March Roars In With Four San Francisco Concerts

Chopin birthday gala, Princeton Nassoons, Junior Bach Festival, and more fill the first weekend of March in the city.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:55pm by Ben Kaplan

The first weekend of March will be filled with a diverse array of musical performances in San Francisco, including a Chopin birthday gala, a Princeton University choral and jazz concert, the annual Junior Bach Festival, and a program of works by Iranian composers performed by pianist Ava Nazar. These concerts will take place at venues across the city, including Old First Presbyterian Church, Taube Atrium Theater, Herbst Theatre, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Why it matters

San Francisco's vibrant classical and choral music scene continues to thrive, with a wide range of concerts and performances catering to diverse musical tastes. These events highlight the city's commitment to supporting local and visiting artists, as well as its rich cultural heritage.

The details

The Chopin birthday gala at Old First Presbyterian Church will feature solo piano works by the renowned composer, performed by a lineup of pianists. The Princeton Nassoons will bring their choral and jazz repertoire to the same venue on March 14, while the Junior Bach Festival returns on March 15. Iranian pianist Ava Nazar will present a program of works by Iranian diaspora composers on March 29. Elsewhere, the West Edge Opera Snapshot series will take place at the Taube Atrium Theater, and pianist Tiffany Poon will perform at Herbst Theatre. Finally, American Bach will present "The Harmonic Labyrinth" at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, featuring works by Locatelli, Pergolesi, and Bach.

  • The Chopin Birthday Gala concert will take place on March 1 at 2 p.m.
  • The Princeton Nassoons will perform on March 14 at 2 p.m.
  • The Junior Bach Festival will be held on March 15 at 4 p.m.
  • Ava Nazar's "Nahoft" program will be on March 29 at 4 p.m.
  • The West Edge Opera Snapshot series and Tiffany Poon's concert will both take place on March 1 at 3 p.m.
  • "The Harmonic Labyrinth" by American Bach will be on March 1 at 4 p.m.

The players

Jason Chiu

A pianist performing in the Chopin Birthday Gala concert.

Omri Shimron

A pianist performing in the Chopin Birthday Gala concert.

Robert Schwartz

A pianist performing in the Chopin Birthday Gala concert.

Ariel Chien

A pianist performing in the Chopin Birthday Gala concert.

Ava Nazar

An Iranian pianist who will present a program of works by Iranian diaspora composers.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

San Francisco's vibrant classical music scene continues to thrive, with a diverse array of concerts and performances catering to a wide range of musical tastes. These events highlight the city's commitment to supporting local and visiting artists, as well as its rich cultural heritage.