The San Francisco Tango Orchestra presents Argentine tango as a serious concert art form, performed at the highest level and rooted in the cultural richness of one of the world's most diverse cities. Founded in 2026 under the artistic direction of pianist and composer Sumi Lee, SFTO brings together Bay Area musicians, international guest artists, and living composers to perform both canonical tango repertoire and newly commissioned works that reflect San Francisco's multicultural identity — Latin American, Asian, Eastern European, and beyond.
SFTO exists at an intersection that no other ensemble in the United States currently occupies: the rigorous orchestral tradition of Buenos Aires' golden-age orquestas típicas, reimagined through the lens of the Bay Area's global community. Our concerts serve tango enthusiasts and concert hall audiences alike, and our education and outreach programs bring this music to youth, immigrant communities, and new listeners who have never encountered tango outside of a dance floor.
We believe tango belongs in the concert hall, in the classroom, and in the community — and that San Francisco, with its history of cultural convergence and artistic courage, is exactly the right place to make that case.