One of the great things about being a frequent patron of Sarasota Orchestra concerts is the opportunity to get to know our players both on and off stage. While the window of opportunity to meet our guest artists is much shorter, social media can offer a unique inside view into the lives and livelihoods of these talented musicians. We invite to you to check out the social media of all our guest artists, but thought we'd give you a head start with a few artists whose accounts offer some of the most intriguing, informative, and inspirational content.
Bomsori Kim
She may have already passed through Sarasota, but it’s still fun to follow along with our Masterworks 2 artist Bomsori Kim! Bomsori is in demand around the world, with recent stops in Barcelona, Freiburg, Basel,and NYC. Her posts give a glimpse into the beautiful concert halls she has visited and snapshots of many magical performances. A recent highlight was the introduction of a new “partner” - a Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù violin from circa 1725.
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
James Ehnes
If you are a longtime Masterworks patron, you’ve probably had a few opportunities to hear the impressive playing of James Ehnes, Gramophone’s 2021 Artist of the Year, who also just so happens to be a Manatee County resident. His social media accounts offer a mix of performances of chamber music and concertos, all thrilling to watch, with endearing throwback photos and videos going all the way back to his childhood violin-playing years.
James will join us for Masterworks: Mahler: A View of Heaven on January 5-8. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.
Laquita Mitchell
Also joining us for our Masterworks: Mahler: A View of Heaven concert will be soprano Laquita Mitchell. This year she performed in the premiere of the first opera written by the multi-talented bluegrass artist Rhiannon Giddens, called “Omar.” The production was included in The New York Times’ top classical performances of 2022!
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.
Susan Platts
It’s a treat to hear art song performed by a vocalist such as Susan Platts, who will join us for a Chamber Soirée entitled “Scottish Songs.” A native of the British Isles who now calls North America home, she keeps connected to her roots through baking treats of the confectionery kind. In addition to the most punnily named musical cookbook we’ve heard of, “Aria Ready for Dessert: A Musician Takes Center Stage in the Kitchen,” she has a blog as well as Instagram and Facebook accounts where you can find recipes and stories of her travels.
Susan will join us for Chamber Soirée: Scottish Songs on January 22. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Susan
Platts
bakingbitsbobs
bakingbitsbobs (personal blog)
Stefan Jackiw
A formidable young talent on the classical music scene, Stefan Jackiw’s social media presence provides many great videos of jaw dropping passages of the violin repertoire, shared from at-home practice sessions as well as rehearsals and concerts with full orchestra. Many of his practice videos include commentary explaining what he is working to achieve, which makes for interesting insights whether you are a violin player yourself or simply intrigued by the craft!
Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or check out his top 10 performance tips on his website. See him perform with us on February 24-26 for Masterworks: Copland and Stravinsky.
StefanJackiw
stefanjackiwviolin
@stefanjackiwviolin
@StefanJackiw
Stefan's Tips
Michael Cavanaugh
Michael Cavanaugh leads a busy tour life, performing popular shows like the one you'll hear on our Pops series: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John. His social media offers scenes from the life of a musician on the road, like backstage photos that give you a glimpse of what's behind the scenes for a big show. There's also the occasional video that might give a sneak preview of the songs you’ll hear when he joins us onstage January 21-22.
Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma might be a regular in the famous concert halls of the world, but if you follow him on social media you’ll find that he frequently pops up in less expected places, too–such as a rooftop performance overlooking the reconstruction of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and even the Grand Canyon! Wherever he goes, he brings the warmth and inspiration of a cultural innovator connecting people and places through music.
We can't wait to welcome Yo-Yo to the Van Wezel Stage for our Special Concert and Gala on March 2. Find inspiration on his Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.
Sphinx Virtuosi
In March, Sarasota Orchestra will present a special concert featuring the Sphinx Virtuosi, a self-conducted ensemble composed of 18 Black and Latinx artists who serve as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization. By liking Sphinx on social media, you’ll get to follow along with not only the travels of the Virtuosi (who recently performed in Carnegie Hall), but also the prestigious Sphinx Competition and many other initiatives dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts (including a spate of Grammy nominations for their affiliated artists!)
Check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Catch their performance in Holley Hall on March 26!
Bokyung Byun
Classical guitarist Bokyung Byun was the first woman to win the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition. She keeps a pretty low profile on social media, but her Instagram account features several videos of solo guitar music that is a joy to listen to. For those who are avid guitar players themselves, she's also on Tonebase, where you can watch short lessons on classical guitar technique. Even if you don't play the instrument, it can be fascinating to watch!
Follow Bokyung on Instagram and Tonebase. See her perform with us on Discoveries: Musical Postcards.
