Legacy in Resonance: Welcoming Distinguished SFCM Guests

On the left : John and Annamarie McCarthy, Tomoko Hagiwara | On the right : Tomoko Hagiwara former student

Our campus recently welcomed back distinguished guests who helped shape the history of our building during its years as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

John McCarthy, Director Emeritus of the Conservatory, returned to the halls where he first studied before joining the piano faculty in 1972. He was accompanied by his wife, Annamarie McCarthy, who began teaching piano in 1973, and by Tomoko Hagiwara, a former student and faculty member whose career has spanned continents and decades.

Hagiwara began her studies at the Conservatory in 1962 and joined the piano faculty in 1967. Trained at the University of Tokyo, she later studied with Adolph Baller and Lilli Kraus at the Conservatory. Her artistry brought swift international acclaim: she made her U.S. debut with the San Francisco Symphony under Maestro Josef Krips and went on to distinguish herself at the Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition (Paris) and the Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition (Brussels). A prolific performer and recording artist, her discography spans Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, and Liszt.

The visit was a moving occasion—rich with memories and stories that underscored the Conservatory’s lasting legacy. For our guests, walking through these familiar spaces was more than a return to the past; it was a celebration of music, teaching, and the enduring ties that connect generations of musicians.