San Francisco Conservatory of Music Honors Colin Murdoch

Tim Foo, chairman of the board of trustees, with San Francisco Conservatory of Music honoree Colin Murdoch (right), and his wife Sam Murdoch (center)

San Francisco Conservatory of Music Gala Master of Ceremonies Robin Sutherland (photo courtesy: The Lively Foundation)

Conservatory Gala Co-Chairs Marie-Jose and Kent Baum with Trustee Delia Ehrlich

San Francisco Conservatory of Music saluted Colin Murdoch‘s 20th year as president at its annual gala on April 24, 2012. Alumnus Robin Sutherland, ’75, principal keyboardist for San Francisco Symphony, served as master of ceremonies and took turns at the keyboard, adding to the roster of extraordinary tributes and performances.

Cellist Bonnie Hampton, a longtime Conservatory faculty member and co-founder of its chamber music program, pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane, and legendary opera mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade rounded out the list of alumni and luminaries who returned to play for Murdoch. Video tributes from stars in absentia included conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, guitarist Pepe Romero, composer Jake Heggie, baritone Thomas Hampson, violinist Robert Mann, and pianist Menaham Pressler. Longtime Conservatory Trustee Kent Baum co-chaired the event with his wife Marie-Jose Baum. Together they significantly surpassed revenue projections and raised some $262,000 for a new scholarship, the Colin and Sam Murdoch Chamber Music Scholarship Fund.