Home » *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Live Music, Sponsored

SF’s “Civic Strings” Free Concerts (2025/26)

Sunday, December 14, 2025 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted

First Baptist Church | 22 Waller Street, San Francisco CA 94102

Free / RSVP

SF’s “Civic Strings” Free Concerts (2025/26)

The San Francisco Civic Music Association presents “Civic Strings” free concerts from Dec. 14, 2025 – May 17, 2026 at First Baptist Church!

“Civic Strings” concerts – a smaller, string-focused ensemble, especially tailored for players getting reintroduced into classical music. This group is a string orchestra that provides a gentle re-entry into ensemble playing for those who may not have played for many years. Civic Strings per forms music of the baroque and classical period with a focus on string technique for these eras.

Music Director & Conductor – Michelle Maruyama

2025 – 2026 SCHEDULE & PROGRAM

Sundays from Dec. 14, 2025 – May 17, 2026 | 3pm-5pm
First Baptist Church, 22 Waller St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

Sunday, December 14, 2025 – A Nordic Winter
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Jean Sibelius – Impromptu
  • Antonio Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in A minor, RV 357
    • Michelle Maruyama, violin soloist
  • Antonio Vivaldi, Arranged by Mark Wood – “Vivaldi Rocks” — Wood’s riff on Antonio Vivaldi’s “Winter”
    • Michelle Maruyama, violin soloist
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – 2 Selections from Orchestral Suite No. 3, Air, Gigue
  • Edvard Grieg – 2 Nordic Melodies, Op. 63

Michelle Maruyama – Music Director & Conductor
RSVP | Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $10 – $20

Sunday, March 1, 2026 – Colors of Spring
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Paul Basler – Divertimento for String Orchestra
  • Antonio Vivaldi/Max Richter – Spring, from Recomposed, soloist TBA
  • Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga – String Quartet No. 2 in A Major
  •  Servan Nichifor The Doctor’s Fiddle – *possible encore*

Michelle Maruyama – Music Director & Conductor
Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $10 – $20

Sunday, May 17, 2026 – Adoration
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Florence Price – Three Selections: The Deserted Garden, Adoration, A Gay Moment – from Thumbnail Sketches of A Day in the Life of a Washerwoman
  • Georg Philipp Telemann – Viola Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G9 Lisa Ponton, viola
  • Joseph Haydn – String Quartet in D Major, Op. 20, No. 4

Michelle Maruyama – Music Director & Conductor
Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $10 – $20

About San Francisco Civic Music Association

San Francisco Civic Music Association is an independent, non profit organization founded by members of the San Francisco Civic Symphony. The Association’s mission is to offer free concerts to the community and to provide a place where musicians of all levels can learn and perform. Our operations are paid for by donations from our musicians, listeners, and supporters.

SFCMA also provides free workshops during the summer for adults looking to improve their musicianship.

See their full 2025-2026 calendar of events.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted
Categories: *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Live Music, Sponsored
Address: 22 Waller Street, San Francisco CA 94102

Sunday, December 14, 2025

9:00 am   Outer Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile  FREE
10:00 am   2025 Oakland Coffee Holiday Market  $5
10:00 am   Final Free Holiday Sing Along of 2025 w/ All-Women Choir + “Super Super” Big Band (SF’s Ferry Building)  FREE
10:00 am   SF’s 41st Annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  $45*
*General Admission is $45; special discounts available
10:00 am   “Manny’s Neighborhood Trash Cleanup” w/ $1 Beer & Free Yoga Classes, Free Fries (SF)  FREE*
*Sign up on this TogetherSF Mobilize page: https://www.mobilize.us/togethersf/event/444979/
10:00 am   Union Square’s Festive “Winter Walk” 2025 (Dec. 13-24)  FREE
10:30 am   “Sunday Assembly” Silicon Valley Community Gathering | Mountain View  FREE
11:00 am   “Lindy in the Park” Swing Dance Party (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Weather permitting (rain cancels)
11:00 am   Art Guild of Pacifica’s 2025 “Winter Art Faire” (Dec. 13-14)  FREE
11:00 am   Winter 2025 “East Bay Open Studios” w/ 180+ Artists (Dec. 13-14)  FREE
11:00 am   6th Annual Bernal Heights “Holidays on the Hill” Art + Gift Faire (2025)  FREE
11:00 am   Winter 2025 “East Bay Open Studios” w/ 180+ Artists (Dec. 13-14)  FREE*
*https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1918029520929?aff=oddtdtcreator
11:00 am   Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
12:00 pm   Latinas Forever: A Christmas Karol Brunch (Spark Social SF)  $15*
*DM @sparksocialsf "I'm with SF FunCheap" to receive $15 tickets if they sell out!
12:00 pm   “Bodacious” Back-to-the-90’s Winter Day Party (Union City)  FREE*
*Free - RSVP
12:00 pm   Holly Daze: The Box Shop’s December Open House + Makers Market  FREE
1:00 pm   A Very Merry Brooklyn Basin Small Dog Meetup (Oakland)  FREE*
*FREE FOR SMALL DOGS & THEIR PEOPLE
1:00 pm   Golden Gate Park Sunday Roller Disco Party (SF)  FREE
2:00 pm   Cy Dancworks Xmas Open House w/ Santa, Art + Free Dance Classes (San Mateo)  FREE*
*RSVP Required
2:00 pm   SF Symphony’s “Peter And The Wolf” Live in Concert  $24.50*
*Kids' tickets are half off
2:00 pm   Anime & Manga Club: An Afternoon Full Of Fun | SF  FREE
2:00 pm   $5 Off Tix: Timeless Musical “Into the Woods” Live in SF (Nov. 20-Jan. 17)  $47*
*Normally $52. $5 off Tickets w/ secret code FUNCHEAP; fees included
3:00 pm   “Santa Run” Silicon Valley Ending at Christmas in the Park (2025)  $44*
*5K: $44–$60 / Kids Reindeer Dash: $23–$34
5:00 pm   San Francisco Boys Chorus Holiday Program (Morgan Hill)  $35
5:00 pm   34th Annual Mission Dolores Basilica Choir Candlelight Christmas Concert (SF)  $23*
*General Admission (all inclusive)
5:30 pm   “Let’s Glow SF” 2025: SF’s Huge Holiday Projection Arts Festival (Final Day)  FREE
6:00 pm   The 1st Annual Rhino Xmas Gay-la (The Castro)  $22*
*Use code FUNCHEAP22 for $22 tickets (regular price $59).
6:00 pm   FREE: Oakland “HellaSecret” Comedy Show (Sunday)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:00 pm   Breakout Comedy Star “Jessica Michelle Singleton” Live in SF (Cobb’s)  $32.05*
*Starts at $32.05 General Admission – 18+ 2 drink min valid ID
7:00 pm   Secret Guest List: Cobb’s Free Comedy Nights (Jessica Michelle Singleton)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP. Must arrive 30 minutes early for guaranteed entry. All shows are 18 & over with valid photo ID. Like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum.
7:00 pm   Sunday “Hayes Valley Comedy Night” at SF’s Black-Owned Comedy Club (The Function)  FREE*
*Exclusive free tickets with Eventbrite RSVP. Otherwise $20-25 at door. Please note like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum per person
8:00 pm   The Dillinger Escape Plan (Regency Ballroom)  $60.40
< Saturday, December 13 Monday, December 15 >