Sarasota Music Club is celebrating our 91st year with a season of great performances.
Celebrating our 91st year!
Last year was to have been a big celebration of the 90th birthday of the founding of the Sarasota Music Club. However, as with most clubs throughout the state, our plans were put on hold until circumstances made it safer to celebrate this year. We are, therefore, delighted to be looking forward to a successful season of performances this year.
All of the performers who were to have performed last year will be presenting their excellent programs this year. In addition, we feel blessed to once again hear live music in a setting even larger than in the past. We have moved our programs downtown to the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian of Sarasota, where we have more space for larger audiences, and as we observe requirements of masks and social distancing, we feel very safe. The church has an air purifier system and offers a stage and an excellent Steinway piano.
We already had our first program of the year (an outstanding flautist and pianist) and the attendance far exceeded our expectations. Our other programs for the year include a barbershop quartet, a classical pianist, a lyric coloratura soprano, a program of jazz music featuring a jazz trombonist and pianist, and a holiday program in December.
We are also grateful to be planning for in-person scholarship auditions for talented 10th, 11th and 12th grade music students from Sarasota and Manatee counties in April 2022. Last year our scholarship auditions, in collaboration with the Artist Series Concert of Sarasota, were held using video auditions submitted by the applicants. Fortunately, conditions allowed us to hear these talented young people in live concert during the summer. Our scholarship winners concert is scheduled for May 14, 2022, in the church where our other meetings will be held this year. Our plans are to have three 12th grade winners, two 11th grade and two 10th grade winners. The amount of 2022 awards will be decided soon.
What a joy to be able to present and hear live music as we celebrate 91 years of the Sarasota Music Club!
Submitted by Janet Jackson, President, and Mary Webb, Past President
