The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast kicks off the debut season of its “Hear and Now Concert Series” with a performance from violinist Rachel Lee Priday and pianist David Kaplan, both concertizing professionals and alumni of PMP programs. 

The first in a series of three concerts stretching into early Spring, the series includes the 11th annual Celebration Concert, marking the culmination of the PMP/Sarasota Winter Residency and bringing famed violinist Itzhak Perlman to the stage along with the students, and a final show on Apr. 19 featuring the Ariel String Quartet.

The unifying principle behind the series, according to PMP/Suncoast executive director Elizabeth Power, is the young artist and the cutivation of young artists, whether it be current students, aged 12 to early 20s, on stage with Perlman, or the recent graduates performing the opening and closing shows.

“We’re celebrating this incredible young artistry,” said Power. “They’re so talented, so focused. You’re going to hear the next generation of concert artists.”

Priday and Kaplan have already begun cementing their names, receiving critical acclaim from performances across the country, including New York, Chicago and Boston, as soloists and company members. Still, Priday remembers her time with PMP.

“Sarasota is filled with memories for me,” said Priday, who attended the Sarasota Winter Residency twice, most recently in 2008. “As I’ve continued on in the professional world, I realize that learning never stops. The skills you learn in a residency like this continue to be essential throughout your life.”

Kaplan, a regular presence on the New York scene through performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, previously attended the Chamber Music Workshop as part of PMP’s Summer Program on Shelter Island.

“He’s a phenomenal young pianist,” said Power. “He’s not new to Sarasota because he’s concertized in Florida before, but this will be his first time with us and we’re looking forward to having him join us.”

Programming for the night includes selections from Schumann, Dietrich and Brahms, as well as Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata.

While almost all events hosted by PMP/Suncoast are free and open to the public, this concert will be one of the few with a ticket price, with proceeds going toward PMP’s educational programming, such as the Educational Outreach Program, sending musicians into local schools, and the Super Strings.

Priday and Kaplan play Dec. 4 at 7pm in the Sarasota Opera House.