Vilem Sokol

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Vilem Sokol at 90

Vilem Sokol (b. May 22, 1915) was professor of music at the University of Washington, and legendary conductor of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras from the 1960s to 1980s.

He received a bachelor's degree in music from Oberlin College and a master's degree in music from the State Conservatory of Music in Prague. He studied under a fellowship grant at the Juilliard School in New York.

Sokol was one of the first American teachers to meet Shinichi Suzuki and apply aspects of his teaching method.

He had many children and students who became professional musicians and non-musicians such as software engineers across the nation, and is fondly remembered by many who grew up in Seattle along with J.P. Patches and other Seattle cultural fixtures.

At over 90, he still guest conducts, and gives lessons to children of his former students.