Director
Suncoast Concert Band
Robert Stoll - Born and raised in New Jersey, Bob graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 1968. During his 34-year teaching career, he taught instrumental music at the elementary, middle and high school levels in Massachusetts from 1968 – 2002. He directed a church choir in Rockport, MA from 1968 – 1971 and was music director at First Parish of Westwood United Church (MA) from 1990 – 2000.
Bob played trombone and was personnel manager of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston for 30 years. He played trombone in the New England Brass Band for 14 years and performed in many prestigious venues, including Symphony Hall in Boston. He was a member of the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, Brockton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Quincy Symphony Orchestra.
Bob and his wife Nancy moved to Lakewood Ranch, FL in 2002. Since then he has played in the Manatee Concert and Community Bands, the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, the Sarasota Jazz Ensemble, the Bob Zimmerman Orchestra, in addition to the Suncoast Concert Band and Jazz Ambassadors.
Robert Stoll
Concert Band Director
John Cooley
Jazz Ambassador Director
Suncoast Concert Band
941-907-4123
Directors
Director
Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors
John Cooley - John’s talent, skills and experiences in the music scene are what brought him to the directorship of the Jazz Ambassadors. In 2010, John relocated to Florida and his musical resume never ceased to grow!
Since 2013, John has performed in over 160 stage shows at the Asolo Rep Theater in Sarasota and at the Venice Theatre and others. Productions included West Side Story, Luck Be a Lady, Guys and Dolls and others. In the classical realm, he most recently performed with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra including a two-month long run of Puccini’s Turandot.
Since moving to Florida, John has also enhanced many local musical groups with his musicianship. Included in that list are the Siesta Brass Quintet, First Sarasota Church Brass Quartet, the Sophisticated Swing Big Band, Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, Sarasota Jazz Project, Windjammers, to name a few.
It is easy to see why the Jazz Ambassadors’ organization is both fortunate and excited to perform under the direction of Mr. John Cooley. Perhaps John, himself, put it best...”and away we go, you’ll leave our concert smiling!”