Nancy Bush earned her BA in Music-Vocal Performance from San Francisco State. She performed semi-professionally for several years, specializing in early Renaissance and Baroque interpretations. Nancy began playing cello in midlife, and, following her retirement from the business world as a marketing manager, she has concentrated on playing in chamber music ensembles. She was introduced to Oakland Civic Orchestra by former member and violist Ayako English, with whom she played string quartets, subsequently joining OCO in 2010.
Nancy comes from Dublin each week for rehearsals, because she believes that this orchestra has so much to offer—starting with our Artistic Director/Conductor, Marty Stoddard, and the breadth and quality of music she brings to us, but also the musicianship, commitment, and camaraderie of the group as a whole... but especially those in the robust cello section!
Those who have known her for any length of time know that Nancy is a Brahms devotee, but she cannot live without a lot of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn as well. It would be difficult to zero in on just one favorite OCO concert, but any that include Brahms (of course) and Beethoven would be high on her list. That’s not to discount any of the other fantastic programs OCO has given! And for her chamber music participation, again, it would be Brahms—the Sextet, Op. 18, with members of the orchestra’s Opus Oakland.
