We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Paul and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Early in my career, I lived and worked in the DC area–I was there for six years. I played chamber music gigs with some phenomenal musicians (some of them were Marines who played at the White House), but much of the time, we were working under the auspices of larger companies whose owners charged clients a lot and paid the musicians a small fraction of these fees. There were also often other aspects of these work experiences that were demoralizing or even degrading for the musicians. When I moved to Atlanta in 1996, there were not many classical chamber music groups that approached this sort of “gig” work in a very professional way. I was inspired by and learned from the wonderful colleagues that I had in DC, and I definitely also learned what NOT to do from my experiences there. I saw an opportunity to create a business in Atlanta that aimed to provide outstanding chamber music to clients while compensating and treating the musicians (who are also my friends and colleagues) as well as possible. I am so grateful for the opportunities and the success that my company (Amati Chamber Music) has enjoyed and continues to enjoy in Atlanta!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a professional cellist, and I started my business, Amati Chamber Music, in Atlanta in 1996. I am a conservatory trained classical musician, a detail oriented person, and an excellent listener. I take the time to really understand what our clients want musically, and I will stop at nothing to give this to them. I find that certain words mean different things to different people (for example, the term “upbeat” when referring to music). I really enjoy getting to know our clients, and of course, this helps us to identify and meet their musical needs as well. I strive to be clear on the exact musical styles and selections that will make our clients happy. I have never wanted to expand in terms of the number of groups of musicians that we have performing at any given time. We usually have only one gig happening, and on rare occasion, we will split up and have two ensembles playing at the same time. I know that I could make more money if I sent out several groups to play, but this is not the point as far as i am concerned. I am a musician first so I want to play the gigs myself! We have always been a home-based business, and this helps to keep overhead low. We have had a few rough patches (the time during economic downturns and during the pandemic were particularly challenging), but we have managed to “stay the course” and have continued to thrive overall–I’m grateful for this. Classical musicians can be our own harshest critics so it is always gratifying to us to hear that clients were entirely pleased with our music. People respond so favorably when we play for them, and this is exactly what we want!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Cobb county, and I like the little towns here–the Marietta Square, downtown Kennesaw, and downtown Acworth each have personality and fun things to see. I like to wander around and look in little shops in these areas. My dog and I like to go to Swift Cantrell Park. I love the Atlanta Botanical Gardens when the weather is nice. We might go to the High Museum. If there was a show that interested us at the Fox Theater, I would love to bring a friend there. I would check see what the Atlanta Symphony was playing and would also check out the concert schedule at Kennesaw State University–the faculty concerts and guest artists there are great! I love Spivey Hall, and they have some fantastic concerts there too–it can be well worth the drive. We would also see what was happening at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. I like to go to movies at the Studio Movie Grill in Marietta. I love to have Sunday brunch at South City Kitchen in Vinings, and I love the pizza at Vesuvio in Kennesaw. I absolutely love Moon Indian Cuisine in Kennesaw–it’s a “mom and pop” Indian restaurant that is delicious. I love Gabriel’s in Marietta–especially the desserts! I am very fond of Fusco’s Via Roma in Acworth.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, there are a lot of people that deserve credit for inspiring and supporting me–I will mention just a few. First, I want to honor and remember my life partner of 30 years, Charles Clonts. Charles passed away in 2017 after a valiant fight against cancer. He was always my biggest fan, and he helped me in so many ways–from moral support and legal advice (he was a lawyer) to schlepping my cello and equipment (and me!) to and from gigs. His infinite love, humor, patience, wisdom, and kindness helped me to have the confidence to do what I needed to do, and I have him to thank for helping me make my way down this path. I also have tremendous gratitude and love for Kim Miller, who was the concertmaster of “The President’s Own” at the White House and his wife, Vickie, who also played violin at the White House. I played countless jobs in the DC area with Kim and Vickie. They taught me what it means to be a true professional musician. I am also so fortunate to have connected with a group of fantastic musicians in Atlanta who are also some of my closest friends. Going to work at a gig with them doesn’t feel like work at all–what a gift this is!

Website: www.amatimusic.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahthecellist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amatimusic

Other: https://www.atlantabridal.com/v/amati-chamber-music/ https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/amati-chamber-music-inc-kennesaw/37955cf52e86b54d.html

Image Credits
Dot Paul

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