Concert Companion

Concert Companion

Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion connects classical music fans with Orchestra musicians who share personal previews of concert programs coming up this season. By giving listeners a little something extra to take along to the performance, the Concert Companion aims to deepen patrons’ appreciation of the works they’ll enjoy live in the concert hall. You're invited to join each enriching adventure with an Orchestra musician as your friendly guide.

Episodes

October 20, 2025 20 mins

Episode Overview: In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to the 2025-2026 season's Movie Pops concert, we're joined by Joshua Horne, Co-principal horn and self-proclaimed "biggest Star Wars fan in the world" for a deep dive into the music, magic, and memories woven into experiencing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back live in concert. As Sarasota Orchestra prepares for this highly anticipated symphonic screening at the Van Wezel ...

Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Grand Treasures (April 4-6, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we dig into a deep question about orchestral music: Art museum or living art form? Well, what if it's both?! Principal Keyboardist Jonathan Spivey masterfully guides us through Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, to be performed by Jon Kimura Parker in this concert. In highlighting Sarasota Orchestra’s co-commission ...
Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: The Planets (March6-9, Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), the conversation blasts off to a whole other level as we journey with Holst’s "The Planets" beyond the physical realm, exploring how music transports us into the domain of pure imagination. We ask Phoebe Powell, Principal harpist for Sarasota Orchestra, what she thinks it would sound like...
Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Melting Pot of Music (February 21-23, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we examine music’s ability to carry us across the globe and immerse ourselves in the sound worlds of different cultures. Works such as Billy Childs’ Concerto for Saxophone, Jimmy López's "Fiesta!" and Richard Strauss' Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier" embark on journeys across continents to help listeners br...
Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Heroic Spirit (January 30, Neel Performing Arts Center; January 31 - February 2, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we hear from Nicholas Arbolino, who has played oboe and English horn with Sarasota Orchestra since 2014. Every professional orchestra musician may not live in the spotlight; however, they all pour astonishing amounts of time, energy, sweat, and soul into their p...
Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Ravel's Bolero (January 10, Neel Performing Arts Center; January 11-12, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), Principal Percussionist Marcelina Suchocka generously shares her professional insights into the mystique surrounding Ravel's infamous hit. With the hypnotic Bolero as a reference point, Marcelina shares how she develops and exercises extraordinary powers of focus. We also...
Mark as Played
In Sarasota Orchestra’s Concert Companion to our first Masterworks concert of the season (Going Places, November 7-9, 2024, at the Sarasota Opera House), Principal Flutist Betsy Hudson Traba joins us to talk about how she and her colleagues are feeling in one of the most exciting and joyous moments a symphony orchestra can have: the appointment of a new music director! Betsy visualizes the bold direction Sarasota Orchestra is headi...
Mark as Played
Check out Sarasota Orchestra’s Concert Companion to our second Masterworks concert of the season (Beethoven's Seventh, December 6-7, 2024, at Church of the Palms)! In this must-listen episode, cellist Chizuko "Cheeko" Matsusaka takes listeners on a fascinating journey, linking Carlos Simon, Brahms, Beethoven, Homer's Iliad, and symbols of human perseverance through some of history's darkest times. Cheeko also details her musical hi...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

    It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.