Our History
BARS continues to redefine the orchestra experience for audiences and members alike though music’s potential for education and personal enrichment.
October 21, 2007 5 Bay Area musicians meet to form a new type of LGBTQ ensemble: “We are happy with ‘Bay Area Rainbow Symphony’ as an organization name.”
March 5, 2008 First rehearsal at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. 27 musicians attend.
June 8, 2008 Premier concert, part of the Old First Concerts series. Despite having only 8 violins, 3 violas, 5 cellos, and 2 double bases in an ensemble of 39, over 200 audience members attend.
June 16, 2008 Rehearsals begin for second concert. Over 60 musicians attend.
September 6, 2008 First LGBTQ orchestra elected into the Lesbian and Gay Band Association.
September 13, 2008 First performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Concert sells out.
January 2009 Received 501(c)3 non-profit status. BARS musicians march in the first LGBTQ contingent of the presidential inauguration parade with the Lesbian and Gay Band Association.
June 2009 Daniel Canosa takes the baton as first Artistic Director.
November 2009 Drum Drive fundraising campaign launched for acquisition of timpani and other percussion equipment.
March 2010 BARS first collaboration with San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
March 2011 In just 1.5 years, BARS raises funds and purchases timpani. Jessica Bejarano is named BARS first assistant condcutor.
April 2011 Founder and Executive Director Ian Harwood is named a League of American Orchestras Management Fellow.
May 2011 BARS introduces Lauren Brown as it’s first Front of House Manager.
December 2011 Richard Horan, BARS’s President, becomes Executive Director.
June 2012 BARS announces a Guest Conductor season where four finalist candidates audition to be BARS next Music Director.
August 2012 Dawn Harms is appointed Music Director of BARS.
December 2012 BARS makes it debut at Davies Symphony Hall in collaboration with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus.
June 2013 BARS collaborates with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus in the world premier of Andrew Lippa’s I Am Harvey Milk at the Nourse Theater.
November 2014 Renown conductor Michael Morgan makes his first guest conducting appearance with BARS.
June 2015 BARS performs its first all-female composer concert featuring internationally acclaimed soloist Sara Davis Buechner.
April 2016 BARS performs “Tales of Our City” at Davies Symphony Hall with SF Gay Men’s Chorus and Armistead Maupin.
June 2016 BARS performs a free benefit concert at the SF Conservatory of Music in Memory of the Orlando Victims
November 2016 Alasdair Neale makes his first guest conducting appearance with BARS.
March 2017 BARS makes its debut at Herbst Theatre with the world’s most famous double bass soloist, Gary Karr.
March 2018 BARS celebrates its 10th Anniversary at Herbst Theatre with renowned soprano Patricia Racette.
February 2019 BARS performs with over a dozen instruments from the Violins of Hope project honoring the spirit of musicians who were in Nazi concentration camps.
November 2021 BARS returns to the stage for a sell-out live performance after a pause for the COVID pandemic, performing Corigliano, Beethoven and Florence Price.
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June 2024, Music Director Dawn Harms annouces her resignation after a momentus 10 years of leading BARS.
June 2025, Robert Mollicone announced as BARS new Music Director.