Our History

For many years, the organization staged concerts in a variety of Pacifica locations–a community center, a neighborhood firehouse, an Episcopal church. Here is how we evolved over the years:
  • 1976: Pacifica Performances is founded as the Pacifica Arts and Heritage Council, which assists with art shows, sponsors art, dance, poetry, and calligraphy classes, and provides a meeting place for various community arts groups. Over time, many of these activities are absorbed by the Pacifica Parks, Beaches and Recreation Department.
  • 1996: A group of visual artists renovates a former school building scheduled for demolition. This becomes the Sanchez Art Center. Pacifica Performances subsequently secures the rights to develop the former school’s multi-purpose room into a 175-seat concert hall with adjoining large kitchen and office space.
  • 1997: Pacifica Performances operations moves into the Center.
  • 1998: Packard Foundation provides a grant to build a new stage and install professional lighting equipment in our Concert Hall.
  • 2001: Pacifica Arts and Heritage Council is officially renamed Pacifica Performances and negotiates a ten-year lease with the City.
  • 2001-2002: Pacifica Performances decides to sponsor a cappella vocal ensemble Pacifica Seaside Singers and local jazz band SanJazz.
  • 2009: Sanchez Concert Hall is renamed Mildred Owen Concert Hall, in honor of our founding Artistic Director and SanJazz Band takes the name, Mojazz.
  • 2010: Pacifica Performances renews lease with City for another 10 years.


In recent years, we have updated our sound equipment, purchased a wonderful Baldwin concert grand piano and re-floored the entire hall. Donations from members and friends and the Rotary Club made this possible.

Today our focus is live performance.

Examples of featured artists:
Jazz & Blues:
Maria Maldaur
Lavay Smith
Bud E. Luv
Larry Vuckovich
Wayne Wallace
John Worely
Wesla Whitfield & Mike Greensill
Jim & Morning Nichols
Larry Dunlap & Bobbe Norris
San Francisco Hot Club
Kenny Washington
Stompy Jones
Daniel Castro
Brenda Boykin

World and Dance:
Viviana Guzman
Celia Malheiros
Ed Johnson & Novo Temp
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
Los Boleros
Arabesque Belly Dance Troupe

Classical:
Matthew Laurence Edwards
Robyn Carmichael
Viviana Guzman
Yuan Sheng
Tien Hsieh
Noah Stewart
Russian Chamber Orchestra
Joan Nagano
Kay Stern
Handel's Messiah Sing-Along
Chamber Music - Members of S.F. Opera Orchestra
Guitar Series:
Richard Smith
Adrian Legg
Jim Nichols
Edgar Cruz
Pat Kirtley
Peppino D’Agustino
Michael Manring

Celtic:
Golden Bough
Molly’s Revenge
Jamie Laval & Ashley Broder
Triskela

Bluegrass, Country & Folk:
High Country
Sidesaddle
Curios
Brian Anderson

Drama, Comedy & Word:
S.F. Mime Troupe
Will Durst
Word for Word
The Vagina Monologues
SF Shakespeare Festival
Poet Laureate Robert Haas
Pacifica Poetry Festival


Board of Directors:

Morning Nichols - Artistic Director

Jerry Crow - Chair
Pat Norris - Secretary
Christine Krenzel - Treasurer
Kay Stern - Classical Booker
Bob Welch - Sound/Light and House Manager
Donald Barnaby - Hospitality
Neil Sofia - Rental Committee
Debbie Sofia - Rental Committee
Jim Nichols - Vice Chair & Maintenance
Yvonne Lorvan - In-School Music Program
Ruth Weiller - Grants, Rental & miscellaneous
Tom O'Toole - Sound/Light
Terri Kempton -Board Member

Kat Ilvedson - Office Manager

Mildred Owen - Founding Artistic Director
(1926 - 2009)


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