Osa Kaufman
Osa began playing cello at the age of 8. Her father, a cellist and orchestra director, was inspirational in Osa’s choice for an instrument to play. Since she was 8, cello has been a part of her life. She has played in orchestras since she was in high school, has played in chamber groups, improvised for poetry readings, and played in a tango music group. Currently, she is playing in the San Francisco Civic Symphony as well as at San Francisco State University in a chamber group, and enjoys playing music with other cellists.
Sarah Steen
TJ Austria
TJ Austria started on the piano at age 5, and started the flute at 10. He has performed with the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic, the 1984 All-American Olympic Marching Band, the UCLA Bruin Marching Band, and the San Francisco Community Music Center Orchestra. In 2001, during the second year of his medical residency in Cambridge, MA, he decided to learn to play the cello, an instrument that had always fascinated him. After moving back to San Francisco in 2003, he joined the flute section of the San Francisco Civic Symphony, and in 2005, decided to develop his cello playing with the cello section. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking with his dog, Chloe. He also loves to bake.
TJ Austria started on the piano at age 5, and started the flute at 10. He has performed with the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic, the 1984 All-American Olympic Marching Band, the UCLA Bruin Marching Band, and the San Francisco Community Music Center Orchestra. In 2001, during the second year of his medical residency in Cambridge, MA, he decided to learn to play the cello, an instrument that had always fascinated him. After moving back to San Francisco in 2003, he joined the flute section of the San Francisco Civic Symphony, and in 2005, decided to develop his cello playing with the cello section. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking with his dog, Chloe. He also loves to bake.
Helen Tsang
Helen has always been interested in music – started playing the piano at the young age of four and studied the violin and flute briefly in intermediate and high school. Her journey with the cello began when she inherited her father's cello. In 2000, her dream of playing with fellow musicians came true when she joined the San Francisco Civic Symphony. She has become a fixture in the cello section since.
She dabbled with composing back in 2002 but life got in the way. In 2010 she renewed her composing interest. She is thrilled and honored to have her music performed by her friends.
Kate Kerrigan
Drawn to its beautiful, lachrymose sound, Kate started studying the cello at the age of 29 and instantly fell in love with it. Having studied piano for eight years during her childhood helped tremendously in terms of reading and understanding music. With a lot of practice, dedication, and sheer love of the instrument, she was able to progress to a stage where she could enjoy playing with others. She has been with the San Francisco Civic Symphony for three years, as well as playing chamber music in different ensembles. The cello is something that she truly looks forward to growing old with.
Drawn to its beautiful, lachrymose sound, Kate started studying the cello at the age of 29 and instantly fell in love with it. Having studied piano for eight years during her childhood helped tremendously in terms of reading and understanding music. With a lot of practice, dedication, and sheer love of the instrument, she was able to progress to a stage where she could enjoy playing with others. She has been with the San Francisco Civic Symphony for three years, as well as playing chamber music in different ensembles. The cello is something that she truly looks forward to growing old with.
