Seasons in Review
2024-2025 Season Highlights
Our 2024-25 season was filled with exceptional highlights, including the acclaimed vocal ensemble Chanticleer in a special holiday concert and An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma. Our spectacular Great Performers Series featured pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Les Arts Florissants, and the National Symphony Orchestra with violinist Hilary Hahn. Other excellent performances were featured on our free Music Matinee series. Enjoy these photos of a memorable season.
Chanticleer returned to Sarasota for another sold-out holiday concert.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
After a mesmerizing performance of Debussy’s Preludes, Books I and II, Jean-Yves Thibaudet delighted the audience with the theme from “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory” as an encore. Pictured: Jean-Yves Thibaudet took advantage of some pre-concert rehearsal at Pritchard Pianos.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Conductor Kahchun Wong led the Cleveland Orchestra in a brilliant performance of Pictures at an Exhibition. Violinist Sayaka Shoji wowed the audience performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
Yo-Yo Ma
A special reunion with Executive Director Linda Moxley after 30 years.
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Maxim Lando’s performance of Dvořák’s rarely-performed Piano Concerto was met with wild applause and a standing ovation. Following his performance, Maxim Lando greeted concert sponsors Kerrianne and Keith McMurdo.
Les Arts Florissants
Lead violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte pointed out that Sarasota was the first concert of their 31-city North American tour. After the performance, he greeted two concert sponsors backstage – Susan Robinson and Karen Berman.
National Symphony Orchestra
The final concert of our 2024-25 season featured the National Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda, performing Beethoven’s dramatic Symphony No. 5. Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn dazzled the audience with Brahms’ Violin Concerto.
Music Matinees
Flutist Karen Large performed a fascinating program on her contrabass flute. Pictured (L-R) Music Matinee co-chairs Paula Rothman and Gail Berenson, pianist Heidi Louise Williams, Karen Large, concert sponsor Deborah Sullivan of Royal Bank of Canada, and SCA board member Bruce Ensinger, along with the flute!
2022-2023 Season
Backstage with Chanticleer before their performance.
Cheers and a standing ovation for Chanticleer after their wonderful performance!
Members of Chanticleer signed CDs after their concert at the Sarasota Opera House.
A sold-out audience gave violinist Vladyslava Luchenko a standing ovation after her performance with the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in the Venice Performing Arts Center.
Conductor Theodore Kuchar and violinist Vladyslava Luchenko following an emotional performance with the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine.
Flowers were presented to conductor Theodore Kuchar and the orchestra following their performance of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
We were delighted to present the Emerson Quartet in Sarasota as part of their retirement tour after 47 incredible years.
Sarasota Concert Association Executive Director Linda Moxley backstage with the Emerson Quartet after their performance.
The day after performing an extraordinary recital on our Great Performers Series, pianist Awadagin Pratt spoke to a class of music students at Booker High School, sharing his knowledge about musical styles, music history and improvisation, as well as providing hands-on coaching to several piano students.
The Chicago Symphony‘s instrument trunks filled the backstage of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music Director Riccardo Muti and members of the Orchestra after their astonishing performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.
Loading in all the instruments, including the Chicago Symphony‘s double bass cases.
Buffalo Philharmonic Music Director JoAnn Falletta and violinist Sandy Cameron after their performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.
Conductor JoAnn Falletta and violinist Sandy Cameron backstage after performing for a near capacity audience at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Free Music Matinees concerts at Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center
Popular folk group Passerine opened our 2023 Music Matinee series.
Pianists Michael Baron and Priscila Navarro performed a 4-hand recital at a free Music Matinee concert at Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center.
Soprano Hein Jung and pianist Grigorios Zamparas perform for a capacity audience at a free Music Matinee concert.
2022 Season in Review
Though we opened our 2022 season navigating around a few pandemic-related cancellations, we were thrilled to be able to present an exciting concert season. From world-renowned artists performing on our Great Performers Series, to outstanding regional performers on our free Music Matinee series, it was a season to remember.
Pictured is Joy McIntyre, immediate past president of the board, on her way in to a concert at Riverview Performing Arts Center.
Kicking off our Great Performers Series was Sarasota favorite Emanuel Ax. The legendary pianist presented an all-Chopin recital.
Pianist Alessio Bax rehearsed at Pritchards Pianos in preparation for his concert with violinist Benjamin Beilman.
Takács Quartet and pianist Joyce Yang performed Ravel’s String Quartet and Schumann’s Piano Quintet to a standing ovation from the audience.
A standing ovation greeted Music Director Andrey Boreyko after leading the Warsaw Philharmonic’s performance of Brahms Symphony No. 1.
Bruce Liu dazzled audiences with Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and an encore for the cheering crowd.
Backstage with Executive Director Linda Moxley and the evening’s soloist Bruce Liu, first prize winner in the recent Chopin International Piano Competition.
Violinist Sun-Young Gemma Shin and pianist Avis Romm perform for the first Music Matinee of the season.
One of the most popular presentations of the noontime series, the Sarasota Opera Studio Artists performed a variety of selections that earned them a standing ovation.
Flutist Angela Galestro and guitarist Jonathan Smith, who make up talented GS Duo, wrapped up our Music Matiness series.
Join us for our exciting 2023-2024 season!
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