ArtSmart Celebrates West Coast Expansion with Intimate San Francisco Concert

ArtSmart, a nonprofit dedicated to providing students with world-class music instruction, held a private event at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) on August 21. The exclusive list of attendees started the evening with a dinner at Uccello Lounge in SFCM’s Bowes Center, accompanied by wine from Castellucci Napa Valley. 

After dinner, guests made the trip up to the 11th floor to the Barbro Osher Concert Hall, where they were wowed by arias sung by ArtSmart co-founder Michael Fabiano and soprano Liana Haroutounian, accompanied by pianist Marika Yasuda. Lowell High School student and ArtSmart program participant singer Kylie Chu rounded out the musical program.

Special guests on hand for the performance included Bay Area ArtSmart students, mentors and donors, performing arts supporters and opera singers, including cast members from the San Francisco Opera’s current production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.  

Other VIPs joining the night’s festivities were Olivia Hsu Decker, San Francisco Conservatory of Music Board Member and Metropolitan Opera Board Member Barbara Walkowski, the San Francisco Ballet’s Jasmine Jimison and Joshua Jack Price and baritone Efrain Solis. Proceeds from the event support ArtSmart’s musical mentorship programs, which provide one-on-one training from professional musicians to help students learn music, set goals and build their self-esteem.