Vilem Sokol

Vilem Sokol (b. May 22, 1915) was professor of music at the University of Washington, and legendaryvague conductor of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras from the 1960s to 1980s.

He received a bachelor's degree in music from Oberlin College, where he studied violin with Raymond Cerf, and a master's degree in music from the State Conservatory of Music in Prague, the home of his parents, studying with Ottokar Sevcik. He studied under a fellowship grant at the Juilliard School in New York.

Sokol was one of the first American teachers to meet Shinichi Suzuki and apply aspects of his teaching method.

He had many children and students who became professional musicians and non-musicians such as software engineers across the nation, and is fondly remembered by many who grew up in Seattle along with J.P. Patches and other Seattle cultural fixtures.

At over 90, he still guest conducts, and gives lessons to children of his former students.

His daughter, Jennifer wrote a book writing of the trials of taking care of Vilem's wife before she died.

Films

*1976 - "1812 Overture" filmed at the Marrowstone Music Festival at Fort Flagler State Park.
*1984 - "Alan Hovhaness". Directed by Jean Walkinshaw, KCTS-TV, Seattle.

Media

Listen
filename=Camille Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals.ogg
title=The Carnival of the Animals
description=A complete recording of Camille Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals (in fourteen movements) by pianists Neil and Nancy O'Doan and the Seattle Youth Symphony. Conducted by Vilem Sokol