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).
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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).
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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.
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.
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The Mozart Requiem performance at Carnegie Hall in 2025 will be Viva’s fifth performance under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions, and Shulamit’s fourth MAP conducting appearance.
Shulamit Hoffmann Ed D
Viva la Musica! Founder and Artistic Director
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Shulamit earned her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds master’s degrees in piano performance and in choral conducting, and her bachelor’s degree in music included a major in English literature. She is a licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, London, and of the University of South Africa.
Shulamit founded Viva la Musica as part of her choral conducting master’s program, and she has since served as the ensemble’s artistic director and conductor. Performances include regular bi-annual San Francisco Bay Area concetts, collaborations with other ensembles, and eight performance-focused domestic and European tours.
She has taught at several colleges and universities and is now teaching for the 21st year at College of San Mateo.
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The recipient of several academic and professional scholarships, Shulamit was named Outstanding Graduate Student in the School of Music and Dance at San José State University. She is a San Mateo County Mayors’ Diversity Award honoree. Shulamit has twice received U.S. Congressional Recognitions (2002, 2013) and her biography is entered into the Congressional Record.
Anna Khaydarova
Viva la Musica! Collaborative Pianist
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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 lives with her husband, two children, a dog and a cat!
Anna and Shu post Prague concert
Ola Gjeilo Dark Night of the Soul
St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, June 29 2023
Massed choir under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions
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Anna Khaydarova, piano
Lauren Haber, soprano
Shulamit Hoffmann, conductor
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Mozart Requiem
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St. Marks Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, California, March 6, 2011
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Viva la Musica Choir & Orchestra
Deirdre Lobo-D'Cunha, Soprano
Wendy Morgan Hunter, mezzo-soprano
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Jordan Eldredge, baritone
Freddie Mendoza, tenor trombone
Shulamit Hoffmann, conductor