Marcy A. Sudock: Violinist | Conductor | Instructor | Author
Marcy Sudock is the primary author of the Solid Strings method book series. In collaboration with Steve Hommel and Rubber Band Arrangements, Marcy has drawn on her extensive experience in string pedagogy and performance to create a truly innovative approach to the instruction of beginning and intermediate strings.
Marcy Sudock is a professional violinist, orchestra conductor, violin instructor, and strings coach. She is the founding director and conductor of Southern California based Musique Sur La Mer Professional and Youth Orchestras programs and the Musique Sur La Mer Conservatory of Music, http://www.mslmorchestra.org. Mrs. Sudock credits her passion for teaching and imparting the love of music to students to the many wonderful music teachers she encountered while growing up in Long Beach, CA. Mrs. Sudock started her violin music education in elementary school. Throughout her school career, she performed in school orchestras, honors youth orchestra programs, summer music camp, and continued in college at California State University, Long Beach where she earned her performance degree in music on the violin. Marcy Sudock studied violin with Vera Barstow, Ken Goldsmith, Pavol Farkas, Manuel Compinsky, and Robert Sanov. Mrs. Sudock has furthered her string pedagogy education through the Starling-DeLay Violin Symposium at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.
Marcy Sudock is a much sought after strings coach in both private and group settings. She has been teaching private and group lessons since 1971. She spent eighteen years as a strings instructor and then as the director of string music for the after school music programs serving K – 12 students in Los Alamitos and Seal Beach, CA. Mrs. Sudock continues to coach strings regularly in many public and private schools. She is noted for creating programs that are accessible, inclusive, and inspiring.
Her passion for music education expanded in 2000 with the formation of the Musique Sur La Mer Youth Symphony Orchestra (MSLMYSO). Under the capable leadership of Mrs. Sudock, the program grew in both size and stature to include beginning through advanced orchestras – La Petite Musique Strings (Grades 4 – 9), Shoreline Strings (Grades 6 – 12, intermediate level), Musique Sur La Mer Honors Chamber Orchestra (Grades 6 – 12), Musique Sur La Mer Jazz String Orchestra (Grades 6 – 12), and Musique Sur La Mer Youth Symphony Orchestra (Grades 5 – 12).
As a professional violinist, Mrs. Sudock has performed with a cadre of musical luminaries including Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Lou Rawls, Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire, Paula Abdul, Freddie Hubbard, Leonard Pennario, Marnie Nixon, Sammy Fain, Neville Marriner, and Richard and Karen Carpenter, to name but a few. Mrs. Sudock has performed with numerous symphonies, chamber orchestras and ensembles, as well as in recording studios throughout the Los Angeles area.
As a conductor, instructor, and strings clinician, Marcy Sudock and the Musique Sur La Mer Youth Orchestras’ students alongside members of the professional Musique Sur La Mer Orchestra travel and perform concerts both locally and internationally with performances in England, Wales, Austria, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, France, the Principality of Monaco and throughout the USA. Highlights include performances in the Royal College of Music, London, UK in honor of the marriage of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton and again, in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II; Musikverien-Saal, Vienna, Austria; Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria; the Salzburg Cathedral, Salzburg, Austria; St. Simon and Jude Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic; Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia; Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand; Teatro Nacional, San Jose, Costa Rica; Liberty Square, Cannes, France; Royal Cathedral of Monaco; Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA; Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach, CA; Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, CA; Ohio State University, Cleveland; and Disneyland, Anaheim, CA.
Adding to the diversity of experiences, Marcy Sudock has included her youth orchestra students alongside top professional musicians in world premiere performances and cultural programming. World premiers include Pacific Visions for String Orchestra, by grammy award-winning composer, Kenneth Fuchs, Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, “The Voyager”, by Grammy award-winning composer, Richard Danielpour, Saint Melangell’s Voyage Across the Sea for Viola and String Orchestra, by Max Wolpert, Odyssey for Viola and Strings, In the Memory Of for Cello and Orchestra, Ocean of Possibilities for Strings, by David Zeliff, Depths for Alto Saxophone and Strings and Currents for Alto Saxophone and Strings by Steve Hommel, River Cam for Viola and String Orchestra, by Eric Whitacre, transcribed for viola by Brett Deubner, Vathapi Ganapathim and Bhagyada Lakshmi Bharamma, South Indian Ragas arranged by Marcy A. Sudock.
Marcy Sudock has received numerous commendations and recognitions locally, nationally and internationally for her work with young musicians, including the NAACP Collaboration Award, Kiwanis International Service Award, Certificates of Recognition and Commendations from President Barack Obama, the State of California, the US Senate and US House of Representatives, the City of Long Beach, CA, and the City of Los Alamitos, CA, the nomination of Amazing Woman of the Year, Long Beach Press-Telegram, and was voted the Absolute Best of Long Beach in Music and was awarded the RuMBa Grant for excellence in music education, K – 12.
Driven by her passion for her family, music, and music education, her zest for life, and her commitment to serve humanity through the international language of music, Solid Strings Book I was designed to empower both the teacher and his/her students. This program which combines the Solid Strings method books with detailed instructional videos and play-a-long accompaniments will enable all students to successfully experience the joy of creating music.