Hi there!
We are The Bridge Music Collective, a group of musicians comprised of oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and double bass. That’s kind of unusual, but we like it that way - we believe the instrumentation creates an opportunity for a unique sound that can traverse both classic and nontraditional repertoire.
We started our journey as a collective at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music while playing Prokofiev’s Quintet in G minor, Op. 39, one of the very few pieces written for the ensemble. The piece sparked our curiosity to create new combinations with instrumentation, genre, and venue. After graduating from the conservatory in 2023, we mobilized to form our collective and to perform this piece again, along with breaking apart the ensemble into smaller chamber groups. We’ve since continued to evolve, performing music written for different combinations of instruments in our group, arranging pieces we love, and commissioning works from composers.
We prioritize experimentation, curiosity, musicality, and relationships between each other and our collaborators. In short, our goal is to perform music that reaches its audience - you - with music, old and new, in a way that speaks to you and stays with you. We’re all about relationships - between us and the music, within our group as colleagues and friends, with our collaborators such as composers and concert hosts, and with our audiences. We hope to connect with you, too!
Love,
The Bridge Collective <3
aBout us
Sarah
Australian violist Sarah Hooton is an engaging performer and educator in San Francisco who enjoys maintaining a challenging, varied, and dynamic career. Since completing their Master of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2023, they have performed in venues such as Chase Center, Herbst Theatre, San Francisco’s City Hall, Oakland’s iconic Paramount Theatre, and SF Jazz, just to name a few. Despite pursuing a career in classical music, Sarah loves listening to and playing a wide range of musical genres which influences how they approach being a classical musician in today’s world. They hope to promote diversity in their repertoire and performances to make the genre of classical music more enjoyable for listeners. Outside of music, Sarah enjoys practicing Yoga, dancing Cuban salsa, reading, exploring the aisles at Trader Joe’s, and finding people to watch horror movies with them.
Meet the musicians
Caleb
Caleb Rose is clarinetist of the Bridge Music Collective (and a secret saxophonist). A recent graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying under Carey Bell, Caleb hones his craft as a multi-faceted artist. Caleb has performed with groups such as Pocket Opera, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and Back Pocket Media. A fan of performing in traditional and nontraditional settings, he enjoys tinkering with different sounds and exploring unique musical genres. Apart from music, Caleb enjoys spending time outside and cooking delicious vegan meals.
Colton
Oboist T. Colton Potter was born in Switzerland and raised in Orlando, Florida. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory where he studied with Eugene Izotov, Colton has been privileged to perform with ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and One Found Sound, under the direction of conductors like Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and JoAnn Falletta. When he isn’t making reeds, he spends his time developing software, improvising, and composing music of various genres.
Jess
Jessica is a versatile and instinctive artist who plays in all kinds of genres with ease and energy. As a freelance musician in the Bay Area, she enjoys a wide array of performance opportunities, including weddings, collaborating with artists of different genres including SFJAZZ, and recording sessions for movies. She performs frequently with several orchestras around the area, including the California Symphony, Vallejo Symphony, Stockton Symphony, Monterey Symphony, and the Rogue Valley Symphony. Jessica is an avid chamber musician, and in addition to the Bridge Music Collective, she is a member of the Lazuli Quartet, the Hayes Trio, and Duo Islay. Jessica maintains a private violin studio and teaches at several studios and schools in San Francisco, including Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory and Scherzo Music School. She graduated with her master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of Simon James. In her free time, Jessica enjoys singing, reading, hiking, and getting boba with friends.
Carlos
Carlos Valdez is a double bass performer and educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. Passionate about orchestral and chamber music, he is the bassist of the Bridge Music Collective. In addition, Carlos is currently the assistant principal bass of the Rogue Valley Symphony. Carlos has performed regularly with orchestras such as the Santa Cruz Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Vallejo Festival Orchestra, and the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. His educational background includes an Artist Diploma from the SF Academy Orchestra; a Professional Studies Certificate and a Master's degree from the SFCM where he studied with Scott Pingel; and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied with Dr. Marcos Machado. Originally from Lima, Peru, Carlos is a fellow at the Orchestra of Americas Academy starting in January under the guidance of Dominic Seldis, principal bass of the Royal Concertgebouw in the Netherlands.
