Mark Sokol

I just heard of Marks passing. What a loss to the world. Although it has many years since I spent valuable time with him and his family, I will never forget him. I have a lot of childhood memories, but one sticks out as I write. One weekend in the late 50's at his home, his father, Vilem, instructed Mark and me to lay down in the middle of the living room, and look up at the ceiling. He then proceeded to turn on a "large" reel-to-reel recording of a Beethoven played by a symphonic...

I will never forget the Concord Quartet's electrifying performance of the Rochberg Third Quartet at Fort Flager Music Camp where I was a young clarinettist and blossoming composer. I think this performance (c. 1973) was one of the first brilliant, committed performances of 20th-century music I had heard and it really helped to set my course as a composer. If there were performers like THAT out there ... why NOT compose music.

To all his sisters, brothers, children, nieces and...

I have been an extraordinarily fortunate member of Mark's and Elaine's extended family over the last 25 years. Every moment was exhilarating and inspiring! Thanks to both of you!

Mark Sokol was an unusual and brilliant man; I knew him in the 70s and 80s, and always missed my talks with him about music, listening and getting it explained, both of us beers in hand. He was vividly alive; the world is worse off without him.

Sympathy to Robbie and Erin.

Tom Bailey

As a cellist in the section of the Seattle Youth Symphony, I always looked forwards to the occasional drop in visits by the illustrious members of the Sokol family at rehearsals and at Marrowstone Music Festival Camp. Mark appeared once or twice and he was so very charismatic and charming! An amazing musician and performer. He will be greatly missed by the music world.

Pamela Chang

Dear Sokol Family,
We Sisters send each of you our sympathy and supportive prayers as Mark enters his eternal happiness. May his new life in God's Presence bring great peace to all you.

I was so sorry to hear of Mark's passing. I'll never forget my first impressions of him when I first joined the Seattle Youth Symphony in the Fall of 1963. He was funny, charismatic, oozing with talent and charm - by far, the coolest guy in the room. He was the James Dean of the violin section, the "bad boy" that everyone adored and wanted to emulate. The world is a far less interesting place without him. Thank you for gracing our lives and stretching our ears, Mark. You will be missed.

This is an email I sent to Mark but not sure if he got it.

Dear Mark,
When I came to the conservatory in 2008 I was armed only with my cello, passion for chamber music, and the smallest shred of hope for the future. I had very little confidence in my self as a musician. Taking chamber music class and being coached by you was one of the most significant stones used to bolster my failed belief in my self.

In you I found a person who said what I thought. In your words I found...

Rob and Erin,

We are sad to hear of your dad's death. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Steve and Marikay Bates