Every now and again you come across something in San Francisco that gives you that slight tingle of anticipation.  That feeling that says, “really? That’s a thing? I wanna to see that.”  In this case they’re called One Found Sound, they are SF’s ‘secret symphony’, a self-described “conductorless, collaborative, chamber orchestra“.   A collection of friends and professional musicians who come together to play Mozart in warehouse parties, shared work spaces, or art galleries.  We got to chat with an OFS founder to find out about who they are and what they do.

Their upcoming collaborative show is a nice example of what they can do.  This April, One Found Sound is celebrating it’s 4th year by throwing another concert and artistic collaboration at Heron Arts.  There’s going to be lighting and staging with  Symmetry Labs’ Sugar Cubes, tapas-style food provided by chef Tim Luym and an afterparty hosted by Astronauts, etc. Oh, and your ticket includes eats and an open bar.

If you’re curious about what this collaboration may look like, check out the video of Symmetry Lab’s Sugar cubes…these guys are not lightweights,  their cubes react to sound and can display some 16 million different colors.  It’s a bit like a reactive, live, concert version of the Bay Lights.

We asked a One Found Sounds founder Sarah Bonomo about the ‘secret symphony’, its origins and performers.  She said, “One of our missions is to get people who may not think they like classical music to come in and experience the excitement, fun, and intimacy of a small scale classical concert, we play without a stage, it puts the performers and the audience on the same level, in the front row you can basically read the 1st violins music if you want.”

“we play without a stage, it puts the performers and the audience on the same level, in the front row you can basically read the 1st violins music if you want.”

I asked Sarah if these concerts were the gateway drug to Davies Symphony Hall.  She said, “it’s almost a stepping stone to the symphony, Davies is simply beautiful, San Francisco’s symphony is one of the best in world, and they are incredibly innovative with their programming.  What we (OFS) are trying to do is show another side of classical, an intimate and exiting side, where you are more part of a shared experience, you can see the expressions on the players faces, see them breath.”

OFS @ Heron Arts

One Found Sound is made up mostly of San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates, which is like SF’s ‘Julliard’ for musicians.  OFS is made of friends, volunteers, and fueled by many many fans and private donors.  Their upcoming gala feels like something special.

San Francisco Collaborative Chamber Orchestra
One Found Sound
3rd Annual Gala: LUX
Sat, April 29, 2017

TICKETS