San Francisco Symphony with Branford Marsalis and Thomas Wilkins

San Francisco Symphony, based in Davies Symphony Hall, acclaimed for innovative performances and 13 ASCAP awards. Highlights include active touring, 15 Grammy wins, and partnerships with Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Branford Marsalis, born in Breaux Bridge, LA, is a virtuoso jazz saxophonist known for his genre-defying work in jazz, classical, funk, and rock. He rose to fame in the 1980s alongside his brother Wynton Marsalis and collaborated with Sting, Béla Fleck, and Spike Lee. His acclaimed albums include Grammy-winning I Heard You Twice the First Time and Contemporary Jazz. Known for his innovative spirit, he explores diverse sounds with his genre-bending group Buckshot LeFonque. Marsalis led The Tonight Show band, founded Marsalis Music, and scored the 2020 film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Thomas Wilkins, a Norfolk, Virginia native, is a distinguished orchestra conductor. He is Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Artistic Advisor for the Boston Symphony, and Music Director Laureate of the Omaha Symphony. Wilkins is celebrated for his engaging style and dedication to music education. He received the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award and the Golden Baton Award.