Herbst Theatre

401 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco CA

The Herbst Theatre is a cornerstone of San Francisco performing arts, with more than 200 shows presented on its stage every year.

Distinguished as the historic site of the United Nations Charter signing in 1945, it is now the primary venue for many of the Bay Area's premier cultural organizations, including San Francisco Performances, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, New Century Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Music San Francisco.

The Herbst Theatre is housed in the Veterans Building, which echoes the Beaux-Arts design of the War Memorial Opera House and is also home to The Green Room.

Adorned by a series of stunning Frank Brangwyn murals originally painted for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this 892-seat auditorium has been fully renovated and the venue now features new stage-level dressing rooms, a dedicated rehearsal space and modern performer lounge.

Upcoming Events:

18Apr

Saturday, April 18 2026 7:30 PM

Claire Chase - Flute

Claire Chase is “the North Star of her instrument’s ever-expanding universe,” according to The New York Times, and “a rare combination of grace and guts” (Wall Street Journal). Density 2036 is her ambitious and far-reaching 24-year project to create a new body of flute repertory leading up to the 100th anniversary of composer Edgard Varese’s seminal 1936 flute solo, Density 21.5. Her San Francisco Performances debut recital program reimagines music for solo flute.

Program
Density 2036

ANNEA LOCKWOOD (Arr. Claire Chase): Solo from Elwha!
SUSIE IBARRA (Arr. Claire Chase): Sunbird
MARCOS BALTER: Solo suite from Pan
DU YUN: An Empty Garlic
TERRY RILEY: Pulsing Lifters (with Sarah Cahill, special guest); Solo suite from The Holy Liftoff

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9Jun

Tuesday, June 9 2026 7:30 PM

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players: ARTZenter Institute Emerging Composer Program III

ARTZenter Institute is a grant program in partnership with the SF Contemporary Music Players, encouraging the creation of new music that explores the power and grace of the traditional orchestral ensemble. The fund was created by Tony Magee, founder of The Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, CA, and is committed to creating chamber orchestra workshops, mentorship and performance opportunities for young composers nationwide. The Emerging Composer Completion Grant Program has grown into one of the nation’s largest and most ambitious vehicles in support of new work, with multiple calls-for-scores being announced annually.

Featuring the winning composers from ARTZenter’s round of completion grants from August 2025, we present world premiere performances of 4 new compositions for chamber orchestra at Herbst Theatre.

Eric Estrada Valadez - Divided Realities (2026)

Euna Joh - A Grief Observed (2026)

Luca Pasquini - Memories of Storm & Light (2026)

Jackson Waters - My Rage is Quiet (2026)

FREE ADMISSION - no tickets or reservations required.

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Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community