San Francisco Symphony Celebrates Día de los Muertos With Concert, Lobby Installations, Community Activities, and ¡Fiesta! Dinner Experience, November 2

Click here to access the Online Press Kit, which includes PDFs of this press release in English and Spanish, artist headshots, and images from past SF Symphony Día de los Muertos celebrations.

SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Symphony presents its 17th annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at Davies Symphony Hall on Saturday, November 2. The event features a concert program of traditional and contemporary Latin American music, preceded by a festive array of family-friendly activities, and followed by the ¡Fiesta! Día de los Muertos fundraiser. 

Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts the San Francisco Symphony in the concert program, which includes music by Carlos Chávez, Juan Pablo Contreras, José Pablo Moncayo, and Gabriela Ortiz. Trumpeter Pacho Flores and cuatro player Héctor Molina join the Symphony to perform a concerto by Paquito D’Rivera, and dancers from Casa Círculo Cultural will be featured throughout the concert and will create a living mural inspired by Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central.    

Every year leading up to the Symphony’s Day of the Dead celebration, the lobbies of Davies Symphony Hall are transformed with immersive art installations and altars built by local artists to honor the living and the deceased. Curated by longtime SF Symphony collaborator Martha Rodríguez-Salazar, this year’s event honors Mexico City’s three most recognized 19th-century and 20th-century artists: José Guadalupe Posada, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo. Local artists will create altars and installations inspired by the canals and trajineras of Xochimilco, Kahlo’s “Casa Azul” in Coyoacán, and Rivera’s “Cárcamo de Dolores” mural in Chapultepec Park, iconic landmarks of the Mexican metropolis. The event includes preconcert activities for families, including live catrinas and interactive altars. 

Tickets can be purchased online at sfsymphony.org/dia, by calling the SF Symphony box office at 415.864.6000, or by visiting the box office located on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street.  

The Día de los Muertos Concert is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission. ¡Fiesta! Día de los Muertos presenting sponsors include Alexander’s Steakhouse, Tiffany Wannong Deng, and Sharon & David Seto and Pamela Rummage Culp. 

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CONCERT
Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto joins the San Francisco Symphony for the annual Día de los Muertos concert. Prieto opens the program with Carlos Chávez’s Symphony No. 2, Sinfonía india. Trumpeter Pacho Flores and cuatro player Héctor Molina join Prieto and the Orchestra to perform Paquito D’Rivera’s Concerto Venezolano, which D’Rivera wrote specifically for Flores. Prieto conducts Juan Pablo Contreras’ Mariachitlán, an orchestral homage to the composer’s birthplace; Gabriela Ortiz’s Antrópolis, inspired by the sounds of Mexico’s legendary dance halls and nightclubs; and José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango, one of the composer’s best-known works, inspired by the popular music of Veracruz. Dancers from Casa Círculo Cultural are featured throughout the concert, adding to the immersive experience.  

PERFORMERS
Born in Mexico, Carlos Miguel Prieto is renowned for championing Latin American music as well as his dedication to new music. He began his tenure as music director of the North Carolina Symphony at the beginning of the 2023–24 season, and was previously music director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México and the Louisiana Philharmonic. In 2008 he was appointed music director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería. Recognized by Musical America as the 2019 Conductor of the Year, he has an extensive discography on Deutsche Grammophon, Naxos, and Sony. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in November 2022. 

Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores is a first-prize winner at the Maurice André International Trumpet Competition, Philip Jones International Competition, and Cittá di Porcia International contest, in addition to being awarded a gold medal by the Global Music Awards for his album Entropía. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, his most recent recording for the label, Estirpe, was nominated in three categories at the Latin Grammy Awards. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in November 2022. 

Héctor Molina is a Venezuelan composer and cuatro player. He has worked with musicians Cecilia Todd, Gualberto Ibarreto, Serenata Guayanesa, Gustavo Dudamel, Oscar D’León, Carlos Vives, Guaco, Rafael “Pollo” Brito, Marta Gómez, Aquiles Báez, Cheo Hurtado, and Ilan Chester, along with the Mérida State Symphony, Simón Bolívar Symphony, Caracas Municipal Orchestra, Venezuela Symphony, Carabobo Symphony, and Utah Symphony. He is a member of the chamber group Multifonía and the C4 Trio, and is a founding member of the Venezuelan ensemble Los Sinvergüenzas, with whom he has released multiple albums. Molina earned a bachelor of music in composition from the National Experimental University of the Arts in Venezuela and also studied at the University of the Andes in Mérida. With the C4 Trio, he has won multiple Pepsi Venezuela Music Awards and been nominated for a Latin Grammy. He makes his San Francisco Symphony debut with this performance. 

Born in Mexico City and trained as a classical flutist and opera singer, Martha Rodríguez-Salazar is a curator, teacher, choir director, producer, and director of musical productions that celebrate Latin-American Baroque, Classical, and folk culture in the Bay Area. She teaches flute, voice, choir, and mariachi at the Community Music Center and through the mariachi program at the San Francisco Unified School District. She has curated the San Francisco Symphony’s Día de los Muertos Concert since 2008. 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY LOBBY ACTIVITIES
Beginning at 1:30pm on November 2, guests can enjoy art and activities in the colorfully decorated Davies Symphony Hall lobbies. Attendees will be greeted by and have an opportunity to take photos with catrines and catrinas, the iconic image of Día de los Muertos celebrations, presented by Casa Círculo Cultural’s live performers. Bay Area artist Irma Ortiz will demonstrate her process of creating decorated sugar skulls and will have sugar skull decorating activities for children. The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts will present a living altar featuring performer Jean Franco Pilas, also known as “Frida of the Mission,” live painting in front of an easel. Additionally, artist Virginia Gutiérrez-Porter will present children’s activities on the Second Tier, which will include cempasúchil, or marigold, tissue-flower making, paper skull decorating, and crafting milagrito-inspired folk art. Lastly, the Community Music Center’s successful Mariachi CMC ensemble will present a Mariachi Instrument Petting Zoo, where guests will have the opportunity to pick up, hold, and learn to play popular Mariachi instruments, including the guitarrón, vihuela, guitar, and violin. This activity is led by the CMC’s Mariachi faculty and Mariachi professional Daphne Gonzalez Cambambia. Bilingual docents from The Mexican Museum and the Community Music Center will be stationed at each altar and installation to help guide and immerse the audience in the holiday’s rich cultural traditions. 

¡FIESTA! DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS RECEPTION & DINNER
The ¡Fiesta! Día de los Muertos fundraising event, held by the SF Symphony’s San Francisco League and chaired by Sharon Seto, follows the concert at the War Memorial Green Room. Ticket packages include premium seating at the concert followed by a lively cocktail reception with entertainment, a Salvadores Mezcal tasting overlooking San Francisco City Hall, and a seated dinner by popular San Francisco eatery Tropisueño. Sponsors of ¡Fiesta! Día de los Muertos are Alexander’s Steakhouse, Tiffany Wannong Deng, and Sharon & David Seto and Pamela Rummage Culp. 

Packages start at $375 and can be purchased online at sfsymphony.org/Event/DiadelosMuertos or by phone at 415.503.5379. Proceeds from the event support the San Francisco Symphony and its education, artistic, and community programs. 

IMMERSIVE LOBBY ART
Art installations and altars built by local artists honor the living and the deceased inspired by artists and places in Mexico City. Curated by Martha Rodríguez-Salazar, this year’s installations feature works by artists Victoria Grace Canby, Fernando Escartiz, Virginia Gutiérrez Porter, Vero d. Orozco, and Casa Círculo Cultural.   

Victoria Grace Canby honors beloved Mexican artists José Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera in their altar, Why Wait Until We Are Dead? Inspired by Rivera’s “Cárcamo de Dolores” mural in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park, Canby’s altar provides commentary on the importance of water, and all the gifts it provides us, as well as the increasing struggle to find access to clean water, especially in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world. 

Casa Círculo Cultural decorates Davies Symphony Hall windows with giant Posada-inspired skeletons, each standing 10 feet tall and ready to strike up a lively tune! These whimsical, wooden creations are more than just figures—they are a joyful nod to the legendary calaveras crafted by the beloved Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. As they play their instruments, these skeletons invite viewers into the heart of a fiesta where life and death dance together in perfect harmony. Casa Círculo Cultural also brings a collection of Posada’s prints to the lobbies. 

Mexican sculptor Fernando Escartiz brings four pieces to the Davies Symphony Hall lobbies. The Eternal Symphony is a much-loved replica of San Francisco Symphony musicians as skeletons playing an eternal melody on stage. Frida’s House: A Portal to the Hereafter is an arch over the stairway from the Orchestra level to the First Tier, which honors the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo as it merges her iconic home, La Casa Azul, with the profound spiritual and festive traditions of the Day of the Dead. In Trajinera in Xochimilco: A Journey Between Life and Death, Escartiz, in collaboration with Virginia Gutiérrez Porter, creates a trajinera, a traditional boat in Mexico City’s Xochimilco lake, carrying skeletons enjoying a boat ride, as they eat and drink. The trajinera, a traditional symbol from Xochimilco, navigates the waters of this iconic place as well as through the river of our collective memory, where life and dead cohabitate in perfect harmony. Lastly, Echoes of Our Heritage: Catrina and Diego features two large-scale sculptures representing the image of La Catrina, a skeleton dressed in a gala attire as used by the high society, and 10-year old Diego Rivera, and is inspired by Rivera’s mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central, which was painted in 1947 for the Hotel del Prado in Mexico City. These sculptures provide a stunning photo opportunity for guests of the Día de los Muertos concert. 

Virginia Gutiérrez Porter presents We Were Born to Die, an interactive ofrenda dedicated to honoring the lives of our dearly missed loved ones, as well as the artists who have always been a source of inspiration. Using sawdust of vibrant colors alongside wood, candles, and flowers to capture the essence of Mexico and reflect the natural beauty and warmth of Mexican traditions, Gutiérrez Porter brings a rich and authentic feeling into the artwork. The image on the sawdust carpet is a contemporary interpretation of La Catrina. Its design subtly evokes the essence of Frida Kahlo, particularly in the bold, expressive eyebrows, which serve as a visual nod to the iconic artist's unforgettable presence. 

Vero d. Orozco presents Music is Medicine: The Gift of Carlos Chávez, an interactive installation celebrating Carlos Chávez, a composer who profoundly shaped the cultural identity of Mexico by skillfully drawing from diverse and often unexpected inspirations, and whose work Symphony No. 2, Sinfonía india will be performed by the San Francisco Symphony at the Día de los Muertos concert. 

VISUAL ARTISTS
Victoria Grace Canby is a mixed media artist based in the Bay Area with a strongly rooted connection to their birthplace of New Mexico. Their work focuses on their experience as an Indigenous artist and parent, unraveling the complex cycles and history of their family and ancestral stories. With a focus on plants, Indigenous teachings, and personal spiritual symbolism, they create work intended to find solidarity in their community and navigate their Indigenous identity. They hold a bachelor’s degree in art history from Sonoma State University, a master’s degree from Dominican University, and certification in Museum Studies from the Institute of American Indian Art. They participated in the SOMArts Día de los Muertos altars for multiple years and joined the annual procession in the Mission carrying Los Olvidados, skeleton paper bag puppets created in partnership with artist Theo Knox. Most recently, they were a participant in the Manifest Differently, an ongoing art project featuring more than 40 local artists to address issues around colonization and historical trauma.  

Fernando Escartiz was born in Mexico City and became involved in the arts early in his childhood. An assistant and student of Enrique Miralda, Escartiz is also influenced by his late friend, Mexican sculptor Fernando Pereznieto. He enjoys traveling and encountering new textures, colors, forms, and feelings, all of which influence his work as a sculptor, painter, and stage designer. He is a member of the nonprofit Casa Círculo Cultural, where he teaches art classes and works for various events in Northern California. He is also the founder of Escartiz Studio, an artists’ collective that creates public art for the community. 

Virginia Gutiérrez Porter is a vibrant and eclectic artist, graphic designer, and art teacher, whose creative journey has been shaped by the rich cultural heritage of her native Mexico City and the diverse influences of the world around her. Growing up in a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and inspiration, she developed an enduring passion for art that defines her very essence. Her move to the United States 20 years ago expanded her artistic horizons, introducing her to new perspectives, techniques, and mediums. As she continued to excel as a graphic designer, she discovered a passion for creating art that reflects her global outlook, blending traditional Mexican motifs with modern styles and international flair. Through her art and teaching, she seeks to inspire young minds, foster cross-cultural understanding, and celebrate the beauty of diversity. Her art is a testament to the transformative power of creativity, fueled by her curiosity, passion, and dedication to making a positive impact on the world. 

Sugar-skull artist Irma Ortiz was born in the state of Querétaro, Mexico. She has been a Bay Area resident for more than 30 years. Her family has maintained traditional arts and crafts for many generations, and she learned from them the art of making sugar skulls and altars for Día de los Muertos. She enjoys demonstrating what she knows of her culture and has passed on her craft to her daughters and grandchildren. Ortiz has been showing her art at the San Francisco Symphony’s Día de los Muertos since 2011. 

Vero d. Orozco, a disabled Nicaraguan-American from San Francisco, is a versatile artist and seasoned arts administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and a master’s degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is dedicated to championing thoughtful discussions around knowledge and fostering collaborative conversations about equity through arts. She aims to create inclusive spaces where these dialogues can thrive. Currently, she is expanding her skills to dive deeper into research-based art, approaching her work like a collagist by blending different narratives and materials into her pieces. Her precious art includes abstract screen printing and installation pieces. She wants to center under-celebrated communities and under-acknowledged equity issues that contribute to the overall well-being of historically oppressed communities.  

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Acción Latina builds healthy and empowered Latinx communities in the San Francisco Bay Area through cultural arts, community media, and civic engagement. They document and celebrate the diverse cultural history of Latinx communities by publishing the five-decade award-winning bilingual newspaper El Tecolote and producing rich cultural arts programs such as the historic social justice concert Encuentro del Canto Popular, the community-curated arts experience Paseo Artístico, and the Juan R. Fuentes Gallery. Acción Latina has nominated Vero d. Orozco to participate as an artist in this year's Día de los Muertos celebration with the San Francisco Symphony. 

Casa Círculo Cultural of Redwood City is a grassroots, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Mexican culture and arts. Since its inception in May 2009, it has served as a vital link between Mexican traditions and the local community, offering a wide range of cultural programming that reflects the experiences of Latino communities in the Bay Area. With a strong history of organizing cultural celebrations, Casa Círculo Cultural continues to bridge Mexican traditions and the local community. The organization produces theater, concerts, visual arts, and music classes, and operates a community radio station. Casa Círculo Cultural is deeply committed to fostering creativity among underserved Latino youth and adults, providing after-school programming and adult classes that empower individuals to contribute to civic and economic development. The organization believes social change is best achieved through collaboration, community empowerment, art, and civic engagement, making it an essential force for cultural preservation and community growth. 

Community Music Center is a nonprofit institution making high-quality music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, regardless of financial means. CMC believes in the power of music to connect people, celebrate cultures, and transform lives; it is a cornerstone San Francisco cultural institution and a vital hub for music education and performance anchored in the Mission District. They envision students and faculty who are engaged and fulfilled in making music together, and audiences who are energized by their experiences. Inspired by their training, their students are empowered to find their own voice, develop lasting relationships, embrace learning, and give back to their communities. With a newly expanded campus in the Mission and in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco, CMC students come from every neighborhood to learn and make beautiful music. 

The Mexican Museum was founded in 1975 in San Francisco by Chicano artist Peter Rodriguez with the purpose of creating a US institution where the aesthetic expression of the Mexican, Mexican-American, and Latin-American population would be represented. Since its inception, the museum has expanded its vision to reflect the evolution of the Mexican, Chicano, and Latinx experience in the United States. A Smithsonian Affiliate since 2011, the Mexican Museum tells a common story from many countries and cultures from across the Americas: a tale of hope, expansion, redefined borders, economy, and spirituality. It is a shared history of emotions and opportunities manifested through myriad objects and symbols. The Mexican Museum is about connection, reflection, enjoyment, and knowledge of all that we share, and is a device for building bridges, reducing distances, and conceptually outlining a new pan-Americanism. 

The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts was established in 1977 by artists and community activists with a shared vision to promote, preserve, and develop the cultural arts that reflect the living tradition and experiences of the Chicano, Central American, South American, and Caribbean people, and to make arts accessible as an essential element to community development and well-being. MCCLA is a multicultural and multidisciplinary arts organization committed to the collaborative artistic vision of Latino art forms. It provides the community with an arena in which to develop new artistic skills; supports local and established artists that serve their community; and collaborates with other arts, social, and humanitarian groups to provide the widest range of programming possible. 

The Día de los Muertos Concert is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission. The mission of The San Francisco Arts Commission is to invest in an arts community where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources, and platform to share their stories, regardless of race. The San Francisco Arts Commission believes that art is critical to shaping neighborhoods and the urban environment and for fostering social change to confront and resolve the inequities of the past and present to move towards a more equitable future. 

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