Marc Uys - A Musician's "Noteworthy" Journey from South Africa to Princeton

I am very excited to share my latest conversation with all of you!  Today’s guest is Marc Uys, Executive Director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.  To be honest, I am a music appreciator, but one with zero musical talent myself.  So, talking with Marc was a bit intimidating! 

But we had a wonderful conversation, and I could have talked with him for hours!  (I think perhaps I did…) I learned of Marc’s origins in South Africa and his passion for the violin from the age of three!  My listeners will learn, as I did, of Marc’s fascinating and “dogged” (you’ll get the reference when you listen) musical path through university.  Marc tells us of the importance of his time with the South African Youth Orchestra, and later his formation of the Sontonga Quartet.  You need to check out some of their recordings at Soundcloud.com.  Beautiful! (Google it)

Marc shares how he ultimately ended up in the States, not only performing as a violinist, but as a sought after “harp hauler”!  Through joining Symphony in C, a high caliber training orchestra in Philadelphia, Marc met Rossen Milanov, PSO's Music Director, which is how he ended up at the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.  We are so glad he did! 

Of course, you’ll have to listen to hear the rest of the story...so please join us in our conversation!

To find out more about the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and its programs, go to www.princetonsymphony.org.

 Along with listening to the Sontonga Quartet as mentioned above, I also recommend you look for Buskaid.  This is a music school dedicated to teaching less privileged musicians in South Africa.  During COVID, Marc and the PSO introduced the Princeton community to this wonderful organization through a series of remote concerts.  Brilliant! You can find information at www.buskaid.org.za.  You can find performances on YouTube.