What is your name?
Sandra Wilmot

Where are you from?
Born in Carnduff Saskatchewan, grew up in Kelowna

Where do you live now?
Kelowna, and Westwold BC

What instruments do you play?
Violin (and piano, actually harpisichord)

How long have you played your instruments?
Have played violin for 25 years

What made you pick those instruments?
Because of an active interest in orchestral and early music.

Where did you study
Kelowna and Vernon music schools, Vancouver (UBC)

Please list any awards, accomplishments, etc.
Winner of Vancouver Chamber Choir's Young Composers Competition 2000, Jean Coulthard Composing Competition 2000, Irving K Barber Award for Arts (UBC).

If you could have dinner with any composer (living or dead) who would it be and why?
Arvo Pärt. Because he seems like possibly the most interesting and compassionate human; and I adore his music!

What is your favourite genre of music, other than classical music?
Silence

What is your favourite band?
Kronos Quartet ( they qualify, right?!)

Other than the KSO, who do you perform with?
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, my partner Martin Krátký ( KSO principle cellist), and many of my other wonderful colleagues from the OSO and KSO!

What are some interesting places you have traveled to?
Germany, France, Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, and the back stage area of the Sagebrush Theatre...

What are your hobbies outside of music?
Ahh, the proverbial "isn't music your hobby" question... Gardening, kayaking, and building our off-grid home

What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?
Can't eat ice cream, I am vegan...

What is your guilty pleasure?
Fresh carrots straight from the garden, and spicy tortilla chips!

Do you get nervous? And how do you calm your nerves before a performance?
Making sure I shown up at the right venue, at the right time, with the proper music, and appropriate attire. Too much to think about generally to have time to be nervous!

Please add anything that you'd like to share with our audience:
Aside from playing, what I spend most of my life doing is teaching violin. I am blessed to have 70 wonderful students in Kelowna and Kamloops with whom I get to share my love of music, and passion for music education. They keep me challenged, entertained, humbled and, sufficiently exhausted.