Dear San Francisco Philharmonic Patron,Now that we’ve entered the month of April, we’re just three weeks away from our final concert of the 2024-2025 season–it’s hard to believe how quickly this season has flown by! We would love to see you on April 26 at 7:30 at the Herbst Theatre for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Philharmonic’s musical year. We’ll be kicking off the evening with the riotous “Danse Bacchanale” from the opera Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns: the piece’s final, furious moments will have you gasping for breath! Then, we’ll be joined by Ani Bukujian, principal second violinist of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. Ani has delighted SF Phil audiences in the past with her expressive, energetic musicality, and she’ll be performing Samuel Barber’s moving Violin Concerto, which is a staple of 20th-century American classical music.The second half of our program features an orchestral masterpiece rightfully beloved by fans of classical music from around the world: Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9: From the New World. Astronaut Neil Armstrong took along a recording of the symphony during the Apollo 11 mission, which landed on the moon, but you can hear it right here on Earth, performed by the SF Phil! Our March concert was presented to a near-sellout crowd at the Herbst, so head over to City Box Office now to score your tickets for our season finale!The mission of the San Francisco Philharmonic, which is palpable at each one of our concerts and engagements, is to take high-quality classical music off an elite podium and make it available to diverse audiences at affordable prices. We couldn’t fulfill this mission without your support: from securing sheet music to renting rehearsal venues and partnering with world-class soloists, every donation helps. As we close our season, we hope you’ll consider supporting the SF Phil–every donation counts, and every gift is tax deductible.Wishing you a terrific month ahead, and hoping to see you on the 26th!Jessica BejaranoFounder and Music DirectorSan Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra  About Our Soloist, Ani Bukujian Ani Bukujian was born into a musical family and started playing the violin at the age of two and a half. Bukujian studied with her father exclusively until the age of 15.A native of Los Angeles, she is the winner of numerous musical competitions, including three gold medals at World Championship of Performing Arts, first place at JS Bach Competition, ASTA Annual National Solo Competition, and Pasadena String Festival. At the age of 7, she was a solo performer in her debut concert with a chamber orchestra at Glendale’s Alex Theatre. Bukujian was also part of Viva-Vivaldi All-Girl Orchestra in Washington DC, being the youngest first violin in the orchestra. At the age of 8, she was asked to perform a solo piece with Bakersfield Symphony, where she played one of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. As an AGBU scholarship recipient, she performed at Weill Recital Hall in her first year at The Julliard School in 2012.Bukujian has recently performed as a member of Charleston Symphony Orchestra and has served as concertmistress at Miami Summer Music Festival, where she played the solo of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra. She has also participated in other festivals such as Bowdoin Music Festival and Fontainebleau Festival in France. She has performed at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen and Alice Tully Hall, in addition to Carnegie Hall’s Stern, Zankel, and Weill venues.She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master of Music from The Juilliard School where she studied with Lewis Kaplan from 2011 to 2015 and Laurie Smukler from 2015 to 2017. In addition, she attended the San Francisco Conservatory where she studied with Alexander Barantschik. Bukujian is currently a principal second violinist for San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

Keynote Speaker
Michael Rubin

Michael Rubin is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he specializes in Iran, Turkey, and the broader Middle East.

A former Pentagon official, Dr. Rubin has lived in post-revolution Iran, Yemen, and both pre- and postwar Iraq. He also spent time with the Taliban before 9/11. For more than a decade, he taught classes at sea about the Horn of Africa and Middle East conflicts, culture, and terrorism, to deployed US Navy and Marine units.

Dr. Rubin is the author, coauthor, and coeditor of several books exploring diplomacy, Iranian history, Arab culture, Kurdish studies, and Shi’ite politics, including “Seven Pillars: What Really Causes Instability in the Middle East?” (AEI Press, 2019); “Kurdistan Rising” (AEI Press, 2016); “Dancing with the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes” (Encounter Books, 2014); and “Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos” (Palgrave, 2005).

Dr. Rubin has a PhD and an MA in history from Yale University, where he also obtained a BS in biology.

Saturday, April 26
6 PM

St. Andrew Armenian Church
1370 S Stelling Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

www.kzv.org/events

Join us for a day of restoration and nourishment on Saturday, May 10 at the lovely @berkeleyherbalcenter 🌿

Anahit Markosian, founder and head herbalist of the Armenian organic skincare brand @nairian.us will guide us in a DIY herbal oil workshop, followed by an Armenian tea tasting & pressed flower arts&crafts. A light meal and workshop materials will be provided.

Tickets are $33 per person. Sign up early and Venmo “🌼” to @ emanouks to secure your spot. Bring a 12oz mason jar with you and snacks to share 🍓

Antaram | Անթառամ 🌼 (lat. helichrysum) the Armenian name for a flower containing unfading, everlasting wisdom ֍

In solidarity, 

Dear Armenian Community of the San Francisco Bay Area!

You are cordially invited to celebrate Homenetmen Walnut Creek Gars chapter’s 25th Anniversary Gala on May 10th.
We sincerely hope you will join us for an unforgettable evening of dinner, dancing, and celebration as we honor our community’s achievements.

Please RSVP by April 26th.

For purchasing individual tickets, sponsoring the event, or placing an ad in our ad book, please visit this link: https://www.walnutcreekgars.org/gala
Thank you for your continued support and dedication. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Homenetmen Walnut Creek Gars
Executive Committee

RSVP: https://www.walnutcreekgars.org/gala

HAYRENIQ- Vonn Dance School Annual Performance

Date: May 10th at 5 pm

Place: VPAC Theater, De Anza College

Presented by the Cultural Organization of the St. Andrew Armenian Church, the Vonn Dance School Annual Showcase “Hayreniq” is a vibrant celebration of Armenian culture, history, and identity through the art of dance and music.

This year’s event brings together dedicated dancers of all ages—from children to adults—along with special guest performers for an unforgettable evening that celebrates the richness of our heritage. The program features heartfelt choreographies inspired by traditional Armenian folk dances, reflecting the strength, spirit, and timeless stories of the Armenian people—from village gatherings to expressions of national identity.