Artist Series of Sarasota

http://www.artistseries.net

The people who run this organization have guests from Broadway to Van Cliburn winners... The directors of this organization have the best contacts from around the world to bring extreme talent to the Historic Asolo.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall 

http://vanwezel.org

The goal of the hall is to bring something to everyone. And I can say, they accomplished their goal. I have not been disappointed in any of the shows I have seen. From big names to hidden gems, Van Wezel truly does have something for everyone.

Sarasota Orchestra

http://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/

They are the jewel of this coast. Since they changed their name from Florida West Coast Symphony to Sarasota Orchestra, they had a change in production programming. You can experience the classics, Baroque, chamber music, and pieces that were forgotten. Sarasota Orchestra can play as powerfully as the New York Philharmonic, as precise as Kirov Orchestra (now the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra) and as playfully as the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Boston Pops). Along with the new name, in 2008, also saw the introduction of the Pixel Pops series, which combines big screen projection in synchronization with the Orchestra and the new Journeys to Genius, a 3-concert series which tells the stories, passions and experiences that influenced musical geniuses past and present. Sarasota Orchestra's programming goal is to provide something for everyone. The best part of the beginning of the summer, starting in June, is the Sarasota Music Festival. Competition is intense to get into this 3 week program. As a result, the best pieces are played by the most talented young people in the country.

Asolo Repertory Theatre 

http://asolo.org

They are not your community theatre participants, these actors in training are ready for broadway and dramatic films. Thousands apply, but only 12 are accepted per year. It is a very intense training ground, and it is fantastic to see some of the productions they perform. This series has a new director too, and he has taken the Theatre to never before seen heights. Last year, they had "Tale of Two Cities, the Musical" that made it all the way to Broadway this year. Their productions of "Barnum" were just awesome.

Sarasota Ballet

http://www.sarasotaballet.org/

There is a new director, who is retired from the Royal Ballet. He does not do 100% traditional ballet, he mixes it up with classic, tradition and modern dance moves. If the performance hall is large enough, the scenery for the productions rival any Hollywood screen props. And when performances are made in the smaller hall of the Mertz Theatre, choreography is very condensed, yet very accurate. The dancers work exceptionally hard to make the show just right. All of his productions are almost always sold out.

Church of the Redeemer
222 South Palm Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
941.955.4263

Church of the Nazarene
1535 East Venice Avenue
Venice, Florida 34292-3108
941-488-1010

Artist Series of Sarasota
Historic Asolo Theatre
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore Road
Sarasota, Florida 34243
General Information: 941.359.5700

709 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 953-4252

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice
1971 Pinebrook Road, Venice FL 34292
941-284-5972

Church of the Palms
3224 Bee Ridge Rd
Sarasota, FL 34239-7201

5555 N Tamiami Trl
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-0099‎

5555 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-351-8000 or 800-361-8388

Grace Baptist Church
8000 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, Florida 34241

http://www.artistseries.net/

http://www.asolo.org/

http://www.banyantheatercompany.com/

http://www.ringling.org/

http://lamusicafestival.org/

www.theatreorgans.com/mtos

http://www.gloriamusicae.org/

http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/

http://www.redeemersarasota.org/music_series.html

http://www.jazzclubsarasota.com/

http://www.sarasotaballet.org/

Sarasota Orchestra Volunteer Opportunities

Do you enjoy throwing and attending parties? Do you like being "in the know" and having exclusive opportunities not yet available to the public? Do you want to fill your time with enriching activities that touch someone else's life? Then becoming a volunteer for the Sarasota Orchestra or the Sarasota Music Festival may be the perfect opportunity for you.

You can help create the magic behind the music as a member of one of the Sarasota Orchestra's associations or committees, or Friend of the Festival. Contributions of your time, at all levels, are needed and deeply appreciated.

Sarasota Pops Orchestra Volunteer Opportunities

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. We depend on people from all around the community to assist us in offering patrons the finest performing arts experience. There are many opportunities to lend your time, talent and resources to our organization.

Feel free to contact us via our online form or phone the House Manager, Loreda Williams at (941) 955-7676 x 2259.

7 Questions, Artist Statement and Biography

1.    1.) What type of medium and paper do you work on?

I am primarily a watercolor artist and paint on paper or velum (calf skin).  My methods are based on the "golden   era" of botanical art in the French Court Tradition.

2.    2.) What artist has most influenced your work?

I am inspired by Gerard van Spaendonck 1746-1822 .  He was a Dutch Floral Master and painter to the court of Louis XVI and Napoleon from 1780 to1822, succeeded by his pupil Pierre Joseph Redouté.

3.    3.) What is your process for capturing accurate plant portraits?

All of my drawings are made from live specimens.  A careful study, which often includes working with a microscope, is documented in sketches, color swatches, and library research.  Research materials usually make up "research boards" which contain the most pertinent information about the plant that I wish to convey in my painting.  Many drawings are made to decide composition.  Complete value studies and color studies are made before I begin to paint with watercolor.

4.    4.) Do you ever draw from photographs?

I do not trace or draw from photographs.  Macro photography of the subject's detail is used for reference. Drawings are made from the live subject.

5.    5.) Do you work on commission and who selects the subject for the artwork commissioned?

Yes.  The client may select the subject, or they make consult with me, or they may leave the decision to me.  Often the subject is chosen once I have seen the space in which the planned painting will occupy.  The location and its surroundings often influence the decision.

6.    6.) Can someone with absolutely no experience attempt this art form?

Most definitely.  I have written ten books and another 16 course pak materials in support of teaching individuals this beautiful art form. My school has many students who begin with no skills and after a period of tuition are creating beautiful artwork.

7.    7.) Can established artists learn something from studying this genre?

Most definitely.  I have students who are jewelry makers, potters, oil painters, sculptors, etc. and those who are looking to increase their drawing and painting skills find my school, the Academy of Botanical Art, a helpful environment to advance their skills.

Artist Statement

"Botanical art, one of the oldest art forms, represents the ascent of man and custom, of knowledge and thirst for knowledge.  Its evolution parallels the human spirit and its quest for self knowledge. In this wonderful world of nature, plants by their proximity to various cultures have acquired their own meaning.  And so as I strive for realism to achieve actualization each one of my works takes on both appearance and message.  The inspiration for the quest is by grace, the outcome a gift, and the process is gratitude.  The finished work reverberates with a multitude of strokes - each a memory of my beloved.  I hope you will enjoy these conversations with God.  And, with each work find your own mystical revelation."  O.M. Braida

"Olivia's work marries science and art and presents a sound knowledge of botanical accuracy while incorporating fine art standards of color, form and classical design.  Immersed in shadows and light that create an ethereal quality her exquisite compositions are of the highest professional level and pay homage to the great masters."     Suzanne White, Curator, South Florida Museum 2007

Artist Brief Bio

Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano is freelance certified botanical artist, author, and educator.  Her work has received many exhibition awards and publishing honors and is featured in "TODAY'S BOTANICAL ARTISTS" by Cora B. Marcus and Libby Kyer, Schiffer Publishing 2008 and in "Kirpal Singh, His Grace Lives On" published by Ruhani Satsang 2001.   She created a florilegia reflecting the biodiversity study in the Caribbean that now hang in the Theodore Kheel Conference Center for Biodiversity and Medicinal Plants, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  Ms. Braida has been recognized by The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Research Division of Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, by the purchase for their private collection of her original watercolor, "Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem' #2 and the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida by their acquisition of "Nelumbo ‘Baby Doll' a Dwarf White Lotus.  She has developed a network of clients within the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Thailand.  Ms. Braida is the founder and director of the Academy of Botanical Art which offers a botanical art certificate program through her local and Distance Learning Program that has attracted students from the US, Canada, Europe, South America, Australia and Mexico.  She is the founder and president emeritus of the Florida Society of Botanical Artists, Inc. (FSBA) a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists. A graduate of the State University of New York, Ms. Braida holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Art and a Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate from the New York Botanical Garden. She received her professional art training at SUNY Purchase, Pratt, the New York Art Students League, the New York Botanical Garden and studied under Master Painters Caesar Borgia and Anne Marie Evans in the New York and in the United Kingdom. Ms. Braida teaches and works in Florida, Kentucky, and New York with her team of Certified Academy Instructors who have graduated from her botanical art certificate program and her teacher training program. She lives in Sarasota, Florida with her husband.  More about Ms. Braida and her school is available on her websites: www.omartdesigns.com or www.academyofbotanicalart.com

5 questions, Biography, Information about Sinfonia Toronto and 2 CD\'s


1.) What are your basic ideas or concepts about the art of conducting?

One must become first a complete musician before becoming a conductor. The conductor must have a great technique and must be an inspiring musician with magnetic leadership qualities. 
A good conductor\'s qualities must be a synthesis of many professions. That is why it is an extremely difficult art form. Besides being a great musician, a conductor must have the good qualities of an educator, a diplomat, a communicator, an actor, a psychologist, a fund-raiser, a salesman, an administrator and the list goes on. And needless to say a great conductor must be familiar with all forms of performing arts, visual arts and literature. 
Therefore it is truly ars lunga, vita brevis! (art is long, life is short. Ancient Greek aphorism by Hippocrates.)

2.) You were a violinist before you took up conducting. Are there differences in music making between these two forms?

Yes, enormous differences. The role of a conductor is persuade a group of musicians to perform creatively under his or her vision of the composition. The conductor\'s art depends on the skills and collaboration of the musicians who will ultimately produce the magical sounds. 
However at the end the conductor is totally responsible for the artistic outcome. Therefore the means of producing the results differ from conductor to conductor. As an instrumentalist one can obtain immediate results from an instrument and is in control of the outcome in a more immediate manner.

3.) What is your Favorite Repertoire?

Generally speaking my favourite repertoire is what I am working on at the time. I need totally to assimilate the music in order to convince others. That can happen only if I am myself totally in awe of the composition. So there is no choice. I must love whatever I am working on.
Having said that my listening preference is music that matters. Music that means something for our immediate daily lives. Whether it is the issues of petit bourgeois love affairs and sensibilities, or politics of world issues such as environment, human rights, wars, social justice etc.

4.) What distinguishes Sinfonia Toronto among many other chamber orchestras?

As founding Music Director of Sinfonia Toronto I have envisaged a chamber orchestra where we combine soloistic playing and chamber music intimacy with the discipline of an orchestra. 
In addition to the basic concept we are also distinguished by our repertoire. In the last ten years we have performed music from all periods and premiered many new works. We have also premiered many orchestral arrangements of some chamber music literature that possesses symphonic proportions.
We were pleased that our tour of Germany last November received wild critical acclaim. We were praised for some of the very qualities that we have been trying to develop over the years.

5.) You spent some time working in Florida. Have you any plans to visit Florida either by yourself or with your Orchestra?

Indeed I lived five years in Orlando where I was a first violinist with Florida Symphony and two years in Fort Lauderdale as the concertmaster of the Florida Chamber Orchestra. I also started my own conducting career in Florida as the conductor of Florida Youth Symphony.
I have performed with many orchestras throughout the beautiful Sunshine state and have always been fascinated by the energy of the classical music scene. I have performed in Sarasota\'s Purple Cow as well. (Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sarasota, Florida USA)

It would really be a great pleasure to return to the beautiful Florida one day.  

Maestro Nurhan Arman
Music Director & Conductor
Sinfonia Toronto

http://nurhanarman.googlepages.com/
http://www.sinfoniatoronto.com
http://www.facebook.com/nurhan.arman
http://twitter.com/NurhanArman

Venice Performing Arts Series Volunteer Opportunities

777 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 953-3368

BOO


Surprised?

Sarasota Opera 

http://www.sarasotaopera.org/

They recently had a restoration that closed the theatre for 1 year. It is the best it ever has been, and no matter where you sit, the acoustics are just right. I have my favorites that I have seen this year, \"Barber of Seville\" and \"Elixir of Love\". The new season planned is exceptional. Personally, I like to watch the acting, listen to the voice and hear the orchestra perform the pieces. I don\'t really read the English titles. I really appreciate good opera singers, and they are here! The staff and volunteers are exceptionally friendly. This is a great place to take a date, and go to dinner afterward with restaurants close to the opera house.

Artist Series of Sarasota

Outstanding musicians from around the world performing for you in America's only 18th Century European theater and area private residences.

Ringling Museum at Historic Asolo, has "Movie Nights" during the year, where tickets are $ 7.00 to see movies meant to be seen on a big screen?

Sarasota Orchestra offers Classes for String Instruments, at all levels?
http://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/

Asolo Repertory Theatre Play Pass for $ 99.00 Attend as many shows as you want through the season. Also, there are offers of day of performance discounted tickets in the last rows of the theatres.
http://www.asolo.org/BuyTickets/WaystoSave/tabid/67/Default.aspx
http://www.asolo.org/

Sarasota County Arts Council now offers FREE membership ($ 50.00 Savings)
http://www.sarasotaarts.org/