Udit Srivathsan, Technology and Applied Composition
“I’ll be working as a music designer and audio engineer at Sony PlayStation. I’ll never forget putting on a senior recital with some of my best friends here. I’d tell future students to make as much use of the incredible facilities here while you can: You’ll miss Studio H with its blue horns quickly once you graduate! Also, make tons of friends and collaborate without the mindset of having a quid pro quo: Collaborate for the sake of collaboration and making cool stuff. I’d like to thank my teacher and mentor Daria Novoliantceva, along with Matt Levine, Doug McCausland and all my teachers in the four years I’ve been here. I’m gonna miss this community so much!”

Natalie Boberg.

Natalie Boberg, Violin
"I am heading to Chicago to join the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. My favorite moment at SFCM was performing side-by-side with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in Davies Symphony Hall! It was an honor and joy to play with these incredible musicians. I’d tell current and future students to make the most of every moment here, it goes by faster than you think! Connect with your colleagues, always say hi to people in the elevator, and take every performance opportunity that comes your way! Also, I owe so much of my growth over the last two years to my teacher, Simon James, thank you, thank you!"

Anqi Zhou.

Anqi Zhou, Oboe
"I’ll continue performing as the Principal Oboist with the Bay Philharmonic and freelancing with ensembles across the country. One of my favorite moments at SFCM was performing as a soloist in Mozart’s Oboe Concerto side-by-side with the SF Ballet and SFCM Orchestra, a timeless classic and truly unforgettable experience. SFCM offers an incredibly welcoming community and a deeply supportive environment. You’ll cherish every single day here. I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to my teacher, Mr. Eugene Izotov, for being an inspiring role model and an unwavering source of support throughout my journey."

Caroline Feitosa, Technology and Applied Composition
"I am staying in the Bay Area this summer writing a short film score and volunteering at a film camp, 48 Hills. I want to thank Marco D'Ambrosio, who’s been such a wonderful and kind private lesson teacher. I also want to thank Lennie Moore for his guidance and support. For current and future students? Take time to look around and be thankful for what music has done for you: the places it has taken you, the people you have met because of it. Music is a wonderful career, but people lose sight of the fact that it is still a career. In all jobs, you face what you face as a musician—rejection and years of monotonous training—but hopefully, at the root of that career is a genuine love for what you do. Also, go to class! This isn't like a regular college; we're much more tight-knit, and the teachers do notice when you don't show up!"

Carlo Rabano.

Carlo Rabano, RJAM Trombone
"I will be staying in the Bay Area. After four years of developing my network, opportunities continue to grow. I have a small private studio of young students as well as fun performance opportunities. I’d like to thank the Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) faculty. What a special opportunity it is to engage with all the faculty members, not just our applied instructors. I’d tell current and future students that your professional career starts the first moment you walk onto campus. So take care of how you present yourself, take these years seriously, respect the people around you, and don't forget that people and relationships come first (because without them, there's no one to make music!). With passion comes discipline, so hold onto your passion, don't forget why you chose this path, and that will help make your decisions as you get deeper into this life."

Clark Evans.

Clark Evans, Technology and Applied Composition
"I have a few things planned, including starting an independent audio production company, continuing to refine my brand and portfolio, broadening my network, and continuing to develop new skills! I would love to give a special thanks to my private teachers from the year, Lennie Moore and Sonia Mokhtari. Their mentorship has given me confidence in my abilities and the skills to continually improve myself. I’d also like to give a special thanks to Jason O’Connell and Doug McCausland for their deeply insightful and impactful teaching. My advice for both incoming and continuing students is to surround yourselves with people who challenge you but also help lift you to meet those challenges. My second piece of advice is to be that kind of person for everyone, no matter how little you may think you know a person."

Gianna La Mantia.

Gianna La Mantia, Voice
"After graduation, I will continue to study voice and practicing my vocal technique, and I hope to begin teaching voice as well so this way I can support myself while I continue to build my career as a singer/performer. One of my all time favorite moments at SFCM is when I took my first solo bow after performing in SFCM’s Spring Opera 2025 Candide by Leonard Bernstein as Governor and Vanderdendur. This was my first principal role ever in an opera and I had the best time. To incoming students, I would say to always strive for excellence, not perfection. As long as you do your best on every given day, you can always be proud of yourself and the musician you are. Every teacher at SFCM is here to support you and help you in whatever way they can. Enjoy this time, and always remind yourself of how much you love what you do, especially when the going gets a little tough. You got this.

I want to thank my family, especially my parents and my sister and brother, who have always stuck by me and supported me no matter what. I wouldn’t be anywhere without you. You have been there every step of the way, and I am so blessed and grateful that I get to call you my family and my best friends. I want to thank the SFCM opera faculty for everything they’ve done to help me become the performer I am today. I want to thank my coach Margaret Halbig and also my teacher Catherine Cook. Cathy, thank you for being the most amazing mentor, guide, light, confidant, friend, all of the above …  Thank you for taking a chance on me and helping me become the best singer I can possibly be!"

Daniela Gonzales Siu.

Daniela Gonzales Siu, Cello
"When I first came to San Francisco and SFCM, I hoped to find a strong sense of community, a place where I could grow as an artist, and it delivered. Being in this institution these many years has definitely taught me and given me a lot of knowledge, experience and most importantly memories. One of my biggest goals in my life was to form or find a quartet, and through SFCM, and to my luck, I was blessed with my incredible quartet, the Alora Quartet!  

I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing mentors and coaches here, including Wonhee Bae, Jennifer Culp, Pei-Ling Lin, Yeeun Heo, and Julio Elizalde. Their guidance has shaped me in so many ways, musically, artistically, and personally.

I couldn’t finish without mentioning Dr. Hohmann. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t the most punctual student with assignments, but what Dr. Hohmann gave me went far beyond Western Civ, or the philosophy classes. He taught me how to enjoy life, to learn from it, and to look forward to what’s next. He showed me that knowledge is infinite and that it’s worth pursuing, because knowledge truly is power. The way I think, not just as a musician but as a person, has been deeply shaped by his influence. Dr. Hohmann helped me become a more thoughtful, positive, and optimistic person and I’ll always be grateful for the impact he’s had on my life."