L to R: Akiko Fujimoto, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, mezzo-soprano Melody Wilson and Earl Lee will take part in a SF Symphony program that will honor the late Michael Morgan. Courtesy.

The San Francisco Symphony plans to honor the late Michael Morgan of the Oakland Symphony with a program that Morgan himself created and planned to conduct before his passing.

Three conductors will make their San Francisco orchestral series debuts for the program, which will run from Feb. 17 to 19. Morgan, who passed away in August following an illness, was a passionate advocate for young conductors and artists of color. The program, which he planned, will instead be shared by three conductors in their orchestral series debuts: the San Francisco Symphony’s new Resident Conductor of Engagement and Education, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, and conductors Akiko Fujimoto and Earl Lee.

The program includes five San Francisco Symphony premieres. Lee will conduct Carlos Simon’s “Amen!” and César Franck’s “Le Chasseur maudit.” Fujimoto will lead the orchestra in Florence Price’s “Symphony No. 3.” Bartholomew-Poyser will conduct Johannes Brahms’ “Alto Rhapsody” featuring mezzo-soprano Melody Wilson, also in her SF Symphony orchestral series debut, as well as three traditional American hymns arranged by Jack Perla: “Give Me Jesus,” “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord.”

While Michael Morgan is best known as the long-time music director and conductor of the Oakland Symphony, his ties to the San Francisco organization stretch back decades, to 1994, when he first led several of the orchestra’s Concerts for Kids performances. In summer 2020, he collaborated with the SF Symphony as curator and host for the CURRENTS video series, exploring varied musical cultures in the Bay Area. In July 2021, he led the orchestra in works by Gioachino Rossini, Louise Farrenc and James P. Johnson in performances at Davies Symphony Hall and Frost Amphitheater.

Tickets to the performances are available now at the SF Symphony’s website or at 415-864-6000. Prices range from $35 to $135.