SILL’s Music Mondays will Entertain, Enlighten and Educate. This season is especially exciting because we’ve gathered 12 world famous music-makers and, while our format remains the same, in addition to my Musical Conversations, two of my celebrated colleagues will join us to speak with our guests: WQXR’s Robert Sherman and Phillip Gainsley, a regular voice on the Metropolitan Opera’s radio intermissions.

With no script and no written dialogue, you never know what will happen. Our Musical Conversations will make you feel as if you’re in our living room, eavesdropping on spontaneous discussions with acclaimed musicians, interspersed with live and recorded performances.

Charlie Albright, a brilliant new pianist on the roster of Young Concert Artists in New York City, starts things off and the keyboard gets a work-out from others, too. The great cabaret pianist Alex Rybeck will talk about his amazing career working with luminaries from Burt Bacharach and Tommy Tune, to The McGuire Sisters, Michael Feinstein, Roberta Peters, and Kitty Carlisle Hart. Named “Collaborative Pianist of the Year,” Warren Jones’ roster of musical partners includes Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

The New York Times called New York Philharmonic Organist, Kent Tritle, “the brightest star in New York’s choral music world.” And pianist Pedja Muzijevic, who appeared last year at the Ringling Festival, returns to Sarasota for a special SILL lecture-recital. We’ll meet Sarasota Orchestra’s popular Pops conductor, Andrew Lane. The brilliant young mezzo Leah Wool bedazzle us with her virtuosity and charm. And Sarasota’s own singing sensation, 14 year old Maria Wirries, will return to SILL for the first time since her debut with us at age 11.

Composer Ricky Ian Gordon tells us How to Write an Opera in Today’s World. Jesse Rosen, President of the League of American Orchestras, will talk about the future of the symphony orchestra in America. Master Sargent, baritone Bob McDonald, of the United States Army Chorus, is coming to Music Mondays. And we’re thrilled to present Ann Hobson Pilot, former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

With a line up like this, golf and the beach will just have to wait an hour!

June LeBell