Season 1

June 24, 2021

Jenny Townsend, President and Owner of the Music Compound, Joins the …

A fifth generation Sarasotan was working at the Packinghouse Cafe and Leroy Selmon's Restaurant when she noticed that area musicians needed a place to interact, engage, and learn from each other. After several years of resear...

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June 17, 2021

Ronnie and Avis Romm, Suncoast Music Power Couple, Join the Club

He walked into Music Theory class at Juilliard on day 1, sat next to the prettiest girl in the room, and they have been making beautiful music together for the past 53 years. In Part II of the Romm Family …

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June 8, 2021

Rex Willis and Kelly Burnette, Composer and Director of the New Music…

When Rex Willis' son Ryan joined some friends for a "Dumpster Diving" excursion a decade ago, Rex never knew it would lead to him composing his second musical. During the last ten years, Rex's extensive research on homelessne...

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June 3, 2021

Suncoast Music Power Couple, Aaron Romm and Sun-Young Gemma Shin, Joi…

Well, if your dad was one of the founding trumpet players in the Canadian Brass and your mother is one of the foremost collaborative pianists on the planet, your destiny maybe laid out for you. Oh, while you're at it, …

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May 20, 2021

Rick Kerby, Producing Artistic Director of the Florida Cultural Group…

From Kentucky, to New York City, to our beloved Florida Suncoast, Rick Kerby, Producing Artistic Director of the Florida Cultural Group, says his whole life has been a rehearsal for this job. Take a listen at how the events o...

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May 13, 2021

Aimee Blenker, Arts and Culture Manager for the Bradenton Area Conven…

Her ancestors came to Manatee County in 1840 and now she works for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to support arts and culture in her beloved hometown. Hear Aimee Blenker's story of her life, career, passion...

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May 6, 2021

Dingbat Theatre Project Joins the Club

What does a creative, imaginative theatre junkie do during a pandemic? Well, establishes a new theatre company on the Suncoast, of course! Come join the founder of the new Dingbat Theatre Project, Luke McFatrich, and the proj...

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April 26, 2021

Dr. Owen Bradley, Band Director at North Port High School, Joins the …

For the past 20 years of his 32-year teaching career, Dr. Owen Bradley has been the band director at North Port High School in Sarasota County. Looking back on his career choice, he says he can't remember a time when …

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April 19, 2021

Quintessential-Presented by the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra, Thursda…

To celebrate its 5th season, the SCF Bradenton Symphony Orchestra brings you Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Brahm’s Hungarian Dance No. 5, Stamitz’s Clarinet Concerto No. 5 featuring soloist and SCF clarinet instructor Er...

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April 13, 2021

SCF Music and Theatre Presents "Music and Monologues"-Friday, April 1…

In a brilliant collaborative project, the SCF Theatre students have chosen monologues to act out while the SCF Music student composers have written original compositions to accompany the readings. Listen to composition instru...

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April 12, 2021

Sarasota Orchestra's Guest Conductor and Soloist, Stephen Mulligan an…

The Sarasota Orchestra's upcoming concert, "Mozart and Mendelssohn," features its first guest conductor and soloist since March 12, 2020! Maestro Stephen Mulligan, violin soloist David Coucheron, concertmaster of the Atlanta ...

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April 8, 2021

Mythos Project, an SCF Theatre and SCF Film Collaborative Production

When Covid shuts down your theatre performances at the State College of Florida, what do you do? You turn to the Greek myths, where mask wearing was the norm, and you allow your students to pick their myths, write their …

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April 1, 2021

Summer Dawn Wallace, Co-Founder of Urbanite Theatre, Joins the Club

From Crossville, Tennessee to Sarasota, Florida, how did Urbanite Theatre's co-founder and artistic director Summer Dawn Wallace land on the Suncoast to bring us cutting edge, ground breaking theatre? And who are the amazing ...

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March 26, 2021

Godzilla Eats Las Vegas and Other Music You Won't Believe-Presented b…

Don’t let the SCF Symphonic Band fool you, this music may be unbelievable, but it is true! Featuring band works such as Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, Voodoo, Snakes, and more, this concert will have you fooled into thinking you ha...

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March 22, 2021

Julie Hebert, Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Specialist with t…

For the past four years, she has been the leader of the visual and performing arts teachers for the the Manatee County School District by helping them devise curricula, working with principals to understand scheduling, and se...

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March 18, 2021

Around the World in Eighty Minutes, Presented by the SCF Guitar Ensem…

The SCF Guitar Ensemble presents music from all four corners of the earth: east, west, above and below the equator, music inspired by Thailand, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, the Northern Lights of Alaska, who knows ...

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March 11, 2021

E. Faye Butler, Actress, Singer & Entertainer, Joins the Club

On the Suncoast, you've seen her as Queenie in Showboat and as Fannie Lou Hamer in Fannie (both at the Asolo Repertory Theatre), but you may have also seen her as the Narrator in the PBS production of A Christmas …

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March 4, 2021

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Nate Jacobs, Michael Mendez, and…

How has the pandemic affected the Suncoast's most culturally relevant artistic organization? How has Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's founder Nate Jacobs seen the color barriers of our area's cultural arts offerings change over the past 25 years? What's next for …

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Feb. 25, 2021

Musical Mosaics-Presented by the SCF Concert and Chamber Choirs, Thur…

Just as using shards of glass and tile to create a whole new image in art, so can individual singers be brought together to create a variety of vocal ensembles from small duos to a large choir. In this concert, …

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Feb. 18, 2021

Boots, Banjos & the South-Presented by the SCF Bradenton Symphony Orc…

Strap on your cowboy hat and boots to join the SCF Bradenton Symphony Orchestra for Boots, Banjos and the South on Thursday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. Selections will include Aaron Copland’s Hoedown and Buckaroo Holiday from R...

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Feb. 11, 2021

Nate and Erin Mayland, Broadway Orchestra Musicians for Beetlejuice a…

Nate and Erin Mayland have been making a living playing on Broadway in pit orchestras for the past decade. Nate plays jazz and orchestral trombone having toured with the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Platters, and Frankie V...

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Feb. 4, 2021

Maria Schaedler-Luera, Co-Founder of Atomica Arts, Joins the Club

She is a Brazilian-born educator and artist with extensive work experience and knowledge in theater, music, arts and literacy, and cross-cultural engagement. On the Suncoast, Maria Schaedler-Luera has served as the Manager fo...

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Jan. 28, 2021

Dr. Dan Burdick, New Tuba/Euphonium Instructor at the State College o…

Dr. Dan Burdick "retired" to Lakewood Ranch about a month ago. He is a world-class tuba player and teacher, was on the faculty of Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, has two degrees from Boston University and his doctorate ...

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Jan. 20, 2021

Barbara Banks, Celebrated and Respected Photographer, Joins the Club

From shooting the Worker Project at the Sarasota Art Museum to hanging from the ceiling by her belt to shoot for the Sarasota Ballet, to taking photos of political figures such as Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle O...

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Jan. 13, 2021

SCF Music's Best of the Best Recital: Thursday, January 21, 7:30 p.m.

Ever wonder what the state of Florida does to support music education? Listen to this episode as Melodie Dickerson and Robyn Bell explain what the state sponsored "Student Artist Competition" is and meet SCF Music's eight stu...

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Jan. 7, 2021

Aza Torshkoeva, World Class Piano Performer and Piano Teacher at Stat…

In the halls of the SCF Music building, you often hear, "Ms. Aza! Ms. Aza!" as student affectionately call her. To her colleagues, she is simply known as "Aza, piano player and teacher extraordinaire." Her road from Russia le...

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Dec. 21, 2020

Fireside Chat-The Podcasters of the Suncoast Culture Club Chat Up The…

The Suncoast Culture Club podcasters Robyn Bell, Kelly Burnett, Katherine Bzura, Melodie Dickerson, and Amanda Schlachter chat together about their experiences in the cultural arts and the semester in the arts at SCF over the...

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Dec. 13, 2020

Tomasz Kowalczyk, Acting Principal Percussionist of the Sarasota Orch…

From Poland to Baltimore to Philadelphia to Boston to Houston to Sarasota, find out how this trip around the planet brought the Sarasota Orchestra's Acting Principal Percussionist and new SCF Percussion Instructor Tomasz Kowa...

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Dec. 7, 2020

Suzanne Hudson-Smith, Associate Director of Leadership Gifts for the …

As the Van Wezel Foundation looks to expand is arts education programs while raising money and awareness for the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center on the Sarasota Bay, Suzanne Hudson-Smith has returned to the Suncoast to he...

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Nov. 30, 2020

Joy to the World-Presented by the SCF Music Program, Thursday, Decemb…

On Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 PM, join the SCF Music Program on our Facebook Page for our final concert of the semester. “Joy to the World” brings you all your holiday favorites and will feature the SCF Big Band …

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Nov. 23, 2020

Natalie Helm, Principal Cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, Joins the …

Her tour of the world includes Louisville, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Des Moines, Boston, Montgomery, and finally, Bradenton/Sarasota. Natalie Helm is celebrating year number five as the principal cellist of the Sarasota Orch...

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Nov. 18, 2020

Sarasota Contemporary Dance & Ann Hobson Pilot present "SCD + Piazzol…

For the second performance of its 2020-21 season, Sarasota Contemporary Dance will reprise a popular collaboration with renowned harpist Ann Hobson Pilot called SCD + Piazzolla. Performances are November 19-22 at the Historic...

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Nov. 16, 2020

Steven High, Executive Director of the John and Mable Ringling Museum…

How does one fulfill the will of the world's most famous circus leader and art collector, John Ringling? Just ask Steven High, Executive Director of the John and Mable Ringling Museum Art, he can tell you how exact and precis...

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Nov. 9, 2020

Calling All Veterans presented by the SCF Symphonic Band, Thursday, N…

This episode welcomes Lisa Goss from the SCF Veterans Service Department, Tenesia Pinkney, a flute player in the SCF Symphonic Band and a US Navy Veteran, and Garrett Height, an actor in the SCF Theatre Program who will be na...

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Nov. 2, 2020

Anne-Marie Russell, Executive Director of the Sarasota Art Museum, Jo…

She moved to the Suncoast from Tucson, Arizona to open the much anticipated Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College at the repurposed Sarasota High School on 41. Three months later, it closed due to Covid. Now that it has reo...

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Oct. 29, 2020

The SCF Musical Theatre Ensemble Presents Stephen Schwartz's Children…

The SCF Musical Theatre Program is proud to offer the 2020 Fall Musical Children of Eden through a pre-recorded scheduled content viewing experience available on Saturday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2:00 p.m. S...

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Oct. 26, 2020

Jim Shirley, Executive Director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of …

How does one go from owning a medical sales company in Atlanta, Georgia to being the Executive Director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County? Jim Shirley is here to tell us. As our area's number one lobbying …

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Oct. 19, 2020

George Nickson and Samantha Bennett, Founders of Ensemble New SRQ, Jo…

He's a percussionist and she's a violinist. Together, they might just rule the world one day, but for now, they want to make the best and highest level of music they can. George Nickson and Samantha Bennett founded Ensemble N...

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Oct. 13, 2020

Brendan Ragan, Co-Artistic Director of Urbanite Theater, Joins the Cl…

So you say you want to start a theatre company that produces thought provoking, deeply moving, audience engaging, can't wait to come back for more content? That's just what Brendan Ragan has done with Urbanite Theatre. Along ...

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Oct. 9, 2020

Symphonie Espagnole-Presented by the SCF Bradenton Symphony Orchestra…

On Thursday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m., the SCF Bradenton Symphony Orchestra celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a fantastic lineup of Latin/Spanish inspired music and solo violinist Felicia Brunelle performing Lalo’s Symph...

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Oct. 6, 2020

Mark Mitchell, Conceptual Pop Painter and Multimedia Artist, Joins th…

As a multimedia artist on the Suncoast who specializes in painting conceptual pop art, Mark Mitchell has spent his career honing his visual and communication skills, always in pursuit of the big idea. Whether his medium is pa...

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Oct. 1, 2020

Stronger Together-Presented by the SCF Music Program, Thursday, Octob…

On Thursday, October 8 at 7:30 PM, join the SCF Music Program on our Facebook Page for our first concert of the season. “Stronger Together” celebrates the unique power of people in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic and w...

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Sept. 29, 2020

Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the H…

What's it like to go from living in New York City working as an actor, writer, director, and Tony Award winning producer one day to living on the beaches of Manasota Key running the Hermitage Artist Retreat the next? And...ju...

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Sept. 22, 2020

KT Curran, Director of SOURCE Productions, Joins the Club

She is an actor, director, producer, playwright, and film director who has grown SOURCE Productions from a small group of youth into a large, nationally recognized theatre and film company. KT Curran's films tell the stories ...

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Sept. 18, 2020

Lynn Cleary, Community Band Conductor and Performer, Joins the Club

In Michigan, she was a middle school band director, high school band director, middle school principal, high school principal, and even school superintendent. Retiring to the Suncoast of Florida meant she, unexpectedly, becam...

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Sept. 11, 2020

Joey Panek, Senior Producer of the Suncoast View on ABC-7, Joins the …

How can a little unexpected college degree change your life? Joey Panek, Senior Producer of ABC-7's Suncoast View, tells us how his career as an actor, singer, and dancer suddenly changed when he decided to get a degree in vi...

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Sept. 4, 2020

Joe McKenna, Executive Director of the Sarasota Orchestra, Joins the …

As if searching for a new conductor and a new home at the same time isn't hard enough, try doing it during a pandemic! Joe McKenna talks to us about his life as the Executive Director of the Sarasota Orchestra, …

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Aug. 31, 2020

Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall…

From a projected $2 million surplus for the season to a completely dark hall for the next six months, executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Mary Bensel, tells us her story of the Friday the …

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Aug. 26, 2020

Dr. Carol Probstfeld, President of the State College of Florida, Join…

From drum major of her high school band to the 6th president of the State College of Florida, Dr. Carol Probstfeld brings an abundance of leadership skills, eye for talent, passion for students, and appreciation for culture t...

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Aug. 21, 2020

The Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Joins the Club

What started as a series of small house concerts in a private home on Lido Beach 25 years ago has turned into the successful Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, bringing over 25 world-class musical experiences to the Suncoast...

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