Move over food trucks, this one is serving up sonatas.

SFCM students joined forces with traveling music venue The Concert Truck for a free outdoor concert in San Francisco’s Civic Center, directly in front of City Hall, bringing live classical music outside of the Conservatory walls and into the community. 

“The performance was great!” Elmer Carter, a cellist studying with Jennifer Culp, said. “My favorite part was seeing how many people were drawn to the concert truck, either by the music or by the concept of a truck giving a concert.” 

SFCM cellist Elmer Carter.

The Concert truck is a 16-foot box truck that has been transformed into a fully functioning mobile concert hall, complete with lights, sound system, and piano. Launched in 2016, The Concert Truck redefines how people experience live music by bringing world-class chamber music directly into everyday spaces like city streets, parks, schools, and neighborhoods. 

For the November 1st performance, The Concert Truck musicians consisted of Susan Zhang on piano and Kenneth Renshaw on violin. The traveling music venue is on the roster of Opus 3 Artists, the leading artist management company acquired by SFCM in 2020 and part of its growing alliance of music entities that also includes Askonas Holt and Pentatone records. This family of industry partners brings artists to SFCM for residencies, performances, and masterclasses, and in some cases, to record for a Pentatone album release. 

“SFCM organized a beautifully meaningful event that brought music to the heart of downtown San Francisco," Zhang said. "Watching people pause to gather and enjoy the music we cherish was truly special. Kenneth and I were delighted to perform with such remarkably talented and professional students.”

The Concert Truck musicians Susan Zhang and Kenneth Renshaw with student Aleksi Zaretsky.

“My favorite part of the whole experience was getting to play with the incredible guest artists,” said Aleksi Zaretsky, a violinist studying with Simon James. Partnership events like this offer students the opportunity to work with professionals and organizations in the industry and learn from their expertise. “Kenneth Renshaw is a violinist I’ve looked up to for a long time, so working closely with him was a real privilege,” Zaretsky added. The concert featured a variety of musical works including compositions by Ernő Dohnányi and Augusta Read Thomas.

In addition to its mission of music education, SFCM's repeat collaboration with The Concert Truck reflects the Conservatory's ongoing commitment to sharing the transformative power of music far beyond the concert hall. “I think events like this are great for the community,” Zaretsky continued. “It brings classical music to places where everyone can stop by and enjoy themselves.”

Students perform for music fans in downtown San Francisco.

“I think it is important to play concerts like this,” Carter said. “Not only because it brings music to people and makes live classical music more accessible for all audiences, , but also because it highlights the real meaning of performing: bringing joy to people and connecting people through something we can all relate to.”

As the final notes rang out, the concert left behind more than applause, a reminder of how music brings people together, wherever it goes.

Learn more about applying to SFCM. 
Learn more about SFCM’s Alliance of industry leading companies that benefit the student experience.