IN WINTER’S GLOW: A Radiant Collaboration Between New Century and the San Francisco Girls Chorus
San Francisco Girls Chorus
Celebrate the season with IN WINTER’S GLOW with San Francisco Girls Chorus, a radiant holiday concert from New Century Chamber Orchestra and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. This special collaboration brings together the shimmering sound of a chamber orchestra with the crystal-clear, expressive voices of one of the nation’s premier youth choruses.
About the San Francisco Girls Chorus
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, San Francisco Girls Chorus Artistic Director
Since 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) has set a high-bar of excellence in choral music, blending artistry, education, and innovation. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe, SFGC delivers performances that are both emotionally moving and intellectually engaging, performing repertoire that spans from ancient music to daring contemporary works written specifically for their ensemble.
“It’s a true joy to collaborate once again with the New Century Chamber Orchestra this season,” says Sainte-Agathe. “After nearly a decade of working together, our artistic relationship continues to grow deeper, bolder, and more joyful. There is something truly special about bringing the unique colors of a chamber orchestra into conversation with the treble voices of the San Francisco Girls Chorus.”
“As a choral organization, we often perform a cappella or with piano, so the presence of an orchestra changes everything: the way we listen, the way we blend, and the way we shape musical lines in response to strings, winds, and solo instruments,” she continues. “It brings a whole new texture to the experience for the singers and the audience.”
A Unique Collaboration with New Century Chamber Orchestra
Daniel Hope, Music Director and Concertmaster
“We’re so lucky to have the chance to work with the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and especially with the wonderful Valérie Sainte-Agathe,” said New Century Music Director and Concertmaster Daniel Hope. “We’ve already cooked up some really beautiful programs that look at the diversity of the musical sound that a chorus can produce, especially when you blend it with our strings.”
“Working with Daniel Hope and the musicians of New Century is always inspiring,” explains Sainte-Agathe. “They are curious, flexible, and eager to explore.”
This season’s repertoire highlights the collaboration at its finest, including a new arrangement by Nico Muhly, Whispered and Revealed, written especially for SFGC, alongside Jake Heggie’s On the Road to Christmas and David Conte’s Harper’s Song and Mistletoe. Beloved holiday favorites such as Silent Night and Ola Gjeilo’s Northern Lights complete a program designed to fill audiences with serenity, joy, and seasonal magic.
“It’s going to be a magical atmosphere,” says Hope. “First, we have the beautiful church. Then you have the voices of these wonderful young musicians. And you’ll hear just the orchestra, just the choir, and then us together.”
“I can’t wait to reunite for a holiday message of peace and of tranquility. I invite everyone to come in, and to share that feeling with us,” Hope concludes.
Concert Dates and Locations
Experience this extraordinary collaboration between one of world’s few conductorless chamber ensembles and one of America’s finest youth choruses:
Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:30PM – First Church UCC, Berkeley
Friday, December 12, 2025 at 7:30PM – St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Belvedere Tiburon
Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 2:00PM – St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco
Tickets are on sale now. Reserve your seats for this uplifting and joyful concert experience.
