For its 2025-2026 concert season, SFCM is planning its busiest and biggest series of performances in Conservatory history. 

“When I curate a season I want every concert to feel like an event,” SFCM Music Director, and conductor Edwin Outwater said. Every year, SFCM puts on hundreds of free student recitals and concerts, but this year is going a step further, with 39 multi-instrument, full-fledged marquee productions planned across the school's four largest concert halls. 

“The secret is out: More and more people are learning about the incredible concerts we put on at SFCM,” Outwater said. “And most of them are free.” Outwater, who joined the Conservatory in 2020, is known for his cross-genre explorations, an approach he brings to SFCM's curriculum and programming.

On September 27, the SFCM season opens with classic works Prélude à l’après-midi d’une faune and Iberia by Claude Debussy, as well as a contemporary piece by SFCM Composition Chair David Conte called Sinfonietta. This concert is free and open to the public. The season follows with four more full Orchestra concerts in addition to several ensembles and collaborations. 

The SFCM Orchestra puts on five performances a year.

Christine Goerke.

“I think something that sets SFCM apart is our spirit of collaboration both with our alliance partners at Opus 3, Askonas Holt, and Pentatone—but also throughout the many worlds of music,” Outwater said. This year SFCM is collaborating with SFJAZZ and performing at the organization's Miner Auditorium for two concerts alongside Stewart Copeland of The Police. Outwater says students can plan on “rocking out” to Copeland's Police Deranged for Orchestra.  

In addition, Beyond the Aria is a collaboration with Askonas Holt artist Craig Terry, “who is a great pianist,” Outwater continued, “but also a great combiner of genre of music, and will bring this vocal recital into territory which people haven't really experienced before.” In addition to SFCM students, this performance will feature world-renowned soprano and Opus 3 Artist Christine Goerke. 

SFCM’s popular Chamber Music Tuesday series is also returning, along with 11 Faculty Artist Series concerts, featuring lauded faculty and a program of their choosing. Upcoming concerts include Corey Jamason, Yubeen Kim, David Conte, and Nancy Zhou. 

“Balancing experiences for our students and our audiences, and creating a dynamic moment each time people come into the hall is really important to me,” Outwater said. When programming he aims to balance classic repertoire while pushing the notions of what modern musicians may be expected to play. “When I program I want to give students the experience of playing a variety of styles of music and really important pieces that they will play perhaps in auditions or in their career.” 

Students rehearse in SFCM's largest concert hall.

As for audiences, Outwater expects another year of packed houses. “This season is going to be spectacular,” he adds. “But I would say reserve your tickets in advance, because there is definitely a buzz.” 

SFCM puts on hundreds of student and ensemble productions a year, the vast majority of which are free. Concert goers are asked to reserve tickets early as many performances will reach capacity.