Name: Afternoon Chamber Music Concert
Start: 2025-11-08T15:00:00-08:00
Location: North and East

Ensemble Humanité Presents a Powerful Afternoon of Chamber Music Featuring the Cecilia String Quartet and Clarinetist Bruce Foster
San Rafael, CA – Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 p.m.
Ensemble Humanité, the inclusive and community-driven chamber ensemble, is proud to present a special afternoon of music featuring the Cecilia String Quartet and clarinetist Bruce Foster, whose artistry and vision continue to redefine what is possible in classical music.
This emotionally rich program features two powerful works: Béla Bartók’s Contrasts, a vibrant and rhythmically daring trio for clarinet, violin, and piano; and Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, one of the great Romantic masterpieces of chamber music, full of lyrical beauty, drive, and warmth. Together, these pieces offer a compelling musical journey—from folk-inspired modernism to Romantic passion.
At the heart of Ensemble Humanité’s mission is the belief that live music can build connection, restore dignity, and create shared joy across all walks of life.
Featured Artists
Ensemble Humanité
Co-founded by pianist Ayaka Isono and violinist Maki Ishii, Ensemble Humanité presents chamber music both in traditional concert halls and in community spaces such as senior residences and schools—places where music has the most human impact.
Ayaka Isono studied at Indiana University, Bloomington and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. After losing her sight as an adult, she forged a path as a powerful and empathetic pianist, combining virtuosity with a deep belief in accessibility, resilience, and the transformative power of performance. She has collaborated with principal musicians of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, New York Metropolitan Opera, and major orchestras across the United States and abroad, earning praise for her artistry, versatility, and deep musical sensitivity.
Maki Ishii has been a member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra for more than 25 years. A graduate of The Juilliard School, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy, she brings a wealth of artistry and leadership to the ensemble’s mission.
In 2025, Ensemble Humanité became an affiliated artist of InterMusic SF, strengthening its ability to offer inclusive, community-based programming throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
Cecilia String Quartet
Maki Ishii Sowash – Violin 1
Michael Long – Violin 2
Paul Ehrlich – Viola
Victoria Ehrlich – Cello
Formed in 2020 during the pandemic, the Cecilia String Quartet is united by a passion for bringing chamber music directly into the community. Its members include current and former players from the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, as well as a concertmaster of various symphonies across California. Known for their dynamic energy, deep musicality, and cohesion, the quartet has quickly become one of the Bay Area’s most compelling chamber ensembles.
Bruce Foster, Clarinet
An active performer and educator, Bruce Foster recently returned to the Bay Area after serving as Principal Clarinet of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. While there, he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic under Maestro Lorin Maazel in a special collaboration featuring music from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. In the Bay Area, he has taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division and performed widely with ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, and the California Symphony.
Program
Béla Bartók – Contrasts for clarinet, violin, and piano
Robert Schumann – Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44
Venue: Studio Fourth Street, 1569 4th Street, San Rafael
Time: Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Reserve seats:
📩 Email: [email protected]
$25 advance donation to reserve seats
$30 at the door (if space is available)
Donate online: InterMusic SF – Ensemble Humanité