Among the upcoming 80th birthday celebrations for Steve Reich will be a week of concerts by the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) and Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) highlighting the composer's works at Davies Symphony Hall, September 7–11, 2016, culminating with a performance including Kronos Quartet.

The week-long celebration begins with the Orchestra's Opening Night Gala on September 7 highlighted by a performance of Reich's Three Movements. Subsequent concerts on September 9–10 feature that work alongside the composer's Double Sextet performed by contemporary chamber ensemble eighth blackbird, which commissioned the piece, side-by-side with SFS musicians. Nonesuch released a recording of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Double Sextet performed by eighth blackbird in 2010.

The celebration comes to a close on September 11 with Steve Reich: An American Maverick, a special birthday celebration in honor of the composer's extraordinary musical contributions. Members of the SFS are joined by percussion students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for Reich's Six Marimbas; guitarist Derek Johnson performs Electric Counterpoint with pre-recorded audio; Kronos Quartet performs the composer's WTC 9/11, which was written specifically for the San Francisco-based string ensemble along with pre-recorded spoken voice; and frequent Reich collaborators eighth blackbird join with SFS musicians for the composer's Double Sextet. MTT conducts and hosts the evening, and Steve Reich will be in attendance.

For additional details and tickets, which will go on sale on Monday, July 18, visit sfsymphony.org.