“After today’s performance [in a Lebanese refugee camp] I am thankful for so many things. One of those things is for the mighty gift of music to be a shared experience with people from all walks, from grand concert halls of San Francisco to an alleyway in Said Gawash.”

Violinist Rebecca Jackson-Picht's foundational belief is that music possesses power to heal and unite. This has propelled her career and professional outreach around the globe, performing in marginalized communities across the US, Ukraine, Romania, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nepal, Costa Rica, and Lebanon. Jackson-Picht’s performances have been described as “riveting” and characterized by a “fierce spirit.” While maintaining a regular performance schedule including as member of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, she contemporaneously produces projects that build community through music outside the concert hall. Music in May, for which she serves as Artistic Director, is Jackson-Picht’s largest project to date. Now in its 19th season, Music in May continues its dedication to engaging incarcerated youth. In 2013, Jackson-Picht co-founded Sound Impact and Ensemble San Francisco, organizations with missions tied to many of her personal core values. In 2018, Rebecca received a KSBW Jefferson Award in recognition of her volunteerism and public service. The following year, she and her father co-authored the biography of her mentor David Arben, a Holocaust survivor and former associate concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra.