SF Music Week Offers Free Studio Sessions with Magik*Magik Orchestra

Four local artists selected to collaborate with renowned string ensemble

Feb. 25, 2026 at 9:38pm by Ben Kaplan

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As part of SF Music Week, four local musicians - ELENAH, Chandana Bhimarao, v394, and Madeline Tasquin - will have the opportunity to work with the acclaimed Magik*Magik Orchestra at Hyde Street Studios. The artists will be able to add custom string arrangements to their original songs, all for free.

Why it matters

The Magik*Magik Orchestra is known for its innovative collaborations with high-profile artists like Radiohead and Death Cab for Cutie. This program aims to support emerging local talent and expose them to the unique experience of recording with a live string ensemble.

The details

The four artists were selected from around 35 submissions, with the Magik*Magik team evaluating factors like the quality of the song, how strings could enhance it, and whether the artist had limited prior experience working with live strings. During the one-hour studio sessions, the artists will be able to hear the string quartet playing live in the room and make minor adjustments to the arrangements on the fly.

  • The studio sessions will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
  • SF Music Week runs from February 25 to March 1, 2026.

The players

Magik*Magik Orchestra

A renowned instrumental ensemble known for its innovative collaborations with artists across genres, including Radiohead and Death Cab for Cutie.

Minna Choi

The founder, lead arranger, and artistic director of the Magik*Magik Orchestra.

ELENAH

A Latin and Caribbean musician selected to participate in the free studio session.

Chandana Bhimarao

An acoustic singer-songwriter selected to participate in the free studio session.

v394

An electronic/hyperpop producer selected to participate in the free studio session.

Madeline Tasquin

An experimental multi-instrumentalist selected to participate in the free studio session.

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What they’re saying

“When I listen to a song, the first red flag is that it already feels complete. It's like they have a plate filled with food and there's nowhere for me to put my little vegetables or whatever.”

— Minna Choi, Founder and Artistic Director, Magik*Magik Orchestra (San Francisco Chronicle)

“To me, the sound a string instrument makes is the most beautiful sound in the world. And there's the most microscopic things that you don't notice that are happening, like vibrating the strings. When the quintet plays together, their bodies just instinctively make thousands of musical decisions that come from all their hours of practice and playing together to create this really beautiful vibration in the room.”

— Minna Choi, Founder and Artistic Director, Magik*Magik Orchestra (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The four selected artists will participate in the free studio sessions with the Magik*Magik Orchestra on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco.

The takeaway

This program from SF Music Week provides a unique opportunity for emerging local artists to collaborate with a renowned instrumental ensemble and elevate their original music through the addition of custom string arrangements, further showcasing the vibrant and diverse music scene in the Bay Area.