Music is Home

A photo series offering a glimpse into our lives as we shelter-in-place.
DAN SMITH, V

Artist’s Statement

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Nam ut erat egestas, malesuada nisi vel, congue diam. Aenean suscipit, eros ut condimentum molestie, enim enim vehicula augue, eu tincidunt felis quam vel purus. Curabitur sit amet mauris eget lectus vestibulum blandit non non dolor. Aenean varius purus nec neque volutpat lacinia sit amet eu sapien. Sed quis elit arcu. Fusce quam metus, efficitur sit amet odio sit amet, cursus hendrerit leo. Praesent finibus semper enim, vitae condimentum elit varius sed. Cras in turpis vel sapien. — David Kim, viola

Jessica Valeri, french horn
jonathan vinocour, viola

Jessica Valeri, Jonathan Vinocourt and son in front of Mural

Jessica Valeri, french horn
Jonathan Vinocour, viola

French horn player Jessica Valeri, violist Jonathan Vinocour, and son Luca have settled into a routine at home, and the days seem to be moving faster. Waking up at 6:15am to a child requesting breakfast and trying to structure an entire day of activities is challenging, but they’re enjoying spending time with each other. ⁣

“The shelter-in-place has been a bit of a pressure cooker for our family. We know that parents everywhere are facing similar struggles, yet there are incredible moments that have brought us closer together,” Jessica says. “We’re always in a rush to get to our concerts in the evenings, and to be able to take our time, make dinner, and put our son to bed has been priceless. Luca turns 5 next month, but unfortunately we won’t have a party, which is disappointing for a socially extroverted child. Yesterday he said ‘I want to hold hands and not be 6 feet away from my friends, Mommy.’ It was charming but also heartbreaking.”⁣

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— Jessica Valeri, french horn

French horn player Jessica Valeri, violist Jonathan Vinocour, and son Luca have settled into a routine at home, and the days seem to be moving faster. Waking up at 6:15am to a child requesting breakfast and trying to structure an entire day of activities is challenging, but they’re enjoying spending time with each other. ⁣
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“The shelter-in-place has been a bit of a pressure cooker for our family. We know that parents everywhere are facing similar struggles, yet there are incredible moments that have brought us closer together,” Jessica says. “We’re always in a rush to get to our concerts in the evenings, and to be able to take our time, make dinner, and put our son to bed has been priceless. Luca turns 5 next month, but unfortunately we won’t have a party, which is disappointing for a socially extroverted child. Yesterday he said ‘I want to hold hands and not be 6 feet away from my friends, Mommy.’ It was charming but also heartbreaking.”⁣

Jonathan Vinocourt, viola
Jessica Valeria, french horn and son, Luca

Raushan Akhmedyarova, violin

Raushan Akhmedyarova, violin

It has been almost 2 months since our last concert at Davies Symphony Hall. We miss the interaction between performers and audience—the vibrant human exchange that brings us together during a live performance. Violinist Raushan Akhmedyarova feels this acutely as she shelters-in-place at home in Mill Valley, California. Yet adapting to these rapidly changing times has also been rewarding for her. Meditation is part of her daily routine, and she has found comfort in staying focused in the present moment.⁣
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“We can’t dwell in the past, as it already seems like a lifetime ago. We also don’t know what the future holds for us. The present moment is all we have right now, and that’s exactly what meditation teaches you. One day we will all be able to come together again and enjoy our shared love of music—and when that moment comes, it will be beautiful.”⁣

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— Raushan Akhmedyarova
Raushan Akhmedyarova, violin
Raushan Akhmedyarova, violin

Wayne Roden, viola

Wayne Roden, viola
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— Wayne Roden, viola

For violist Wayne Roden, the global pandemic has brought uncertainty to the end of his incredible career with the SF Symphony. He joined the orchestra in 1974 when Seiji Ozawa was music director and has performed almost 10,000 concerts over the span of his 46-year tenure. Leaving behind decades of music and memories is not easy, and the reality of stepping down during the public health crisis has started to sink in.⁣
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“I have been struggling with the question of when to retire, realizing how much it means to me to be a musician and a member of the SF Symphony. I thought the 2020-21 season would probably be my last, but the pandemic struck, and now no one knows when concerts will resume. The idea that I may never walk on the stage of Davies Symphony Hall again and make music with my colleagues troubles me deeply.”⁣

Wayne, viola
Wayne, viola

Amos Yang, cello

Amos Yang, cello

The world around us has completely transformed during these unprecedented times and for cellist Amos Yang, San Francisco’s call to shelter-in-place has brought an expanded view of what “isolation” means. He has 8 people living under 1 roof: Amos, his wife Alicia (who is a regular substitute violinist with the SF symphony), their children Isabel and Noah, and their Formosan mountain dog Kayla, plus Amos’s sister Faith Ro and her family, who were visiting the US from Shanghai.⁣
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On March 28, China began limiting entry into the country in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This was also the day when Faith’s family was scheduled to fly home. Already checked in and with their luggage on the plane, their flight was suddenly canceled. The newly displaced Ro’s self-quarantined at a nearby hotel for 2 weeks and then moved in with Amos, who will host them until it is safe to travel back to China.

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Amos
amos

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