HEROES & HEROINES
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Sarah Hicks Dariusz Skoraczewski
Sarah Hicks
Sarah Hicks’ versatile and vibrant musicianship has secured her place as an in-demand conductor across an array of genres. Her career has seen collaborations with diverse artists, from Hilary Hahn and Dmitiri Hvorostovsky to Jennifer Hudson and The Dirty Projectors, and she has toured with Sting as conductor of his Symphonicities Tour. Her passion for cross-genre partnerships led to a 2019 album with rap artist Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra, with whom she holds a titled position, and is an Emmy winner as both conductor and host for This is Minnesota Orchestra.
A specialist in film music and the film in concert genre, her live concert recordings can be seen on Disney + and on ABC, and she acts as advisor for and is a frequent collaborator with Disney Concerts across an array of projects. Her first major feature film credit, Renfield, was released in 2023 and her live album with the Danish National Symphony, The Morricone Duel has garnered over 200 million view on YouTube.
Her notable conducting collaborations include the Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland Orchestras, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras; Los Angeles Philharmonic; and Boston Pops. International engagements include the Toronto, Melbourne, Czech National Symphony Orchestras; RTÉ Concert Orchestra; St. Petersburg, Tokyo and Malaysian Philharmonics, and many others.
Dariusz Skoraczewski
Dariusz Skoraczewski, Principal Cellist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, has earned widespread acclaim for his“ lush tone, expressive style, and solid technique,” as described by Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun. A celebrated soloist, he has performed with orchestras including the National Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, captivating audiences across the U. S., Europe, and Asia with his virtuosic command of the cello.
His debut CD Cello Populus showcases contemporary solo works by Hindemith, Ligeti, Crumb, Penderecki, Saariaho, and Lutosławski, earning praise from Mike D. Brownell of AllMusic. com and the prestigious Baker Artist Award in 2013. He has since released several albums, including works by Brahms, Chopin( with pianist Michael Sheppard), the Monument Music Trio debut CD, and Beau Soir, a collaboration with harpist Jacqueline Pollauf.
Dariusz is an active recitalist and chamber musician, having performed in venues like Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Barge Music Festival in New York, and at festivals such as the Grand Teton Music Festival and Festival Mozaic. He began his education in Warsaw, Poland, and later studied at the Peabody Conservatory with Stephen Kates. Since 2011, he has held the Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Chair as Principal Cellist of the Baltimore Symphony. Dariusz plays a 1702 Carlo Giuseppe Testore cello, generously on loan from Marin Alsop.
In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, hiking, and running, embracing the outdoors to recharge and find balance outside of his musical career.
MAY-JUN 2025 | OVERTURE | 19