Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s Music Mondays

SILL’s popular Music Mondays series entitled, “Musical Conversations with Great Performers,” features informal performances and lively conversations with renowned performers and conductors. The 2019 Music Mondays are through March 25. The morning sessions, hosted by the series’ producer, Edward Alley, are 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road. Afternoon sessions, hosted by Dr. Joseph Holt or Robert Sherman of WQXR, are at 3 p.m. at Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto. Tickets are $10 per session. To purchase tickets, visit www.sillsarasotaorg. For more information, call 941-365-6404.

March sessions:

March 4: Natalie Helm is principal cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, and enjoys a dynamic career as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, and educator. A top prize winner in several international competitions, she has appeared throughout Italy and Japan, and premiered and commissioned many works. She is also founder of Upward Notes, performing for prisoners, homeless shelters and dementia assisted living facilities throughout the United States.

March 11: Richard Stoltzman, clarinet, and Peter John Stoltzman, piano.  Richard Stoltzman has appeared as soloist with more than 100 orchestras, in recitals, chamber music, and jazz and is a two-time Grammy Award winner. His son, Peter John Stoltzman, is a jazz pianist with appearances at Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and venues around the world. Now, on a special joint tour, they are an unbeatable duo in both jazz and classics, bringing both to Music Mondays.

March 18: Fernando Traba, bassoon. That smiling face behind all those wonderful bassoon sounds in the Sarasota Orchestra belongs to Fernando Traba, who is celebrating 25 years as principal bassoonist. A native of Mexico, he trained at the Cleveland Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, and is married to Betsy Traba, principal flutist for Sarasota Orchestra.

March 25: Pianist and conductor Dr. Joseph Holt is a co-host for Music Mondays in Venice. He is also the artistic director of Choral Artists of Sarasota and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, music director of Faith Lutheran Church, and a sought-after soloist and chamber music pianist. Holt will speak about his career as pianist for the US Army Chorus and other facets of his interesting life.