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DENIS DE COTEAU FELLOWSHIP

DENIS DE COTEAU FELLOWSHIP

SFCM and SF Ballet Partner for a New Fellowship to Advance Opportunities for DIVERSE Musicians

Named after SF Ballet’s longtime music director and SFCM faculty member, the Denis de Coteau Fellowship provides funding, instruction, and performance opportunities for two San Francisco Conservatory of Music students this fall.

The fellowship is named for Denis de Coteau, one of the first Black music directors of a major U.S. orchestra. De Coteau joined SF Ballet in 1968 and served as its music director and conductor from 1974 to 1998 before being appointed music director emeritus in recognition of his leadership of the ballet orchestra, considered to be one of the finest. He was also conductor emeritus and a faculty member at SFCM and was known for his work with youth orchestras, including the Oakland Youth Symphony. De Coteau died in July 1999.

Martin West, music director of the SF Ballet Orchestra said, “We are tremendously excited to be partnering with the SFCM on this project. By welcoming the fellows into our orchestra we hope to give them extraordinary experiences that will help them be successful in their careers and begin building a pipeline to better diversify our profession."

Learn more and apply for the fellowship here.

ARMANDO ATANDA AND MANNY VOUSE NAMED 2024–2025 RECIPIENTS

San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) have selected two new students for the new Denis de Coteau Fellowship for the 2024–2025 school year.

This year’s fellows are Armando Atanda, viola, studying with Yun Jie “Jay” Liu, and Manny Vouse, violin, studying with Simon James and Cordula Merks.

Both musicians, whose personal and professional experiences contribute meaningfully to an expanded culture of diversity in the performing arts, will receive tuition, housing, and a stipend for SFCM’s one-year Professional Studies Certificate in Instrumental Performance. The two students will also have the opportunity to play rehearsals and shows with the SF Ballet Orchestra, as well as other training and support.

“We are very excited to introduce Armando and Manny to our orchestra this season as this year’s Denis De Coteau fellows,” said SF Ballet Music Director Martin West. “These young artists are lifelong learners who are making great contributions to their communities and who exemplify De Coteau’s commitment to music and collaboration.”

“I can’t think of two more deserving musicians to get this opportunity than Manny and Armando,” said SFCM Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Special Advisor to the President Jason Hainsworth. “Having worked with both of them multiple times they embody what the Denis de Coteau Fellowship is all about. Not only are they fantastically gifted musicians, they are giving of their time as members of the community being active and leaders of the Black Student Union.”

In addition to practicing and performing with the ballet orchestra in SF Ballet’s 24/25 season productions of Raymonda, Manon, and Frankenstein, each fellow will participate in chamber concerts, leadership training, and activities with local schools. They will be invited to mock auditions and will receive financial support for professional auditions. As part of the SFCM certificate program, each fellow will participate in advanced, focused studies that emphasize individual instruction and preparation for a performance career.