Photo courtesy of Sarasota Orchestra.

Like most siblings, Natalie and Rebecca Helm look a lot alike—both have blonde hair, blue eyes and similar builds, but it’s their smiles that stick out as eerily similar. They also both possess a gift for music. Natalie owns the title of Principal Cellist for the Sarasota Orchestra, Rebecca, who lives in Boston, is an accomplished pianist and music instructor. The two have performed as a duet since they were children, and as adults, they recorded an album of Christmas songs. Regrettably, between their geographic distance, marriages and careers, their ability to connect over music has dwindled. But if the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated any positive effects, it is the abundance of time the sisters have found to explore new ways to connect.

Just this week, Sarasota Orchestra officially cancelled the remainder of its 2019-2020 season in response to the social distancing protocols recommended by state and federal officials. For Natalie, the free time has been an opportunity to dig into musical endeavors she was too busy for during the season. “Instead of preparing for the week’s performance,” says Natalie, “we’re digging a little deeper into our bookcases of sheet music.” She has taken the time to dive into some Beethoven cello sonatas and some Bach sweets, maybe work on her bow technique. But she has also used her free time to become proficient in a realm of music many classically trained musicians seldom dive into: digital recording.

As part of the Orchestra’s campaign to stay connected with its fans, Natalie familiarized herself with video conferencing and recording platforms so she could, among other projects, create a duet with her sister. The video is part of a series of vignettes many Orchestra musicians are producing in their free time that offer an intimate window into their lives at home during quarantine. It opens with a greeting from Natalie, in good spirits and sharing personal anecdotes like the story of how she proposed to her husband. She also introduces viewers to her sage rescue pup, DeAngelo. It’s a touching moment of candor that reminds Orchestra fans that each musician has a life off-stage and that they too feel the pains of isolation.

The video then cuts to the two sisters in their respective living rooms, Rebecca with her hands poised on her piano, Natalie seated with her cello at the ready. They perform “What the World Needs Now is Love,” an upbeat song they hope will combat the current state of fear and uncertainty. The simple number is delicately expressed by the pair, with Rebecca providing the steady foundation of chords to Natalie’s lilting rendition of the vocal melody on cello. In spite of the distance and circumstances, the sisters’ performance still feels synchronous and immediate. “It’s an interesting time for us in that we’re not able to go to our ‘jobs,’” says Helm, “but for me, continuing to practice and connect has been important to help me remember why I do this.”

Photo courtesy of Sarasota Orchestra.

To see the video.