Lyrical Dreams Concert

The Sarasota Piano Trio is an ensemble based in beautiful Sarasota, Florida. Pianist Jesse Martins, violinist Milene Moreira and cellist Nadine Trudel were colleagues at the Sarasota Opera when they were first approached to perform a concert for the students of the Sarasota Youth Opera. While researching repertoire for the concert they discovered a trove of lesser-known pieces that they felt had been overlooked and merited to be heard. This motivated the official formation of their ensemble and led to a number of subsequent performances, earning them praise for their interesting programming and expressive playing. 

Jesse Martins, piano

Jesse Martins is a conductor, pianist, and voice coach who has extensive experience working with all types of singers from children to experienced professionals.

Since joining the music staff of Sarasota Opera in 2011, he has been integrally involved in all aspects of the company’s musicmaking. He conducted Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (2019), Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (2021), and in the upcoming season will conduct Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. Maestro Martins was the Chorus Master & Head of the Apprentice Program during the 2020 Winter Festival and has performed as pianist in many concerts for the company and throughout the area.

As Youth Opera Music Director for Sarasota Opera, Maestro Martins has conducted the world premiere of Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabga Country, the U.S. premiere of Dean Burry’s The Secret World of OG, Britten’s The Little Sweep, Dean Burry’s The Hobbit, Krása’s Brundibár and was the associate conductor for the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s Little Nemo in Slumberland.  He also co-wrote, in collaboration with Martha Collins, and conducted two works for the Sarasota Youth Opera: Raise Up Your Voice – Intolerance Through The Voices of Children, and Let’s Put on an Opera.  As part of the music staff Martins was the cover conductor for Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and L’italiana in Algeri, Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Eugene D’Albert’s Tiefland, Catalani’s La Wally, and Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona.

Maestro Martins has worked extensively as a coach in his native Brazil, New Zealand, and now the Sarasota Opera and area.

Milene Moreira, violin

A native of Brazil, violinist Milene Moreira is currently a member of the Sarasota Orchestra and Sarasota Opera.  Prior to joining the Sarasota Orchestra in 2003, Milene served as Concertmaster of ULBRA and Teatro São Pedro Chamber Orchestras (Porto Alegre, Brazil).

She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, a Master of Music degree from the Carnegie Mellon University , and Arts Diploma from Freiburg Musikhochschule in Germany. An active chamber musician Milene also has a Graduate Performance Diploma from Hartt School of Music where she studied with the famous members of the Emerson String Quartet. During her school years she was a member of Carnegie Mellon New Music Ensemble, and “Con Anima” early music ensemble in Germany. Milene was invited as a fellow to a number of prestigious international music festivals such as the Orford Music Festival , Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau and Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. In Germany she collaborated with the prestigious Offenburg Streich Trio and was invited to be guest artist at Offenburg Kreuzgang Konzerte . Her orchestral experience includes performances with The Florida Orchestra, Florida South West Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Tampa Opera, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Freiburg Theater Opera, Basel Theater Opera and Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra. During the summers, she performs and teaches at the Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia.

Nadine Trudel, cello

Sought after for her rich tone and meaningful interpretations, Nadine Trudel is currently performing as Principal cellist of the Sarasota Opera and with the Sarasota Orchestra. In 2009 she co-founded the cello and bass ensemble NONA with her husband Gil Katz. The duo has since been performing across the United States and in 2010, premiered a new concerto for cello and bass by Gil Katz as guest soloists with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.

A native of Montréal, Québec, Nadine attended the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. She went on to earn her Master of Music degree at the University of Southern California with grants and awards from both the FCAR in Québec and the USC School of Music. Nadine was invited as a fellow to a number of prestigious music festivals such as Tanglewood, Aspen, and the Banff Center for the Arts. She also has performed at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and the Utah Festival Opera - nonamusic.com

Sponsors: Judy & Rick Aarnes, Elizabeth & Rocco Aversa, Aline Blanchard & Art Siciliano, Carol & Les Brualdi, Edie & David Chaifetz, Syble & Peter DiGirolamo, Maryanne & Ray Hazen, Maria Cora Gaffar, Angela Korsmo, Joan Lovell & Wally Kraemer, Sheila & Joe Varady, Rachael & Don Worthington, and Mary Zabin. 

Patrons: Katherine Benoit & John Brooks, Sandy Rath & Richard DeGennaro, Katherine Martinez & Jules Herbert, Rebecca & Bill Tompkins, Michal & Jim Wadsworth, and Jeanne Yeagle & Dave Luce.