Viva la Musica!
Inspired performance!
Viva la Musica! was founded by Shulamit Hoffmann in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001. After more than 20 years of bi-annual local performances, Viva’s repertoire now spans 50 choral-orchestral works, hundreds of choral works, "scores" of orchestral works, and several multi-media presentations (repertoire).
Collaborations at home include Rutter Mass of the Children with the Saratoga Symphony and Ragazzi, Shulamit conductor; Beethoven Mass in C, Brahms Requiem, and Mendelssohn Die erste Walpurgisnacht with Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, David Ramadanoff conductor; and Beethoven Ninth Symphony and Karl Jenkins In these Stones Horizons Sing with Symphony Parnassus, Stephen Paulson conductor.
Choir-and-orchestra tours include the International Choral Kathaumixw, Canada (2004); International Choral Festival, Vermont (2005); Singing with Sir David Willcocks and Duane Wolff, Vancouver, B.C. (2006); Vienna and Salzburg (2006); Mozart Requiem, Prague and Dresden (2011); Forrest Jubilate Deo and Gjeilo Dark Night of the Soul, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, (2017).
Under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions concerts include: Rutter Mass of the Children, Rutter conducting (2008); Vivaldi Gloria (2009) Carnegie Hall, New York, Shulamit conducting; Forrest Requiem for the Living (2019), Carnegie Hall, Shulamit conducting; Rutter Magnificat, (2023), Bath Abbey, Rutter conducting, and Ola Gjeilo Dark Night of the Soul, London, Shulamit conducting.; Mozart Requiem (2025) Carnegie Hall, New York. The choir is eagerly looking forward to performing Ochoa Misa del Pueblo and spirituals in Stockholm's Kungsholm Kyrke, and Mozart Coronation Mass, Handel Zadok the Priest, and Haydn Te Deum for Empress Maria Theresa in the Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden (2026). And planning our 2027 residency in Ireland.
Shulamit Hoffmann Ed D
Viva la Musica! Founder and Artistic Director
Shulamit Hoffmann founded Viva la Musica! in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001. The ensemble’s repertoire includes major choral-orchestral works, multi-cultural and multi-media, and concert collaborations with sister performing arts organizations. Performance tours include Vermont (2004), Vienna and Salzburg (2006), Prague and Dresden (2011), Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, and St Petersburg (2017), London and Bath (2023) and Carnegie Hall, New York (2008, 2009, 2019, 2025). Viva’s imminent performances in Sweden will mark Dr Hoffmann’s fifth and sixth conducting appearance under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.
Dr Hoffmann celebrates her twenty-fifth year at the College of San Mateo, California, having served on the faculties of Notre Dame de Namur University, California, Idaho State University, Brigham Young University Extension Idaho, the University of Witwatersrand, and University of Cape Town.
Dr Hoffmann earned her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. She holds master’s degrees in piano performance and choral conducting, and licentiate diplomas in piano teaching from the Royal Schools of Music, London, and the University of South Africa. Her mentors include Drs. Hal Abeles, Randall Allsup, and Marie Volpe, music education; Dr Charlene Archibeque (American Choral Directors Association Robert Shaw Awardee), choral conducting; and Dr Adolph Hallis and Lamar Crowson, piano.
Named Outstanding Graduate Student in the San José State University School of Music and Dance, Dr Hoffmann has won scholarships from Columbia University, University of South Africa, University of Witwatersrand, and the Cape Tercentenary Foundation. She has served on Music Teachers National Association and National Federation of Music Clubs local boards. She has twice received US Congressional Recognition, and her name is entered into the US Congressional Record for service to her community. She is a recipient of the San Mateo County Mayors’ Diversity Award.
Shulamit and her husband are ardent lovers of Miniature Schnauzers. Current siblings Felix and Fanny (Mendelssohn) were preceded by Amadeus and Nannerl (Mozart), Toby (after piano pedagogue Tobias Matthay), and Smutsie (after South African statesman Jan Smuts).
Anna Khaydarova
Viva la Musica! Collaborative Pianist
Anna Khaydarova earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance with an Award of Excellence from Notre Dame de Namur University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with honors from Tashkent State Conservatory, in Uzbekistan. Anna won Second Place in the Bartok–Prokofiev-Kabalevski International Piano Competition in Redford, Virginia, and First Place in the Notre Dame Concerto Competition, in Belmont, California.
Anna has served as collaborative pianist for Viva la Musica since 2005, and has been a featured soloist in Viva’s performances of Beethoven Choral Fantasy and Mozart Double Piano Concerto. Anna is also pianist for Folsom Lake College Choral Program and other choirs. She has traveled in the U.S. and Europe with these organizations as featured pianist and accompanist.
She is Music Director at Island United Church, Foster City, where she also has an active piano teaching studio. Anna has two children, Darrell and Nicole, Stella the dog, and a cat.
Lacrimosa from Mozart Requiem
Carnegie Hall, New York, June 22, 2025
Presented by MidAmerica Productions
Shulamit Hoffmann, conductor
New England Symphonic Ensemble and Combined Choir
Ola Gjeilo Dark Night of the Soul
St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, June 29 2023
Massed choir under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions
Anna Khaydarova, piano
Lauren Haber, soprano
Shulamit Hoffmann, conductor