Steinway Society the Bay Area doesn’t actually offer memberships. Our concerts are open to the public. If you’d like to support classical piano music and the Steinway Society, as a non-profit organization we accept and welcome donations. Donations allow us to bring top international pianists to Silicon Valley, and to conduct outreach in schools and the community. Learn More.
The atmosphere is comfortable. Our patrons like to dress in what they would typically wear to the workplace or to a Silicon Valley restaurant.
Concerts are typically two hours, including a 15-minute intermission. Thirty minutes before each concert, we have a lecture by a music professional, who provides insights and background into the music being played that performance. The lectures are included in your ticket, so there is no charge to attend these pre-concert sessions.
Our venues are small, so if you already have your tickets, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the lecture or the concert. If you are picking up your tickets at Will Call, we recommend arriving 20 minutes early.
Each artist’s program is included on our website, as well as in the program you will receive the night of the concert. Many of the pieces that you will hear may be familiar, because classical music has been part of our every day life in many ways.
For instance, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is the Pink Panther theme played on various instruments. In both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, you hear Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Have you seen the movies The King’s Speech, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Knowing? Beethoven’s 7th Symphony was used as the soundtrack for all of them. Classical music is used in more than just films. The commercial for Grand Theft Auto 3 includes music from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and for many years, United Airlines has used Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for their advertising.
Sometimes our artists choose pieces that are new or not often performed. This is a way for you to be exposed to repertoire that you may not have heard previously.
Absolutely! If a child can sit and enjoy classical music, this is a welcome setting. While it is most typical to see children ages 12 and older, younger children who are studying music or an instrument will often deeply connect with a piano recital. Each child must have their own ticket. We ask that you don’t bring infants and toddlers, as they are less likely to be able to sit quietly through the performance.
We love for you to post about us on social media—but not during a concert! We request that patrons keep their pagers, phones, and tablets silenced or off during the concert, so that electronic distractions will not diminish the enjoyment for those sitting nearby. We also ask that no flash photography be used in the concert hall. Recording concerts is not allowed.
