louis Lehot (partner, Foley & Lardner), Tony Perazzo (West Region managing partner and the Greater Bay Area office managing partner, Grant Thornton LLP), Joseph Talmadge (senior vice president, Heffernan Insurance Brokers), Tara Tays (partner, Pay Governance LLC), and Catherine Zinn (chief client officer, Baker Botts). More information can be found on the website.

“We are delighted to form the NACD Northern California Leadership Council with such an experienced and thoughtful group of individuals from organizations that have made a commitment to lead in corporate governance,” said Claudia Fan Munce, NACD Northern California’s board chair. “Bringing these leaders together to discuss the issues facing board directors will be a wonderful opportunity to ensure directors are prepared for what will face them in the upcoming years.”

The leadership council will release a series of reports to provide strategic insights and guidance on emerging trends and challenges in corporate governance that affect board leaders, such as geopolitics, climate/sustainability, AI, cybersecurity, and executive compensation/human capital issues. Additionally, the council will curate virtual programming, exclusive dinners, and interviews to engage the local NACD community in these pivotal conversations.

ABOUT THE NACD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

NACD Northern California Chapter provides a forum for 2,300 NACD members to exchange knowledge and discuss leading boardroom practices. NACD’s 20-plus chapters enhance the value of NACD membership by providing directors with a local forum to address governance challenges to elevate their board’s performance.

Members benefit from peer-to-peer discussions on critical issues such as cyber risk, CEO succession planning, activism, and leadership. To learn more about NACD Northern California, please visit www.nacdnortherncalifornia.org.

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Media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Berkeley’s Crowden Music Center Presents Fry Street Quartet on March 3

https://www.crowden.org/fry-street-quartet/ 

20 February 2024 – Berkeley, CA:   Crowden continues its 40^th anniversary season on Sunday, March 3, presenting the acclaimed Fry Street Quartet (Robert Waters, Rebecca McFaul, Bradley Ottesen, Anne Francis Bayless) in a rare west coast performance featuring a new commission by Gabriela Lena Frank along with works by Beethoven and Shostakovic.

 Hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times, this globally acclaimed, Fischoff Grand Prize-winning quartet is a frequent member of Crowden’s renowned summer chamber music faculty. This concert is the Bay Area’s first opportunity to hear Gabriela Lena Frank’s latest commission A Psalm of Disquiet (jointly commissioned by the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University, the NOVA Chamber Music Series, and the Fry Street Quartet), as Fry Street will perform the west coast premiere just two days prior, in Healdsburg.

General admission tickets are $35, with discounted rates for seniors and students, and a free “Meet-the-Artists” reception. Ages  8 to 18 attend free.

 Crowden Music Center is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this 2023-24 season, presenting illustrious alumni and faculty from throughout its history. Established in 1983 and still the only school of its kind in the country, The Crowden School’s unique chamber music-inspired curriculum for grades 3–8 features intellectually engaging collaborative academics side by side with its esteemed music program. Crowden also serves more than 1,000 community music students of all ages and levels of experience. Flagship programs for the general community include its John Adams Young Composers Program and acclaimed chamber music workshops for youth and adults. Crowden reaches a combined audience of 8,000 with a rich array of workshops, events, and concerts each year.

Learn how music changes everything at https://www.crowden.org.  

Fry Street Quartet

This remarkable quartet – hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times – is a multi-faceted ensemble taking chamber music in new directions. The quartet has reached audiences from Carnegie Hall to London, and Sarajevo to Jerusalem, exploring the medium of the string quartet and its life-affirming potential with “profound understanding…depth of expression, and stunning technical astuteness” (Deseret Morning News).

With a discography that includes a wide range of works from Haydn and Beethoven to Stravinsky, Rorem, and Kaminsky, the quartet is known for being “Equally at home in the classic repertoire of Mozart and Beethoven or contemporary music,” (Palm Beach Daily News). The FSQ has commissioned and toured new works by a wide range of composers, and upcoming commissions include quartets by Clarice Assad, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Laura Kaminsky. After more than 50 performances in three different countries, Rising Tide: The Crossroads Project continues to resonate with audiences. A collaboration with physicist Dr. Robert Davies, this fresh approach to communicating society’s sustainability challenges draws upon all the senses with a unique blend of science and art. A film version of the project was released in fall of 2020.

The quartet’s touring history includes performances at major venues and festivals, and for distinguished series such as Carnegie Hall and the Schneider Series at the New School in New York, the Jewel Box series in Chicago, Chamber Music Columbus, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the DiBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame, the Theosophical Society in London, and the Mozart Gemeinde in Klagenfurt, Austria.

The Fry Street Quartet holds the Dan C. and Manon Caine Russell Endowed String Quartet Residency at the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University. In 2019 the members of the FSQ were named co-Music Directors of the NOVA Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake City, an appointment that continues through 2024.

——————–

Crowden 40th Anniversary 2023–2024 Season Calendar

February 17, 2024, 7:00pm
 Alexander String Quartet Festival Faculty Concert
 Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Crowden inaugural Chamber Music Festival with the Alexander String Quartet features a faculty concert open to the public!

Program:
 Tarik O’Regan: Gradual

 Leoš Janáček: String Quartet, No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”

 Jean Sibelius: String Quartet, Op. 56 in d minor, “Voces Intimate”

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March 3, 2024, 4:00pm
Sundays @ Four: Fry Street Quartet
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Hailed as “a triumph of ensemble playing” by the New York Times, this globally acclaimed, Fischoff Grand Prize-winning quartet of sometimes Crowden summer faculty members perform Beethoven, Lena Frank, and Shostakovich.

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven Quartet in F Major, Op.135
Gabriela Lena Frank: New commission, will premiere 3
Dmitri Shostakovich Quartet No. 9 in E-flat Major, Op. 117

————–

April 21, 2024, 4:00pm
Sundays @ Four: Catalyst Quartet
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)

Grammy® Award-winning Catalyst Quartet, featuring alumna Karla Donehew Perez (’99), tours the world to acclaim for its “perfect ensemble unity” and “unequaled class of execution” (Lincoln Journal Star).

Program:
 “But just a minute”, Paquito D’Rivera
“Farewell mambo”, P. D’Rivera
“Wapango”, P. D’Rivera
Angel Suite, Astor Piazzolla (arr. Catalyst Quartet)
String Quartet, Germaine Tailleferre (Gershwin lullaby)
String Quartet in F Major, Maurice Ravel

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May 25, 2024

Crowden 40th Anniversary Concert & Reception
 Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley
 An unforgettable showcase of Crowden alumni, mentors, and friends at Hertz Hall, including Bonnie Hampton, Audrey Vardanega, the Catalyst Quartet, and more. This program features perennial Crowden favorites paired with special moments, including a work composed by Crowden’s greatest benefactor, composer Gordon Getty, and the world premiere of a new work for two violins and string orchestra by Samuel Adams, commissioned for our 40^th anniversary and premiered by two acclaimed Crowden violinists: Nora Chastain, a world-famous soloist and chamber musician and student of founder Anne Crowden, and alumnus David McCarroll (’99), Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, formerly a member of the famed Vienna Piano Trio.

Program:
 * David McCarroll (’99) and Nora Chastain performing Samuel Adams world premiere 40th anniversary commission with an ensemble of Crowden faculty, alumni, and current students.
 * Catalyst Quartet performing a movement of Mendelssohn Octet with Crowden faculty and alumni, including violist Abigail Rojansky (‘03) of the Verona Quartet
 * Bonnie Hampton-led cello ensemble performing Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 by Villa-Lobos
 * Friction Quartet performing Carrot Revolution by Gabriella Smith
 * Audrey Vardanega and Ariana Kim performing Primavera Porteña from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Piazzolla
 * Gordon Getty composition TBA
 * Kenneth Rensaw (‘08) Concertmaster for Crowden faculty and alumni orchestra performing Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (an Anne Crowden favorite)
 * Original composition by John Adams Young Composers Program student Nicole Targosz, performed by The Crowden School Lower School Orchestra

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May 26, 2024
Crowden 40th Anniversary Alumni Brunch
Crowden Music Center (1475 Rose St., Berkeley)
Crowden alumni from all programs, alum families from all eras, and current and former faculty from throughout Crowden’s history to join us for a joyous brunch honoring Crowden alums from the past 40 years.

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