Join the BSO for “His and Hers” with guest conductors Sharon Lee & Marcus Scholtes.
Exploring music and relationships through their own distinct artistic lenses, conducting duo Sharon Lee and Marcus Scholtes present a program of complementary works that reflect connection, contrast, and shared inspiration.
At the heart of the program is the music of Fanny Mendelssohn and Felix Mendelssohn—two brilliant composers bound by family, talent, and history, yet separated by the recognition they received in their time. Their music opens a window into a creative partnership shaped by both closeness and constraint.
From there, the program unfolds through a series of musical pairings—works that speak to one another across relationships, eras, and perspectives. At times lyrical and intimate, at others bold and expansive, each piece offers a different reflection on how individuals influence, challenge, and inspire one another.
Balancing contrast with cohesion, His & Hers is not simply a comparison, but a conversation—between composers, between conductors, and ultimately, between the music and the audience.
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Conductor Bio: Sharon & Marcus Scholtes
Married in life and on stage, conducting team Sharon Lee and Marcus Scholtes bring together two distinct musical perspectives. Trained as a classical violinist, Sharon Lee has a strong chamber music background and approaches music through collaboration. Marcus Scholtes, fluent in both violin and piano, works from within the score—guided by harmony, structure, and the composer’s intent. Both have deep roots in orchestral performance. Sharon was appointed by the late Kerry Stratton as concertmaster of the Toronto Concert Orchestra. Marcus served as Associate Concertmaster of Sinfonia Toronto, a position he held for ten years. A natural communicator, Sharon is in demand as a guest concertmaster, leader, and conductor across the GTA. Highlights include conducting the orchestra for Daniel Hamin Go’s debut album Arirang and serving as concertmaster for the studio orchestra of the hit video game Cuphead. She was appointed Music Director of the Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra in 2019. Marcus holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University, with minors in both orchestral and choral conducting. He is currently Music Director of Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton and serves as an assistant conductor to Roger Nierenberg for his internationally acclaimed Music Paradigm presentations. Together, Sharon and Marcus were appointed Artistic Directors and Conductors of the Toronto Concert Orchestra in 2020. Under their leadership, the orchestra successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to online performances in summer 2020. They have since rebuilt and expanded audiences, now leading sold-out summer seasons at the Palais Royale. In summer 2023, they were selected as two of ten conductors for the Juilliard Extension conducting intensives. They returned in 2024 and each received grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts to pursue a year-long orchestral conducting course at Juilliard. Sharon and Marcus live in Hamilton, Ontario with their two young children.