We have been involved with RCCT as patrons and more recently as participants in their summer show…read more Overall, a fantastic company to support as patrons or performers. As patrons: they have amazing shows with top notch quality (for a community theatre type). Definitely great production value. Music orchestra is excellent, and performers work really hard. They also employ all local members of the community. As performers: very supportive environment, you learn tons, and make great friends. Too bad they only do one show a year (in the summer).

Kinky Boots is a marvel. Not usually a fan of musicals, but this performance made me want to burst…read moreinto song. I haven't laughed or clapped this hard in years.

There are many great things to say about Peninsula Girls Chorus. They cover a well rounded,…read moreinternational and uplifting repertoire of music, and have a decades-long history as a Peninsula institution. The program is very well run and all of the staff are highly competent and dedicated. They also do a great job teaching music theory. What is most special about PGC though is that it is a family for the girls over multiple years. Many of the girls literally grow up within the chorus. When I see the senior girls graduate every year, it is a true celebration of sisterhood. I would recommend the PGC to anyone looking for a supportive and fun community of vocal music for their child.

Well, it has been a few years now, and I wanted to update my review for some of you, if you are…read moreconsidering having your daughter sing with the peninsula girls chorus. My daughter started in repertoire for two years, then Allegra, and now Brava. I could not be happier with her progress, not only as a musician, but as a young woman of character. She's had an opportunity to develop as a soloist, and to develop her range from soprano through alto and I appreciated how her current teacher, Mr Skaff, challenges her to push herself. She was getting quite comfortable singing melodies as a soprano, and now has to sing harmony parts as an alto which I can imagine is challenging if you are new to it. I love hearing about her class sessions and the things she learns. I feel so grateful to the chorus for hanging on through a tough three years now of COVID. Unfortunately, my daughter had to miss some time in chorus because as a nurse working in the hospital, COVID was the nightmare we prayed would never happen but did. I was overwhelmed and so was my family. I am so thankful to the director Karyn Silva for giving us a leave of absence during that time so I could be there for the patients and the staff in the midst of that crisis and not stress about pushing my daughter on zoom. I will be ever grateful for their compassion and support. They welcomed my daughter back with open arms and never hesitate to let me know if she needs to improve or work on something. The musicianship books that the students work on train them thoroughly to read and understand music. I am truly pleased about that as there is an audio component and books do get checked and reviewed regularly by staff. The other wonderful thing is that they do have a uniform exchange so you can keep on exchanging a uniform in a different size as your singer moves up in sizes. I must say I have greatly appreciated that especially in these tight economic conditions. All I've had to worry about is some tights and the occasional black dress shoes. That truly cuts costs down for me. it also makes me feel like we're doing something good for the environment because these clothes do get gently used for a very long time, not just discarded. If you're wondering whether this is the right place for your daughter, come attend the end of year concert. It is a wonderful time to see, and hear what the graduating girls are planning, what universities and careers they're moving on to pursue, and you will be able to envision your own daughter and see if this is where you want her to be. This is what I did, and I knew right then and there that is exactly what I wanted my daughter to look and how to comport herself. Every year I marvel at the lovely girls that move forward, whose voices and talents give me chills, how they keep themselves neatly groomed, respectful of the dress code, respectful of the audience and their choirmasters. Thank you so much PGC!!

I've seen their last show (7/18) and the play was fantastic! The actors are really good and the…read moremusic was amazing! I really support the cause and I think that it gives a lot to the kids. It looked like the kids are running everything in the show, I've seen very few adults involved

Enthusiastic and passionate staff and students work together to provide fun entertainment, bringing…read morenew and classic pieces to the community,

My kindergartner loved this class and is begging for the next session Tristan writes unique plays…read more(with music!) for the class, so the kids get to do a musical that is just right for their age--and that they have had some input into creating. The performance at the end was delightful. An amazing experience!

Tristan writes all of the music and plays herself, and they're so well done. The year-end…read moreperformance is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Paul is a gifted, patient teacher. He has a way of making the music come alive. I would highly…read morerecommend his services for anyone wanting to learn and feel the music.

Paul Hurst is not only a superb professional musician, he is an excellent teacher. As my harp…read moreteacher, Paul has been so helpful in improving my technique, helping me to analyze my music, and helping me find easier ways to play previously difficult passages. I love Paul's help in adding embellishments to my improvised arrangements. He can make the simplest passage come to life. Additionally, since Paul is knowledgeable on a variety of instruments and ensemble playing, he has been immensely helpful in working with my husband and me on our harp and flute duets. I can strongly recommend him as a teacher and coach. Sue Dinwiddie, Wind in the Strings Harp and Flute Duo

What an incredible find. Came here on 2/26/12 for the Cypress String Quartet performance and I was…read moreblown away. About once a month, Kohl Mansion hosts musical performances (chamber concerts) in the Great Hall, a very intimate setting nothing like a symphony hall. Think of a Victorian era sitting room/parlour with a gloriously high ceiling and this is what you get - musicians on a slightly raised stage in front of a (non-operational) fireplace, and just several rows of seats surrounding the stage on 3 sides. I felt like I was enjoying my favorite Beethoven string quartet in a Beauty-and-the-Beast setting. You know what I'm talking about - that scene with the Beast sitting in front of the fireplace w/ the doggy footrest? Concert performances start at 7pm, but their resident musicologist, Kai Christiansen, gives a pre-concert talk at 6pm. If you are under 30, you are really in for a treat in the form of a generous discount - their "Gen Y & Z" discount tickets are only $15, compared to $45 for adult and $42 for senior tickets. To my fellow under-30 yelpers... get on this before you make it over the 30+ hill!! The parking lot fills to capacity with concert-goers so I recommend arriving no later than 6:30pm to ensure you get a parking spot. Complimentary refreshments are served after the concert - e.g. wine, cheese, charcuterie, fruit & other finger foods. One of the best refreshment spreads I've ever seen to be honest...without sounding too gluttonous. ;) You can meet and mingle with the musicians at this post-concert reception. So glad I found this place. Can't wait to be back in the coming months.

I won tickets through BARTable to see the Smuin Ballet perform at the YBCA Theater a while back. I…read moreended up taking my brother's partner since he didn't want to go. The performance we saw was unusual. Part of it was short numbers performed by two, three, or four dancers at a time; part of it was a slightly longer work that involved most (all?) of the ensemble; part of it was these duet snippets almost previewing parts of a larger upcoming performance. The dancers were amazing. They were really skilled, and it was neat during the intermission to read their bios. It also felt kind of uncanny, because they had recently moved into the regular-person dance studio that I had passed on the bus for years, so I won this random contest to see a ballet company that I had never heard of but whose future rehearsal space I knew well. When I was in college, a good friend of mine was a dance major, so I used to go to all of her shows, and I sometimes spent time with her in the studio while she practiced. I got to know some of her classmates and actually learned quite a bit about dance and choreography just by spending time with her. All of that experience from years before was helpful, because I don't think I would have enjoyed this particular show as much as I did if I hadn't seen all kinds of dance, not just the most traditional, well known forms. If, unlike me, you're paying for your tickets, be sure to find out what actual show you're seeing. Again, some people only seem to enjoy the most traditional forms of dance, including ballet. Based on the show and what I read afterward, Smuin incorporates all kinds of styles. If you're happy with The Nutcracker that you've watched every year since the '80s, this might not be the ballet troupe for you. I'm crossing my fingers that San Francisco can continue to support multiple ballet ensembles. The rich techies in our midst have more money than they know what to do with, yet the arts can't get the funding they need. It's really sad, and proof that taxes are way too low.

This was my first time attending The Smuin's Christmas Ballet on December 8, 2024. I was amazed at…read morethe performance and selection of holiday songs. There were two acts, and this performance in Mountain View was their last one and their next stop is San Francisco. The two acts were 40 minutes with one twenty minute intermission. The first act was more traditional with classical music, and dance/music from different cultures: Spanish, French, Czech, and Jewish. Act 2 was more contemporary, modern songs and the second half started with the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by the Jackson 5, children's art work projecting on the closed curtains on stage, and lastly, a reading of A Night Before Christmas. This was a nice touch to start act 2. During the last song of the performance, snow fell to the stage and in the middle section of the audience. A winter wonderland! The only thing during the falling snow was the noise of the contraption that the employee was pulling it was loud and distracting. This holiday ballet performance got me in a festive mood from the holiday classics of "Santa Baby", to "Last Christmas" by Wham. The performances were magical, a delight to watch. The dancers were enthusiastic, the stage was festive, and both acts went by quickly. I wanted the performance to go on forever. I was pleasantly surprised since I had no idea of what I would be seeing and this was my first time hearing about the Smuin Ballet. I will definitely come back next year. The Smuin Ballet will be performing in San Francisco till Christmas Eve, "2024".

My two boys have been enrolled in the San Francisco Boys Chorus for two years now, and I can't say…read moreenough great things about the program. They not only learn singing and musicality, but also get incredible performance opportunities--like singing with the San Francisco Symphony, performing at the Christmas tree opening at the Fairmont Hotel, and even singing the national anthem at the Giants games. The teaching staff is wonderful, and the program helps boys become more organized, responsible, and respectful while building confidence and self-control. I highly recommend it to any parents looking for great singing opportunities for their boys!

My boys have starting singing with SFBC since the beginning of the year after attending their…read moreWinter Concert. Since day 1 of rehearsals they are loving the experience of singing with other boys and learning from the wonderful directors. On the admin part, the organization is also very well organized and transparent, communication is clear and efficient for the parents. I have always wanted my boys to have a good foundation and education early on in music, not so much for it to become their career, but so that they would be able to appreciate and enjoy music throughout their life. It seems to be working - one of my boys say that singing at SFBC is a 'healing' part of their week!