17th San Francisco Arts Medallion

On February 7, 2024, the Museum of Performance + Design’s 17th Arts Medallion event unfolded, celebrating the incomparable composer John Adams and his profound impact on the city’s performing arts culture.

The evening commenced at St. Joseph’s Arts Society with an elegant cocktail hour, featuring a mesmerizing piano performance of Adams’s “China Gates” by Sarah Cahill and heartfelt remarks by Jeremy Geffen, Executive & Artistic Director, CAL Performances; Peter Pastreich, former Executive Director, SF Symphony; and ​ Matthew Shilvock, General Director of the SF Opera. Video excerpts showcased Adams’s iconic works, “Nixon in China” and “Antony and Cleopatra.” Michael Tilson Thomas and Joshua Robison, long-standing friends of John Adams, served as Honorary Chairs. Pattie Lawton, MP+D Board President, provided welcoming and closing remarks, underscoring the event’s importance. The Arts Medallion raised generous funds supporting MP+D’s initiatives to preserve Bay Area performing arts history. Attendees, including Alison Mauze, Chair of SF Ballet Board, and Julia Inouye, SFO Director of Communication, contributed to the event’s success, making it a resounding honor to John Adams and preserving the city’s artistic heritage.