We recently connected with SoSco Duo and have shared our conversation below.

SoSco, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

As musicians and artists in general our work is filled with risk. Of course it usually doesn’t involve bodily harm or potentially damaging property (though we have had those types of gigs, they are the exception not the rule), but in each song, performance, or opportunity we chose to risk failing in front of our audience and ourselves. Perhaps the greatest risk we ever took was choosing to start a flute and guitar duo in the first place and almost ten years later, we are happy we did! There are a handful of flute and guitar duos out there and they typically come from classical backgrounds, but our group is unique, we started out as a musical “odd couple” half classical and half contemporary. From the first few songs and genres we each brought to the table we knew we’d have a challenge ahead of us but we also knew that the reward was worth it and many hundreds of performances later we can safely say the risk payed off and we were able to blaze our own trail creatively and musically. When we arrange or write a new piece of music, we make it our own and we do that with confidence and a style that is uniquely ours.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Since we began playing together in 2014, our flute and guitar duo has evolved into an ensemble unlike any other. While we understand that performers are at various levels of musicianship and all levels can move audiences in a meaningful way, we take the business of music making very seriously. This is not our hobby. We don’t just do this for fun.

We have invested our lives, our time and effort, into studying, practicing and performing music. We took private lessons for years, we got music degrees at some of the finest music schools in the nation with some of the finest teachers, and we’ve gone on to perform hundreds of times, honing our craft. We continue to learn and grow and refine ourselves as musicians and ensemble players every day.

For us, using music as a vehicle to connect people to powerful memories and emotions is our work. This is why we do what we do, and this is why music matters so deeply.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

In any ensemble the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts a la an orchestra or choir. As a duo, that hold true but individually we have a greater responsibility for making that happen and being human we don’t always hit the mark, but when we do hit our groove together the reward is worth it and quite addicting!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society needs to continue to develop a healthy appreciation of the arts. Music appreciation, film, theater, paint, sculpture etc are essential parts of a thriving creative ecosystem. Even if somebody doesn’t’ feel they can create they should feel confident that they can appreciate the art they see, hear or feel. That starts with individuals making the effort to expose themselves to new things and old and then being “critical” in the literal sense of the word, with confidence. Being honest with what you think of art is essential too, remember that most people have opinions about and there is no need to let other opinions shape your own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soscoduo.com
• Instagram: @sosco_the_scottsdale_musicians
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soscoduo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoScoDuo