Spotlight: The Classical Connection

Before the Sarasota Orchestra played its first note in 1949, before the Sarasota Opera sang its first aria in 1973 and before the Sarasota Ballet took its first steps in 1990, there was the Sarasota Concert Association.

Since its inaugural 1938-1939 season, the Sarasota Concert Association (SCA) has been bringing in classical orchestra, opera and dance performances to the culture-hungry denizens of the Sarasota area.

“Though we are in a cultural haven, I think the concert association’s role has not changed,” SCA President Joy McIntyre says. “It’s probably the oldest organization still in business that brings classical musicians and artists to Sarasota. We were the first in bringing the culture from the outside world here.”

The SCA’s history of past performances reads like a who’s who of 20th century classical music. Arthur Fielder & the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Westminster Choir, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic are just a sampling of the orchestras that the organization has brought to Sarasota.

This record of artistic quality continues with the SCA’s 70th season (operations ceased for six years during World War II), with performances from London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Dresden Philharmonic conducted by Michael Sanderling with cellist Johannes Moser, the Takács String Quartet with pianist Joyce Yang, and pianist Murray Perahia. The association’s artistic selection committee tries to schedule at least two national and international orchestras that are touring at the time, along with an array of quality solo instrumentalists and smaller ensembles.

And to celebrate its 70th year, the SCA will include a rare sixth concert this season starring Sarasota’s resident jazz and American songbook master, Dick Hyman.

According to McIntyre, the five-concert season allows the perfect space to have a balanced season of both large orchestras, smaller ensembles and solo performers. But this sixth performance will act as a potential opportunity for McIntyre and the concert association board to expand their musical offerings beyond classical music and to hopefully attract new supporters. Currently the association has a 900-member subscriber pool and draws 6,000 to 7,000 attendees per season.

“I hope we can in the future offer a sixth concert of alternative programming that has artists that are equally well-known to classical music fans as well as to younger people,” she said.

Another goal of McIntyre’s is to erase the anxiety classical music neophytes might have in hearing a complicated work by offering educational seminars and sessions about composers and pieces to be performed that season.

“Spreading the value of classical music has been and is a part of my mission in life,” says McIntyre. “There are so many things I want to see happen that I need another life in order to accomplish all the things I want to do.”

The Platinum Anniversary Season
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor and soloist Pinchas Zukerman
When: Wednesday, Jan. 14

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
When: 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26
Tickets: $40 to $70

Dick Hyman, 70th Anniversary Celebration
When: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11
Where: The Historic Asolo Theater
Tickets: $45

Dresden Philharmonic with conductor Michael Sanderling and cellist Johannes Moser
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 1
Tickets: $45 to $75

Takács String Quartet with pianist Joyce Yang
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17
Tickets: $40 to $70

Murray Perahia, piano
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
Tickets: $40 to $70

All performances take place at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit scasarasota.org.