The goal of the San Francisco International Music Festival (Sfmf) is to preserve the art form of piano duo by bringing people of all ages together through performance, international festivals, educational experiences and community outreach programs.
Inspired by the Russian tradition of piano duo festivals, Sfmf sponsors The Milton & Peggy Salkind International Piano Duo Festival, which is the United States’ first and foremost international music festival solely dedicated to the art of the piano duo. Now entering its 4th season, the Salkind International Festival spotlights world-class artists in a series of concerts that capture the spirit of similar Russian and Eastern European festivals. The 4th Salkind International Piano Duo Festival (July 5-8, 2012), will showcase performances by distinguished American and international artists at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The focus and theme of the next Salkind Festival will feature a "Parisian Fete" of piano duo music in Paris from 1870 to 1920. The Festival will also celebrate Debussy's 150th anniversary as well as a Closing Concert of music and composers with a connection to 1812, 1912 and 2012.
The publicity that we have received abroad leads us to believe the Salkind Festival is developing into an increasingly important event internationally. The international artists who have participated in the 3 Salkind Festivals in San Francisco now look to Sfmf and San Francisco as the new artistic center for piano duo.
Sfmf also sponsors a Young Artists' Concert series for Bay Area young pianists. The next Young Artists' Concert is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Sfmf is currently developing the Outreach program to sponsor performances in senior retirement communities around the Bay Area.
RJ Pearce & Toki Migimatsu perform "Tarantella" from Rachmaninoff's Suite No. 2 at the 10th Young Artists' Concert, 1/23/11
Katarina Lee & Kuni Migimatsu - "Sketches" by Gavrilin Alexandra Cong & Brandon Shih - "Vocalise" by Rachmaninoff
Video performances from Salkind Festivals are available on the Sfmf Channel on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/SFMusicFestival?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/SPYUvnS45mE
