SF Conservatory of Music Bolsters Faculty with Stars from LA Phil, SF Opera

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

West End / UK

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

New hires include musicians from the San Francisco Symphony, SF Opera, and San Francisco Choral Society.

Most Popular

Get all the top news & discounts for San Francisco & beyond.

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has announced the appointment of three internationally recognized performers and educators to its faculty: Joseph Pereira (Principal Timpani, Los Angeles Philharmonic), Tim Keeler (Music Director, Chanticleer), and Michael Cox (Principal Trombone, San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras). These high-profile appointments deepen SFCM's ties to the West Coast's most prestigious musical institutions and ensure that students in the percussion, vocal, and brass departments are mentored by active practitioners at the very peak of their careers. Together, these three appointments represent a strategic investment in the Conservatory's mission to bridge the gap between academic rigor and the pinnacle of professional performance — offering students direct access to artists who are actively shaping the West Coast's cultural landscape.

Get all the top news & discounts for San Francisco & beyond.

A Master of Timpani, Composition, and the Entrepreneurial Musical Life

The arrival of Joseph Pereira marks a major milestone for SFCM's percussion department. Appointed Principal Timpanist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic by Esa-Pekka Salonen in 2007, Pereira previously spent a decade as Assistant Principal Timpanist and Section Percussionist with the New York Philharmonic — a tenure that forged lasting professional bonds with SFCM Percussion Department Chair Jacob Nissly and faculty member Haruka Fujii. It is, in his own words, what drew him back.

“My time in New York overlapped with Percussion Department Chair Jacob Nissly and faculty Haruka Fujii, which was one of the big reasons for me to accept this position. I know they're great players and great people, and I think we could build something really special together.” — Joseph Pereira, Incoming SFCM Percussion Faculty

Pereira brings a career defined by both orchestral mastery and fearless creative range. As a soloist, he was featured on a Deutsche Grammophon recording of William Kraft 's Timpani Concerto No. 1, and his percussion quartet Repousssé earned a Grammy nomination. As a composer, his works — described by The New York Times as “restless yet lucidly textured” — have been commissioned by the LA Phil, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Miro Quartet. He even maintains a custom line of timpani mallets manufactured and sold worldwide, offering SFCM students a rare, holistic view of what a 21st-century musical career can look like: from the conductor's podium to instrument design to the world's most prestigious stages.

Redefining the Singer as a Consummate Musician

Grammy Award-winning conductor and singer Tim Keeler joins SFCM as the new Director of the University Chorus, bringing with him the prestige and artistic rigor of Chanticleer, San Francisco's world-renowned “Orchestra of Voices” — the first vocal ensemble ever named Musical America's Ensemble of the Year. Keeler is only the fourth music director in Chanticleer's history to have previously performed as a member, having sung countertenor with the group during the 2017–18 season before taking the helm as its sixth music director. Richard Cox , Executive Chair and Professor of Voice at SFCM, welcomed the appointment enthusiastically:

“I am beyond excited that Tim Keeler is joining SFCM as the new director of the University Chorus! As the Music Director of Chanticleer, Tim brings incredible experience as an active singer, conductor, and educator that will inspire our entire community. He is a shining example of the innovative careers musicians can build in the Vocal Arts!” — Richard Cox , Executive Chair & Professor of Voice, SFCM

Keeler's academic pedigree is as formidable as his performance record, encompassing degrees from Princeton and Cambridge alongside a DMA in choral conducting from the University of Maryland. His conducting background spans the Juilliard Summer Performing Arts program, the Special Music School High School in Manhattan, and Chanticleer's own award-winning education programs. His educational philosophy centers on a single, galvanizing conviction:

“Redefining the singer as a consummate musician is one of my passions. Singing is such an intrinsic part of musical expression, no matter whether you're a violinist or a trombone player. The chorus at SFCM is really special and really unique. Because it's mandatory, it offers this rare opportunity for students from literally every department to come together and create this cohesive community.” — Tim Keeler, Incoming Director of the University Chorus, SFCM

Orchestral Precision and Professional Mentorship from the Heart of San Francisco

The Conservatory's brass department is equally bolstered by the addition of Michael Cox, a musician whose career is already woven into the fabric of San Francisco's performing arts scene. Currently serving as Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Opera and Second Trombone for the San Francisco Ballet, Cox joined the local orchestral community in 2023 after serving as Principal Trombone of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. A former fellow of the New York Philharmonic Global Academy and a product of elite training programs including Tanglewood and the Music Academy of the West, he has also performed as a guest with the “Big Five” orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Chicago Symphony. Cox's mentorship style is rooted in the same discipline and commitment he brings to the pit every night:

“I'm excited to work with students who have decided that this is what they really want to do — this is what draws them in, this is what drives them. And SFCM students have that. I have not met one person here who is not hardworking and intelligent and talented.” — Michael Cox, Incoming SFCM Brass Faculty

By integrating active, world-class practitioners into its faculty, the Conservatory ensures that its students are not merely studying music in a vacuum but are being mentored by the very musicians leading the world's most prestigious ensembles. Through these appointments, SFCM continues to ensure that its graduates are prepared to lead the next generation of global musical innovation.

Review: JEKYLL & HYDE at Woodminster Summer Musicals

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Reveals 2026 Participants for The Ground Floor

BROADWAY BARES San Francisco Raises Record-Breaking $177,787

RELEASE: CORALINE IN CONCERT to Debut at ATG San Francisco's Curran Theatre

Get an Alert Each Time Stephi Wild Writes

BroadwayWorld TV

Recommended For You

Sign up for announcements and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 — Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/San-Francisco-Conservatory-of-Music-to-Add-Three-New-Faculty-Members-From-Top-West-Coast-Ensembles-20260623)._