Written By Sason Bishope Parry
One of San Francisco’s most cherished traditions arrives each year with the celebration of Chinese New Year. With the large Chinese American community that calls San Francisco and the greater Bay Area home, the Lunar New Year becomes a vibrant citywide celebration that stretches across generations. Yet what makes the holiday especially unique is that you don’t have to be Chinese to appreciate it. The festivities welcome everyone to experience the beauty, culture, and spirit of the celebration while honoring the traditions of the Chinese community.
Each Lunar New Year is represented by a different animal in the Chinese zodiac, and 2026 marks the Year of the Horse. More specifically, it is the rare and powerful Fire Horse year, a cycle that occurs only once every sixty years. In Chinese astrology, the Fire Horse symbolizes energy, independence, and transformation. It is believed to usher in a fast-paced period filled with bold decisions, adventure, and unexpected opportunities. The Fire Horse favors action over hesitation and often signals breakthroughs in careers, travel, and personal growth.
In San Francisco, the Lunar New Year celebration would hardly feel complete without the San Francisco Symphony’s annual Lunar New Year concert at Davies Hall, one of the city’s most elegant cultural traditions. On Saturday afternoon, February 28, the grand venue transformed into a dazzling celebration of culture, music, and artistry. Led by the dynamic conductor Mei-Ann Chen, the event blended traditional Asian influences with modern orchestral flair, highlighted by stunning performances.
The festivities began long before the orchestra took the stage. Guests entering Davies Hall were greeted by an atmosphere that felt more like a festival than a traditional concert evening. The lobby buzzed with excitement as families, music lovers, and cultural enthusiasts gathered to take part in the pre-concert activities. Lion dancers roamed through the halls, artists demonstrated their crafts, and fortune readers offered glimpses into what the Year of the Horse might hold.
Adding to the festive energy, many guests arrived dressed in vibrant reds and golds, colors deeply associated with luck, prosperity, and happiness in Chinese culture. The result was a dazzling sea of color that filled the hall with warmth and celebration. Younger attendees were especially thrilled by one of the most charming details of the afternoon, beautiful ponies, brought in to symbolize the spirit of the Fire Horse year, which quickly became a favorite attraction for families.
The color red carries special significance during Lunar New Year. In Chinese culture, it represents success, wealth, joy, and protection from misfortune. Some traditions even
suggest that wearing red underwear during the New Year can help attract good luck and positive energy while warding off evil spirits, especially during one’s Ben Ming Nian, or zodiac birth year. Naturally, I came prepared with my own pair of red Calvin Kleins in the spirit of the occasion.
The San Francisco Symphony celebrates Lunar New Year with two major experiences each year. The first is the main concert at Davies Hall, open to all ticket holders and beginning at 5 p.m., where guests can enjoy the full decorative spectacle and festivities throughout the venue. For those seeking an even more elevated evening, the celebration also includes a VIP reception, and a post-concert banquet dinner held at a separate venue, offering guests a more exclusive cultural dining experience.
The décor throughout Davies Hall was simply stunning. Yellow paper lanterns floated high within the venue’s glass atrium, casting a warm glow across the space, while towering arrangements of red and orange gladiolas lined the staircase. Dragon imagery and festive displays filled the hall with color and symbolism. One of the biggest highlights came when the lion dance troupe made its way through the crowd with a glowing LED-lit dragon head, weaving through the audience, drawing cheers and excitement from guests.
Once the bells rang, guests were ushered into the concert hall for the evening’s musical celebration. Taiwanese conductor Mei-Ann Chen is no stranger to Lunar New Year programs, having led the Symphony through several previous editions. A passionate and charismatic musical leader, she commands immediate attention the moment she steps onto the podium. Her animated presence and expressive conducting style brought both warmth and energy to the performance.
The program opened with a visually engaging sequence as the projection screen above the orchestra displayed animated horses drifting through clouds alongside multilingual New Year greetings honoring Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities in attendance.
The orchestra then launched into Huan-Zhi Li’s “Spring Festival Overture,” a lively and jubilant piece that immediately set the tone for the evening. The music radiated celebration and optimism, filling the hall with an infectious energy. Looking around the audience, you could see smiles everywhere as the festive atmosphere took hold.
The evening continued with several remarkable solo performances. Yuhsin Galaxy Su, the Symphony’s own second clarinetist, delivered a graceful and delicate interpretation of a beloved Teresa Teng classic, “Alone Ascending the West Chamber.” Her performance carried an emotional sensitivity that resonated beautifully within the hall.
Meanwhile, George Gao, widely regarded as one of the world’s great erhu masters, captivated the audience with his performance of “Capriccio No. 6.” His playing brought extraordinary nuance and expressive depth to the program, showcasing the haunting beauty of the traditional Chinese instrument within a symphonic setting.
The evening’s repertoire also included pieces that bridged musical traditions from East and West, including Vivian Fung’s “Pizzicato,” a composition that blended cultural influences into a vibrant contemporary orchestral sound.
As the concert approached its finale, the sense of celebration only grew stronger. The night concluded with a joyous and spirited rendition of “Gong Xi Gong Xi,” a beloved New Year anthem. In a delightful surprise, the lion dancers returned once more, weaving through the aisles as the orchestra played and the audience cheered them on. The moment felt electric, uniting music, culture, and community in a way that only live performance can.
Under the passionate direction of Mei-Ann Chen, the entire evening felt like one continuous highlight. Her energetic and expressive conducting style kept the program moving with excitement and warmth, creating an unforgettable celebration that perfectly reflected the bold and spirited energy of the Year of the Horse.
Long after the final notes faded, the buzz of the evening lingered throughout the hall. As guests slowly made their way out of Davies Hall, you could hear people asking one another a simple but thoughtful question: “What is your wish for the Year of the Horse?” If I had just one wish, it would be for peace and love around the world, and for everyone to continue chasing and realizing their dreams.
Gong xi fa cai in Mandarin, or Gung hay fat choy in Cantonese. May the Year of the Horse bring prosperity, joy, and exciting new journeys for us all.
For more info on SF Symphony go to: www.sfsymphony.org
