Postcard From Left Coast Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director Matilda Hofman
In SFGC’s Postcard series, our guest artists, collaborators, and faculty take us behind the scenes and share an intimate look into their thoughts about music, life, and art-making.
This postcard features Left Coast Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director, Conductor, and Violist Matilda Hofman. Below, Matilda gives us insight into the exciting collaborative program we will be sharing at our season opening concert This is What it Means at the inaugural California Festival, what makes the music of California unique, and why choral music is so special.
Reviews have described Matilda’s conducting as “taut and finely controlled” (San Francisco Gate), and as giving “a striking sense of purpose” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Passionate about chamber music as community and friendship, and as the basis of all music-making, Matilda has been making music with Left Coast Chamber Ensemble since 2010, performed as a member of the ensemble since 2019, and served on the leadership team since 2022.
Don't forget to grab your tickets to This is What It Means this November 4th and 5th!
Matilda Hofman, Artistic Director, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
LCCE and SFGC co-commissioned composer Sarah Gibson and will be premiering her piece, This is What it Means, at the California Festival. What drew you to her music?
Left Coast first discovered Sarah Gibson’s music when she won our composition contest in 2019. I then also heard her work performed while I was a guest artist at the Oberlin Conservatory, and found the music mesmerizing. This is Sarah’s first work for the Girls Chorus and we have a feeling it will be a hit!
As a conductor, you work with both instrumental and vocal ensembles. What stands out to you about choral music, and the voice as an instrument?
The voice, without the need of an external instrument is the most direct means of musical communication we have, and the clarity of sound which can be achieved in choral ensembles is unparalleled. It is the most vulnerable and therefore the most human means of expression.
What are your two favorite albums and what draws you to them?
Claudia Villella and Ricardo Peixoto- Inverse Universe - a recent discovery for me. I find Claudia’s voice and music-making so incredibly free, joyful and expressive. I just don’t ever seem to get tired of it.
John Coltrane- my favorite things. My kids love this album, so it reminds me of happy times with them!
What should audiences listen for in “This is What it Means”?
Listen for the undulating, repetitive rhythmic patterns that draw you through the music from the beginning to the end in gradually evolving shapes and patterns.
This collaborative concert is presented through the California Festival. What is unique about the music and musicians of California?
There is such wonderful diversity in California, and with that comes diversity of music-making. That means many opportunities for collaborations with musical artists of different backgrounds and fertile ground for developing as a musician and for creativity with others. Californian musicians also seem particularly connected to their environment, from Henry Cowell, Pauline Oliveros to composers of the present day. I hope that the indigenous musical traditions can be appreciated more in the future.
What advice can you give to our singers that you wish you had received when you were their age?
Be patient with yourself and allow your musical growth to take the time it takes. Then you and your music will flow like a river!
What inspires you about working with SFGC?
The incredible talent, dedication, hard work and love of music which these young musicians have is incredibly inspiring. The unity and unique sound of the ensemble is a joy to listen to.
What are you excited to work on in the future? Give us a sneak peek!
Two projects I am particularly excited about are Pathways with Left Coast, and an upcoming performance of Rite of Spring. In Pathways we will be premiering works by emerging Californian talent from less privileged backgrounds.