PHOTOS | San Francisco Symphony’s 2025 Gala and Concert

Event: San Francisco Symphony’s 2025 Gala and Concert
Date: September 12, 2025
Location: Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Photos: Drew Altizer, Andrew Caulfield, Mahelly Ferreira and Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography

The San Francisco Symphony celebrated the start of its 2025–26 season September 12 at Davies Symphony Hall with a special Opening Gala concert featuring superstar pianist Yuja Wang in a performance of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Orchestra and guest conductor Jaap van Zweden. The program also included Bay Area-based composer John Adams’ thrilling and fast-paced Short Ride in a Fast Machine and Ottorino Respighi’s majestic and atmospheric Pines of Rome, a tone poem inspired by scenes from the Italian capital.

Following the concert, concert attendees extended their evening with a live DJ in the Orchestra level lobby, photo booth, and specialty cocktails. ​ VIP sponsors enjoyed an exclusive preconcert cocktail reception and celebratory postconcert seated dinner in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall. The Opening Gala featured decor and catering from McCalls Catering and Events, lighting design by Got Light, and projection design by Yuki Izumihara. ​ 

The 2025 Opening Gala was led by a host committee of San Francisco Symphony Governors including Solomon B. Cera, Tiffany Chang, Priscilla B. Geeslin, Aditi Iyer, Patricia Lee-Hoffmann, and Trine Sorensen. ​ 

The Opening Gala presenting sponsor was Zenni Optical. In-kind support for the Opening Gala was provided by Chandon, Junipero Gin, Old Potrero Rye, and The Caviar Co. ​ 

 Proceeds from the Opening Gala directly support the Symphony’s acclaimed education, community, and artistic programs.
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​Notable attendees
​Matthew Spivey – San Francisco Symphony CEO, ​Priscilla Geeslin – Chair of the Board of Governors, Yuja Wang – Pianist, Jaap van Zweden – Guest conductor, Solomon B. Cera – Host Committee member, Tiffany Chang – Host Committee member, Aditi Iyer – Host Committee member, Patricia Lee-Hoffmann – Host Committee member, Trine Sorensen – Host Committee member, Joachim Bechtle and Hannah Herzog – Sponsor, Jerome and Thảo Dodson – Sponsor, Dagmar Dolby – Sponsor, ​Max and Nellie Levchin – Sponsor, Diane Wilsey – Sponsor, Sam Altman – CEO, Open AI, Penny and James Coulter – SF Chief of Protocol and husband, Founding Partner, Executive Chairman and Director of TPG, Mayor Daniel Lurie – San Francisco Mayor, Nancy Pelosi – Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Ned Segal – SF Chief of Housing and Economic Development