Osa Kauffman
Osa Kauffman began playing cello at the age of eight. Her father, a cellist and orchestra director, was inspirational in Osa’s choice for an instrument to play. Since she was eight, cello has been a part of her life. She has played in orchestras since she was in high school, has played in chamber groups, improvised for poetry readings, and played in a tango music group. Currently, she is playing in the San Francisco Civic Symphony as well as at San Francisco State University in a chamber group, and enjoys playing music with other cellists.
Helen Tsang
Helen has always been interested in music – started playing the piano at the young age of four and studied the violin and flute briefly in intermediate and high school. Her journey with the cello began when she inherited her father's cello. In 2000, her dream of playing with fellow musicians came true when she joined the San Francisco Civic Symphony. She has become a fixture in the cello section since.
TJ Austria
TJ Austria started on the piano at age five, and started the flute at age ten. He has performed with the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic, the 1984 All-American Olympic Marching Band, the UCLA Bruin Marching Band, and the San Francisco Community Music Center Orchestra. In 2001, during the second year of his medical residency in Cambridge, MA, he decided to learn to play the cello, an instrument that had always fascinated him. After moving back to San Francisco in 2003, he joined the flute section of the San Francisco Civic Symphony, and in 2005, decided to develop his cello playing with the cello section. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking with his dog, Chloe. He also loves to bake.
Kate Kerrigan
Drawn to its beautiful, lachrymose sound, Kate started studying the cello at the age of 29 and instantly fell in love with it. Having studied piano for eight years during her childhood helped tremendously in terms of reading and understanding music. With a lot of practice, dedication, and sheer love of the instrument, she was able to progress to a stage where she could enjoy playing with others. She has been with the San Francisco Civic Symphony for three years, as well as playing chamber music in different ensembles. The cello is something that she truly looks forward to growing old with.
Karla Schiemann
Karla's first endeavor with music was singing, at the age of seven. Her passion for musical expression grew into singer, songwriter, guitarist, writing her own music and performing it in the New York City area. When done with that exploration, she embraced the cello, a challenging shift in music direction, and relocated to San Francisco in 2005. Since 2007 she has been a cellist with the San Francisco Civic Symphony.
Rod Williams
Rod studied piano and clarinet as a kid, but always thought he'd like to try the cello too. Deciding that it's never too late, he started lessons right after his 50th birthday. He loves making music with others most of all, and has been recently heard singing tenor in a choir.
Madhuri Vivit
Madhuri started playing the cello in 2005 and has been studying with Hannah Addario-Berry since 2006. She joined the SFCS in 2011 and also enjoys playing chamber music in a piano trio with friends.
Thomas Alexander
Thomas began playing the violin at the age of four after seeing children even younger than him playing with Suzuki groups in San Diego. He studied Suzuki method with Janet Gastil through high school and later graduated from UCSD with a degree in violin performance.Thomas is the concertmaster as well as associate conductor for the San Francisco Civic Symphony.
Leslie Cape
Leslie began her musical career at the age of five, taking piano lessons from her mother, an Eastman School of Music graduate. This was followed by flute lessons in the fourth grade. In high school, drawn to the bassoon for it's duality of playfulness and soulfulness, she studied bassoon with Karla Ekholm. Leslie has been with the San Francisco Civic Symphony since 1994.
Vita Yee
Vita started playing the violin at an early age, studying with Doris Fukawa, a well known violinist and educator in the Bay Area. She continued her studies with Hector Valdivia, Professor of Music at Carleton College. After a long hiatus from the violin, Vita is back and happy to be playing with the San Francisco Civic Symphony.
