2016 Tampa Bay Music Reading Workshops Set

DUNEDIN, FL – Many people associate the “off season” with athletic teams. But the various community bands around the Tampa Bay area also have an off season during the summer.

And just like with their athletic counterparts, musicians also have to stay in shape (or get back in shape) when it comes to their off season. To keep musicians active during this down time, the City of Dunedin, the Dunedin Community Center and the Dunedin Concert Band will host their fourth annual Tampa Bay Music Reading Workshops.

This free series of workshops will take place at the Dunedin Community Center, 1920 Pinehurst Road, bi-weekly every Tuesday night from 7:30 to 9 p.m. starting on Tuesday, May 31, for seven weeks.

The Tampa Bay Music Reading Workshops consist of seven sight-reading sessions for woodwind, brass and percussion players and will be led by seven of the Bay area’s most noted conductors. The series is open to all musicians, whether they are currently members of a musical organization, are considering joining one or those who want to hone their sight-reading skills. There are no auditions for the series and there is no obligation to attend.

“These workshops are a great way for people to share music with each other who normally don’t have the opportunity, perhaps due to schedules or abilities,” said Stephen P. Brown, director of the Dunedin Concert Band. “It is a real thrill to see young and old, new and familiar, professional and beginner players all come together in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere for one, a few or even all seven sessions.”

The visiting conductors scheduled to work with the workshops include:

• May 31: Roger Green, associate director for both the Greater St. Petersburg 2nd Time Arounders Marching Band and the St. Petersburg Community Marching Band. Former director of bands at Bay Point Middle School and Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg and Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School in Largo.
• June 14: John Bannon, director of the St. Petersburg Community Band and principal timpanist with The Florida Orchestra. Teaches at Kinhaven Music School, Hillsborough Community College and St. Petersburg College.
• June 28: Bill Findeison, found and executive director of the St. Petersburg Area Awesome, Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band. Former owner of Bringe Music and National Music Supply and band director at Lakewood High School for 15 years.
• July 12: Rob Romeyn, accomplished performer, conductor, educator, composer and arranger. Director of St. Petersburg Community Band from 1994-2013 and performs with that band and the Dunedin Concert Band.
• July 26: Dr. Jeffrey L. Traster, retired director of bands at the University of Tampa.
• Aug. 9: Mystery conductors. Individual members of the Dunedin Concert Band will test their directing “chops” with their own musical selections. Several of the guest conductors are also members of multiple area bands.
• Aug. 23: Philip Wilson, assistant conductor of the Dunedin Concert Band and plays in both the Dunedin and Clearwater community bands. Taught high school bands in Ohio for 32 years.

For more information, visit dunedinconcertband.com.

Photo: The Dunedin Concert Band will host the Tampa Bay Music Reading Workshop series beginning May 28.

Photo by © Guillaume Piolle / CC-BY-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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