Member Profiles – SCB

Lee Butts

Lee lives in Atlanta Georgia and winters on Anna Maria Island with his wife, Linda (flute), whom he met in the University of Georgia Redcoat Band. During college, he got his musical start by performing at Six Flags over Georgia and directing the Crystal Pistol pit orchestra for 300+ shows each season. That experience led to a tour in the Air Force Band of the West and the Georgia Air National Guard Band. As a graduate of the University of Georgia with an MIS degree, his professional career highlights included the marketing and implementation of new computer technologies, the first personal computers, the first Blackberries (mobile devices) and telecommunications networks.

While in Atlanta, he performs with Northwinds Symphonic Band, Atlanta Trombone Ensemble and Venue Jazz Orchestra. When not enjoying the Gulf waters in Florida he enjoys performing with the Suncoast Concert Band and the Jazz Ambassadors, the Venice Concert Band, and marched as the Drum Major for the Second Time Arounders Marching Band.

Eric Guth

From Columbus, Ohio, Eric and his wife Becky met at a sight-reading clinic at Ohio State. Neither planned on music as a career, but after a year of engineering school, Eric returned to OSU where he earned a degree in instrumental music education. Eric played in The OSU Concert Band, Trombone Choir, Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble and got to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Orange Bowl. He is a retired General Motors Tool & Die Maker.

In addition to the Suncoast Concert Band, he plays in the Jazz Ambassadors, Manatee Concert Band, Sarasota Concert Band, and Manatee Swing Band. They have two sons, both musicians and three grandchildren, two girls and a boy.

Allan Kersten

Al first took up the trombone in Cleveland West Tech High School. He graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with a BS in Chemical Engineering and went on to Lake Erie College for an MBA. His career was in sales and marketing for a natural gas utility compa-ny in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Al played in his high school band and All State Band in Ohio and then didn’t touch the horn again until he retired in 1999.

He moved to Sarasota to live near his oldest daughter and her family and to take advantage of the cultural venues Sarasota had to offer. Again picking up his horn and joining the Suncoast Concert Band, Al says, “It is my first love, and I had as a goal to play in a community band or orchestra and be part of an organization that makes beautiful music.”

Al studies under Marc Morgan, bass trombonist for the Sarasota Orchestra

Marvin Luckett

Marvin, a native of Harpers Ferry WV, began playing trombone in 1951 in his high school band. After high school he joined the Army and served as a trombonist and drum major in the 356th and 75th Army Bands. He attended the U.S. Naval School of Music along with other Army personnel and graduated in 1957. He later received a BA in Music Education from Shepherd University and an MA in Education from James Madison University and taught music in Virginia for 37 years. He performed in the Hagerstown MD Municipal Band and in The Stonewall Brigade Band.

After retirement in 2000 he and his wife Faye moved to Bradenton. He tutored band students in Manatee County for 10 years and plays in 9 local bands. He also studied bagpipe with Roddy MacDonald for 12 years.

Jim Metzger

Taught over 35 years in Central Pennsylvania

Undergraduate Music Education Degree: Mansfield University

Graduate work: Philadelphia School of the Arts (Villanova University) and Penn State University 

Graduate degree: West Chester University

Conducting Teachers include Frederick Fennell, Jerry Nowak and Edward Lisk

Guest conductor for Honors Bands in Lancaster, Lebanon and Adams County (Pennsylvania)

Former Conductor of the Lititz Community Band (one of the oldest community bands in Pennsylvania)

Former Conductor of the Moonlighters Jazz Band (Lancaster County Pennsylvania)

Lead Trombonist with the Moonlighters Jazz Band

Current musical groups include:

Allegheny Brass Band (Pittsburgh, PA)

Butler Musicians Concert Band (Butler, PA)

Kittanning Community Band (Kittanning, PA)

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Community Band

Suncoast Community Band (Sarasota, FL)

Terri Metzger

Undergraduate Music Education Degree:  Indiana University of Pennsylvania- Minor in Trombone Performance

Studied Trombone with Dr. Christian Dickinson (student of Florida State teacher William Cramer)

Graduate work: Philadelphia School of the Arts

Taught High School Strings at North Allegheny School District

Taught 4th-8th grade band at Pittsburgh Diocese Schools

Former Principal Trombonist of Pittsburgh Philharmonic 

Former Second Trombonist of the Edgewood Symphony (Pittsburgh)

Former Director of The Brass Staff (Dixieland brass ensemble)

Retired Wine Specialist with the PLCB 

Current musical groups include:

Allegheny Brass Band Pittsburgh PA (tenor and bass trombone)

Butler Musicians Concert Band, Butler PA (first trombone)

Kittanning Community Band (Kittanning, PA)

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Community Band

Suncoast Community Band (Sarasota, FL)

Robert Clair Miller

He was born and raised in southwest Ohio. His music studies began early with piano and violin lessons. In the 7th grade, the director needed trombones for the band and thus began his trombone study with Betty Glover. He is a graduate of Miami (Ohio), Xavier Universities and the U.S. Naval School of Music. Throughout the years, he taught and directed bands and orchestras in Trotwood, Yellow Springs and Kettering, Ohio and was the Director of Bands at the University of Dayton (Ohio). His groups have performed for State and National Conventions.

For 41 years, until his retirement, he played trombone with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Opera Orchestra and was the conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Concert Band. In addition, he was a business musician for Broadway shows and backup for country, rock and opera artists in the Dayton and Cincinnati area.

After his retirement, he conducted the Centerville, Ohio Community Band. No longer a “snowbird”, he performs regularly with The Pops Orchestra of Sarasota – Bradenton and is proud to be a member of the Suncoast Concert Band.

He would like to mention that the Sarasota area has a special meaning to him because it is the home of the Ringling Bros Circus, and he had the privilege of performing with Merle Evans, conductor of the Ringling Circus Band when they came to Dayton Ohio.

Joe Bruno Sr.

Joe has a career that goes back three quarters of a century to the late 1930’s coming from a music family and playing Jazz trumpet as a teenager. After 9 years as a US Navy Musician including tours on the USS Midway in WW II, USS New Jersey during the Korean War and NAS Jacksonville, Joe returned to Boston working in the Tony Bruno Orchestras for his dad and on his own acquiring the position of band leader at the famous Parker House Hotel in the 60’s and 70’s, during that time, Joe played section and solo trumpet behind most of the greats of that time including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr, Wayne Newton and countless other shows contracted through the family business.

Joe moved to Florida in 1975 and was tapped to go to Las Vegas in 1979 as the band leader at the 20th Century and the Holiday International Hotel until a musician’s strike ended his gig. Then he and his wife Millie returned to FL. Joe played internationally with the Garden Avenue Seven after Vegas until moving to Sarasota where he had been playing and co-leading with Jerry Jerome. Joe Sr. and Joe Jr. decided to put together a concert, festival level Dixieland band and would name it “Joe Bruno’s Dixieland Hotdogs”. Since 1990 he has played at the Friendship Center in Sarasota entertaining so many senior citizens over the years. Joe has also been performing for the past 30 plus years with the Suncoast Concert Band and is a member of the Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors. He has a Dixieland group that performs at all the Jazz Ambassador concerts.

Mark Eiser

I was born and raised in Schenectady, New York located in upstate New York’s Capital District. I attended South Colonie HS and was so fortunate to have Henry Carr as my Band Director. Following graduation from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, New York, I taught public school instrumental music in the Schenectady City Schools and in the Schalmont School District in Rotterdam; a suburb of Schenectady

Aside from taking my Schalmont HS band to competitions and festivals, I also conducted the Rotterdam Town Band for 16 years. Retiring from public school teaching in 2010, I went on to teach Brass Techniques at a local community college, taught ceremonial bugle to the 109th ANG Honor Guard in Scotia, NY and played Taps for veteran internments through the BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA organizationfor 37 years. My Schalmont Sabre Marching Band performed at the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA and several appearances at Disney World/Epcot Center. A memorable highlight was marching in the parade leading to the awards ceremony at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY on the night after the “Miracle on Ice”……what a Party!

Aside from taking my Schalmont HS band to competitions and festivals, I also conducted the Rotterdam Town Band for 16 years. Retiring from public school teaching in 2010, I went on to teach Brass Techniques at a local community college, taught ceremonial bugle to the 109th ANG Honor Guard in Scotia, NY and played Taps for veteran internments through the BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA organization.

As a performer, early in my career I contracted as a section trumpet in orchestras to backup headline performers at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center(SPAC)…..acts like composer Henry Mancini, comedian Bob Hope, Liberace, Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett come to mind. I even had the opportunity to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on 2 occasions in concerts calling for an expanded trumpet section. The majority of my playing however was in ethnic, club and event cover bands with some big band gigs thrown in. Most weekends were quite long and I would go back to my teaching job for a break. Hey, a gig is a gig.

Sherm Lyke

A career teacher and musician, Sherm taught instrumental music in the Grand Island Central School District in Western New York for 48 years – the first 33 as a full-time teacher, and the final 15 as a retired substitute in Instrumental Music.

As a student, Sherm has played in bands with Doc’ Severinsen, Urbie Green, George Roberts, and Roy Burns. However, his most influential experience came as a 17 year old student when he had the opportunity to “trade fours” with jazz legend Clark Terry, on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall (the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) in concert with his high school jazz ensemble.

As a performer, Sherm was a member of Locals 92 and 219 of the AF of M, playing commercially as both a classical and jazz musician. These included seasons of performance with the Buffalo Brass Quintet (founding member,) Orchard Park Symphony, Amherst Symphony, the Gus Broncato Orchestra, and the Alex Rene Big Swing Band. Sherm was a trumpeter at Buffalo’s Melody Fair during the 1970’s and early 80’s, performing for such varied artists as the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, and the Spinners. After retiring to Lakewood Ranch with his wife, Barbara, in 2021, Sherm has found a happy performance home with the Suncoast Concert Band and Jazz Ambassadors.

Ed Stiles

Ed was born and raised in Struthers, Ohio where his love of music began at an early age playing and singing with his mother in their family church. Ed was a member of every musical ensemble his high school offered, both band and choir. He then went on to the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio where he received his BS in Music Education. Later he received his Masters Degree from VanderCook School of Music, in Chicago IL. Ed was a 31 year Music Educator in Ohio, where he taught band, choir, marching band, jazz band, pep band, music history and theory. His ensembles received State Superior ratings in both concert and marching band while under his tenure. After retiring to Florida in 2012 with his wife Sandy, Ed continued teaching beginning band at The Out-of-Door Academy part time and became Director of Music Ministry at Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Since moving to Sarasota, Ed has become a member of the Sarasota Bradenton Pops Orchestra, Suncoast Concert Band, Jazz Ambassadors and has played with the Suncoast Brass Quintet, the Manatee and Venice Concert bands and the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.

Kevin Gibbons

Kevin and his wife, Mary, reside in Bradenton and in North Apollo, PA. Kevin attended Clarion State Teacher’s College in PA in the 1970’s as a Music Major and has been playing trumpet for 57 years. Kevin is a retired Police Officer, Firefighter and EMT in PA with 53 years of service. He currently performs in PA with the Kittanning Firemen’s Marching and Concert bands, joining the band in 1975, and as Director for 15 years. He plays with the Musicians Concert Band, in Butler PA, and the Armstrong County Concert Band. Kevin and his wife head up their own 16 piece swing band named the Gibbons Big Band. He also has attended the Williamsburg Music Consortium, Williamsburg VA, playing trumpet and vocals since 2012. In 2015, Kevin sounded taps, at the conclusion of the Candlelight service at the National Police Memorial Service in Washing- ton D.C. In Florida, Kevin performs with the Suncoast Concert Band, the Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors and Scott Stanton groups (Barry and the Boomers and Tijuana Taxi).

Stan Solomons

Stan was born and raised in the New York area. He studied clarinet with Leon Russianoff in High School and went on to Boston University to receive his Bachelor of Music in clarinet. His teachers in Boston included Gino Cioffi on clarinet and Felix Viscuglia on bass clarinet, both members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. After earning his undergraduate degree he re-turned to the New York area and received his MA in Music from New York University.

Stan taught instrumental music and was a Band Director in the New York City Public Schools, eventually accepting a position as Band Director in the Fair Lawn Public Schools in New Jersey. During his tenure in New Jersey, he returned to school for a second MA in Educational Supervision and Administration accepting a position in the Fair Lawn Schools as District Music Supervisor, which he held for the last 20 years of his career.

Stan and his wife Irva retired to Sarasota in 2010. In addition to playing in the Suncoast Band, Stan also performs with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.

Mary Gibbons

Mary graduated from Indiana University of PA where she was a graduate assistant in bassoon performance. She taught high school band and chorus for over 30 years in the Butler and Arm- strong school districts. Mary also taught Bassoon majors and assisted teaching the woodwinds two classes at Slippery Rock University of PA. She played in the faculty woodwind quintets at both Slippery Rock and Clarion Universities. Mary has performed with Butler County Symphony Orchestra, Musicians Concert Band, Kittanning Community Band, Blairsville Community Band, Indiana Pops, Undercroft Opera Company in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra. She and her husband, Kevin, are co-leaders of the Gibbons Big Band.

Since becoming a snowbird in Bradenton, Mary’s musical activities include Music Director at Horseshoe Cove RV Park, and playing in the Suncoast Concert Band, Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors (saxophone), Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble and the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra.

Dick Yow

Music: High School Trumpet, NC Governor’s School for Music, Student Conductor Senior Year. Played with Small Community Orchestras. Military: 7 years Navy Nuclear Sub Power Plant Operator. Education/profession: After Navy went to UNC undergraduate and Med School. Radiology training 4 years in Charleston SC. Retired 2016, moved to Venice and started playing trumpet again and joined VCB and SCB. Interests: Music (I’m tinkering with piano) Fishing, Swimming, Travel, Reading Non-Fiction (and book club). Taking online courses, etc. Single for many years.

Diane Roytz

Diane began trumpet lessons at the end of third grade. Over the years, she studied trumpet with Harry Herforth and Bernard Adelstein. Diane attended Interlochen Center for the Arts and studied with Robert Nagel. Diane graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Music Education and taught grades 4-12 in Zanesville and Willoughby-Eastlake, Ohio. She changed her career plans to work in the corporate world and retired from the Lubrizol in 2006 as a logistics administrator.

Diane moved to Florida with her husband, Jim, a percussionist and former band director. She has enjoyed many ensembles in addition to Suncoast Concert Band, including Jazz Ambassadors, Suncoast Brass Quintet, North Port Symphony, Venice/Sarasota and Manatee Concert Bands, Windjammers, various big bands and church ensembles. Diane and Jim also enjoy golf, fishing, walking and playing cards.

Len Murphy

Len was born and raised in Philadelphia, and upon graduation from Central High School in1952, enlisted in the US Navy and served in fleet bands on clarinet and saxophone until 1955 when he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional career in music. After a stint on the road with the Les Elgart Orchestra, he found his calling in education and received an M.A. in Music Education from California State University at Los Angeles. After four years teaching instrumental music in Glendale, CA, Len returned to his native Pennsylvania to accept a music position in Bala Cynwyd JHS in Lower Merion School District, where he served for 30 years, retiring in l995. In the Philadelphia area he founded the North Penn Symphony Orchestra and served as music director/conductor for 30 years, retiring in 2002.

Moving to Sarasota in 2007, Len joined the Suncoast Concert Band on bassoon and subsequently the Jazz Ambassadors on saxophone. He also plays bassoon with (and conducts) the Anna Maria Island Orchestra and with the Sophisticated Swing dance band. For fitness and health, he participates annually in a MS bike tour in New Jersey and competed in triathlons from 1985 to 2002.

Gordon Kelly

Being updated!

Ginny Elkins Barbaro

Ginny was raised in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York. While in high school, she took private French horn lessons with James Parks from the Denver Symphony. She performed with the Huntington Symphony and the elite Long Island Youth Symphony among other musical ensembles. In 1997, she toured with the Long Island Youth Symphony and performed in numerous foreign countries. She attended Maryville College in Tennessee where she earned her BA degree in Education. During her thirty-six year teaching career, Ginny taught special education in junior and senior high schools in Washington State. She earned her tri-Masters’ degree in Special Education while raising five children and teaching in the Sarasota and Charlotte school system.

Currently, Ginny performs in the Suncoast Concert Band and, in the summer, with the Sun Coast Wind Ensemble. She also performs with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble as needed. She previously performed under the direction of her father, Bill Millner, in the Venice Concert Band where she met her husband, fellow horn player, Matthew. Ginny has also performed with First Brass and the North Port Concert Band. She is retired and resides in Nokomis.

Matthew Barbaro

A native New Yorker, Matt started playing French horn in 6th grade and continued playing throughout middle and high schools, and college. He has a special relationship with his horn and credits it with saving his life. Drafted during the height of the Vietnam War at a time when American casualties were substantial, Matt was fortunate to have been stationed with the 282nd Army Band in Columbia, South Carolina for two years. While stationed there, he played for President Nixon, Bob Hope, and other dignitaries. For 30 years, Matt practiced law in the upstate Albany, New York region in private practice and as an Assistant Attorney General with the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

Now retired in Nokomis, Matt currently plays with the Suncoast Concert Band and occasionally with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble and the Sun Coast Wind Ensemble. Previously he played with the Venice Concert Band, First Brass, the Port Charlotte Concert Band, and the North Port Concert Band. In July 2021, he and fellow hornmate, Ginny Elkins, were wed.

Nancy Leipold

Nancy graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in nursing and later a Ph.D. in clinical nursing research. Retired from teaching at U of M, Nancy plays alpine horn in the group Alphorntraum, euphonium and alpine horn in Ein Prosit, a German band in Kalamazoo MI, and trombone in The Stardusters, a swing band in Clarkston, MI. Also in Michigan she plays French horn in the Waterford Concert Band, North Oakland Concert Band and the Lincolnshire Woodwind Quintet. In addition, Nancy plays banjo in the North Oakland Dixieland Band and the Banjoes of Michigan.

While in Florida, Nancy plays horn in the Venice Concert Band and the Suncoast Concert Band and in the SCF Bradenton Symphony. Playing her tenor banjo, Nancy is an enthusiastic member of the Gulf Coast Banjo Society that plays in Snook Haven Park in Venice every Thursday. Nancy says she is “very lucky to be playing in the Suncoast Concert Band with such wonderful people who are great musicians.”

Tom Bleakley

Tom started playing tuba in the fifth grade through his second year of college and returned to the instrument in 2002. One of the highlights of his life is the honor of playing in the Suncoast Band the past fourteen years. A snowbird, he plays tuba during the summer in the Charlevoix (Michigan) City Band, the Farmington Hills (Michigan) Concert Band, and the Venice Concert Band in season. He plays a regular gig each Christmas season with his trombone at a Salvation Army red kettle (fifteen years).

Tom has written and published five novels and two textbooks, with the most recent novel, Conundrum published in April 2022. His writing describes fictionalized accounts of interesting trials over his 49 years as a member of the Michigan Bar. His next novel, The Preacher, will be published in early 2023. He currently limits his legal practice to pro bono work involving educational issues in Michigan. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, will celebrate 62 years of marriage in December 2022. He also enjoys playing terrible golf.

Bob Geraci

Bob Geraci became a saxophone student at the age of twelve years, and a clarinet student one year later. During his years in high school he formed and led a dance band, and while in college he played not only in the college concert band but also in a “big band” until his graduation. What followed next was medical school, then the residency years, followed by his service in the Navy during the early years of the Vietnam War. Upon release from active duty, he and his family moved to Rochester, NY, where Bob was introduced to the New Horizons program sponsored by the Eastman School of Music. While there, he played clarinet not only with the New Horizons Clarinet Choir, but also with several community bands as well.

Upon his retirement from medical practice, he and his wife moved to Florida, where he has played with the Manatee Band, the North Port Symphony, and the Sarasota Concert Band. He has also been a substitute with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble. Currently, Bob is the newest member of the clarinet section of The Suncoast Concert Band.

Rick Aaron

Rick has lived in Sarasota since 2019. He was a free lancer in Milwaukee for many years, covering orchestral gigs, chamber music, jazz concerts, club dates, Broadway shows, etc. What a complete joy returning to playing in a fine concert band!

Nancy Bauman

Nancy was introduced to the flute in fourth grade in DuQuoin, IL (far southern IL). “My two front teeth were only halfway in, so they said I shouldn’t try clarinet.” Her band director, who taught her, was a violist! She earned a Bachelor of Music degree, with a major in Music History and Literature, from Eastern Illinois University. Before embarking on a music career she worked for an insurance company and a bank. We have to eat, right? She played in the Rockford Christian Fellowship Band (founding member), Kishwaukee Valley Concert Band, Rockford Concert Band (summer park band), Rockford Pops Orchestra (summer park group) and currently is in the Ven-ice and Suncoast Concert Bands. A founding member of FluteSong (flute ensemble), and a woodwind quintet, she has also played and sung solos in church, as well as participated in choir, bells, worship team, and instrumental ensemble. She moved down full time in August 2002 from Belivdere, IL (far northern IL near Rockford). And why is she in the Suncoast Concert Band? “For the music and the friendships!”

Carol Eiser

I was born in Bayshore and grew up in nearby West Islip both on Long Island in New York State.  Our house in West Islip was right next to the last exit on the Robert Moses Parkway leading to Fire Island and its lovely beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Needless to say I spent a lot of time there in my younger years. My father signed me and himself up for accordian lessons from a door to door salesman working our neighborhood. While kind of an unusual introduction to music, it ended up leading me to Carnegie Hall with a performance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour program; myself, my dad and 40 other members of our accordion band.

I attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, NY where I met my husband Mark and also spent 4 years as a piano major (no accordion majors allowed) practicing to get my left hand skills up to the same level as my right. Upon graduation from Crane, I taught public school elementary general music and some instrumental thrown in. With the birth of our third child under 5 years of age, I decided to switch careers to the medical field and eventually became an ER RN. This career change was both for my own passion for the medical field and for our family, as I had more flexibility to work around Mark and the kids’ intense schedules.

Retiring in 2016, after the kids left the nest and our last horse ‘kicked the bucket’, Mark and I began Snowbirding first in Arizona and finally closer to home in Florida. We  decided to stay a while in Sarasota both for the warmth and the cultural opportunities.  We both love the reading opportunities provided by the Suncoast Band’s schedule and the inclusive family camaraderie of its members.

Paul Goodwin

Paul was born on a farm in Southwestern Indiana. In the 4th grade, his band teacher handed him an old baritone horn which he took to instantly. By 7th grade, he was moved to the high school band. He competed in the Indiana solo contests, winning 1st place at state finals for three years in a row. Despite his love for music, Paul enrolled in engineering at Purdue. Throughout college he played euphonium in the Purdue Symphonic Band, eventually achieving principal player. Under Al G. Wright, they had an impressive number of guest concert conductors including Karl King, Richard Franko Goldman, Merle Evans, Ferde Grofe, and topping it off with Arthur Fiedler which was a great experience. After graduation he moved to Philadelphia to attend graduate school at U. of Pennsylvania and a job in the space industry with RCA/GE/Lockheed-Martin in Princeton, NJ. Paul had a 38-year career designing and building spacecraft and rocket boosters for NASA and the Defense Dept. and became Program Manager for advanced space observation systems. During this time he continued with music performances in various community concert bands and on trombone in a jazz big band and in pit bands for local theater groups in the Princeton area. Currently he is also playing trombone in the Good Time Groove jazz band in Sarasota and the Royal Aires dance band in Venice. He has been with the Suncoast Concert Band for 11 years.

Mel Davis

Jack Hill

Jack and his wife Lesle are snow birds from the western New York area. He is 45 minutes younger than his twin brother Jim, who plays trumpet in the Suncoast Band. When asked, Jim will say it was the best 45 minutes of his life.

Jack actively played saxophone throughout high school, then decided to rest for a few measures (35 years to be exact). During that time, he studied engineering at the University of Buffalo and worked in the medical device and imaging industries in Rochester NY.

After his retirement, he discovered that the express lane in beer tents was reserved for those folks carrying musical instruments. That was enough to convince him to pick up the sax again.

One marching band led to another, which led to playing with several community bands, and finally, the Florida Suncoast band

Scott Kettering

Scott spent most of his life in Pennsylvania, growing up in the south central area near Hershey, and then teaching middle school band in the Pocono Mountains area. He has a B.S. degree in Music Education and a Master of Music in performance, both from West Chester University (PA).

Scott has been involved with music most of his life. His first memory of music was listening to Glenn Miller records that his dad would play on a Sunday afternoon. About the same time, he would play his mom’s 45 of Betty Hutton singing “Orange Colored Sky” over and over until he could sing all the words.

On his current music playlist would be anything from the Big Band Era, with Si Zentner’s version of “Up A Lazy River” at the top. Scott’s interests have included antique cars, cycling, skiing and snowboarding. He plays in several bands in Sarasota and New Jersey, where he spends his summers. He frequently travels to new places with his partner, Lance.

Michael Berndt

Michael was born on the plains of Kansas and began playing flute at age nine. When he was drafted during the Vietnam conflict, he joined the military bands and then received his degrees in flute performance and music history and literature from the University of Kansas. He studied with John Boulton, Jean-Pierre Rampal and Julius Baker and played with the Kansas City Philhar-monic, The Keweenaw Symphony and the Fairbanks Symphony. Michael retired after 30 years of service in the Air Force having played in military bands — mostly National Guard Bands. He has played in pit orchestras including Starlight Theater in Kansas City, with Melody Makers (an 18 piece big band) in the Austin, Texas area and the Heights Concert Band.

He feels very fortunate to have been able to make a living playing music. A couple years ago he retired and moved to Venice enjoying the cultural offerings in the area. In addition to the Sun-coast Concert Band, he also plays in the Venice Concert Band and the North Port Symphony.

Linda Butts

Having discovered Anna Maria Island in the 1990’s, Linda and her husband, Lee (trombone) enjoy winters here, but Lake Lanier north of Atlanta is their home. After graduating from the University of GA with a BBA in Marketing, Linda had her own company for 30+ years as a marketing consultant and published a directory of all carpet styles (residential & commercial) for the floorcovering industry.

While in Florida, Linda performs not only with Suncoast, but also Venice Concert Band, Flute-Song (flute ensemble), Second Time Arounders Marching Band (based in St. Pete), and Wind-jammers. In Georgia, she performs with Northwinds Symphonic Band and the University of GA Redcoat Alumni Band & Pep Band

Linda is a founding member of the National Association of Alumni Bands. She and Lee were recently honored during a UGA halftime show for their 50-year leadership with the UGA Redcoat Band Alumni Association.

Mary Deur

Visitors since 1986, Mary and her husband moved to Anna Maria Island in 2002 from Holland, MI, where she taught classroom music, English, band and orchestra as well as private flute and piano students. She was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band, the West Michigan Flute Orchestra, the Holland American Legion Band, the Holland Chorale and her church choir. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Hope College, Holland, MI, and a M.A. in Music Education from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.

Mary moved to NW Bradenton in 2015. In addition to performing with Suncoast Concert Band, Mary is a founding member of FluteSong (flute ensemble) and Relative Harmony (flute, harp, horn trio), board member and principal flute of Venice Concert Band, frequent flute soloist with Bay Chorale and in her church, and a member of Bay Chorale, St Joseph Chamber Choir and her church choir. She has also performed with the Anna Maria Orchestra, Manatee Concert Band and Gulf Coast Flute Choir.

When Mary isn’t making music, she’s probably traveling around the world with her husband Marc.

Bob Salzman

Bob’s first instrument was the guitar at 8, then trumpet at 12. He left his trumpet on a school bus and never saw it again, so he tried the oboe. Bob studied with Harry Schulman of the NBC and Pittsburgh Symphonies and Symphony of the Air and with William Arrowsmith. He received a Bachelor of Music from Manhattan School of Music in performance and a Master of Arts in Musicology from Queens College of the City University of New York. He taught K-12 vocal and instrumental music and was Music Supervisor for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, taught oboe and world music at Westfield State College and is Conductor Emeritus of the Eagles Concert Band of Pittsfield, MA. Bob served in the US Army, playing with the First US Army New York Band, the main band of the NYC area.

He currently plays in the Suncoast Concert Band, two woodwind quintets, and is principal oboe with the North Port Symphony. Bob began wintering here in 2009. “Sarasota attracted him because of its cultural environment, beautiful surroundings and friendly people. We are not disappointed!”

Patti Preves

Patti received her B.S. and M.A. degrees in education from the University of Minnesota and is a certified Orton Gillingham instructor. After a career of classroom teaching in Minnesota and New Jersey, she continued private tutoring for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. The flute continues to be an important avocation for Patti.

In Minnesota she was principal flute of the Minnetonka Symphony, taught private flute lessons and did a variety of freelance flute playing. Patti has performed with the Anna Maria Island Orchestra, Venice Symphony and Suncoast Concert Band.

Patti also enjoys playing chamber music, boating, biking, traveling, walking the beach, golfing, going to movies, trying new restaurants, exploring museums, attending concerts and playing with her violin/viola playing husband, David.

Barbara Germann

Barbara began to play the clarinet when she was twelve and played in the band throughout high school and her first year of college. While working at Prudential, she joined the Bloomfield Civic Band (NJ) where she played clarinet for over ten years. In 1982, Montclair, N.J. formed a com-munity band and she joined enthusiastically, switching to bass clarinet for 25 years, then grasped the challenge to study the oboe. While living in New Jersey, Barbara played oboe with the Montclair Community Band and bass clarinet with the Maplewood Community Band.

She joined the Suncoast Concert Band in 2012 and is thrilled to have the opportunity to play with such amazing musicians. She is also a member of the Venice Concert Band.

Barbara retired from Prudential in January 2012 after a thirty-eight year career in the actuarial and product development departments. She is working on her second novel. She and her husband, Henry, kissed NJ good-bye and became full time Florida residents in May 2017.

Jim Stoltie

“My sister’s boyfriend would come to our home and play ragtime tunes on the saxophone. I was hooked!” Jim’s grade school, junior high and high school teachers were talented experienced professional musicians and great motivators. Jim attended Knox College, Galesburg, IL (B.A. in Music) and received his M.M. degree in Saxophone Performance and Ph.D. in Wood-wind Literature and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. Jim taught woodwinds for 1 year in the Iowa City Public Schools, 6 years at Susquehanna University and saxophone for 23 years at The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. He was Dean of The Crane School of Music for 11 years. While in PA, he was Principal bassoonist with the Harrisburg Symphony and for 15 years bassoonist with the Orchestra of Northern New York. At New England Music Camp Jim taught saxophone for 37 years between 1964 and 2012 while serving as Music Director from 1987. Besides numerous saxophone recitals and concerto performances on and off campus, solo performances at the Guildhall and Royal Festival Hall in London were the highlights of his professional career.

Tom Soto

Bill O’Hara

Franklyn Skidmore

Frankyn earned a degree in Voice Performance at Converse College School of Music. Encouraged by Metropolitan Opera star Jan Peerce, who guided her early studies in NYC, Franklyn won many musical awards, including the Metropolitan Opera Regional auditions. Recognized for her unusual repertoire in many languages, she has appeared at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Smithsonian Institute and numerous recital halls in Eu-rope. Her most exotic venue was a concert for the chief of the Fijian Islands on the island of Tavarua. After 6 years in Brussels, Franklyn moved with her husband Rodger and family to Atlanta and “took up” the clarinet again, playing with the Atlanta and Callenwold Concert Bands! Upon arriving in Sarasota she sang a benefit concert for the Sarasota Opera. “Playing in the Suncoast Band is such a total joy!”

John Polites

John was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio by Greek immigrant parents. In 1963 he joined the Navy as a musician for 6 years. Memorable events: A state flag bearer in President Kennedy’s funeral positioned in front of the White House, touring the Far East in a 20 piece Navy Show Band, touring with the Sam Donahue Orchestra on baritone sax, and a 6 month stint playing 6 nights a week at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Returning to Dayton, he made 3 tours with a Motown Records Band, backing up The Temptations, The Jackson Five (with 12 year old Mi-chael Jackson) and The Drifters

John retired in 2000 after 30 years in sales with Ecolab. He has also led the Fifth Avenue Band, a 7 piece “Top 40’s” rock band in S.W. Ohio., and The Greek Tycoons Band performing at Greek Festivals throughout the U.S.

Jan Miller

I feel very honored and privileged to be able to play in the Suncoast Concert Band, with so many music professionals. I am one of the few band members that does not have any music education past high school. Also, I did not play at all for the following 35 years.

Then a musical friend urged me to try my clarinet again with a Toledo, Ohio, community band. It was a struggle at first, but I soon found that I wanted to play again. After a couple years, in 2002 I bought an alto saxophone, and have loved playing it ever since. One of my most memorable occasions while in Toledo, was being chosen as one of 4 soprano saxophone players performing in a 22 piece saxophone ensemble at the University of Toledo.

After moving to Florida in 2021, I continue to play the alto sax in the Manatee Concert Band in Bradenton, the Sun Coast Wind Ensemble in Venice, and have played in the Riverside Jukebox Swing Band in Sun City Center.

I have made so many wonderful friends in these bands. Music is a truly great social life for me.  

Nick McKay

Nick grew up in St. Louis, MO and began his musical career at the age of eleven. He contin-ued playing throughout high school and college. His advanced musical training was done when he attended the United States Navy School of Music while serving in the U.S Army as a member of the 3rd Army Band in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then Nick has been a member of the Kirkwood Symphony and the Maplewood Symphony in St. Louis and after relocating to Michi-gan, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band and the West Central Michigan Concert band. After marrying Gail, a member of the horn section, they became snowbirds, residing in Venice where he has been a guest soloist with the Venice Musicale and a member of the Charlotte County Concert Band in Punta Gorda. They will become Florida residents this year and Nick looks forward to the upcoming seasons of the Suncoast Concert Band.

Bill Kelley

Bill learned to play clarinet in the 4th grade. He played in both his high school and college bands. Bill was a chemistry instructor at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan.

After graduating from college, Bill did not play in any band until shortly before his retirement. Since then, he plays in two community bands in the Central Michigan Area and the Scottville Clown Band.

Since retiring in 1997, Bill and his wife, Rose, spend the winter in Sarasota. He finds it a real privilege to be a member of the Suncoast Concert Band.

Bill Milner

Allan Seely

I cofounded the Phoenix Veterans Foundation, a IRS approved 501c3 nonprofit, following 35 years of service at General Motors Design Center. I retired as an Engineering Group Manager responsible for advance planning, coordination and operations of the multi million dollar Design Fabrication Organization. Additionally, I served as Vice-President of Finance of the GM Veterans Affinity Group. I graduated from Wayne State University and served as a part time college instructor at Macomb County Community College. My military service was in the U.S. Navy from 1969-73, allowed me to honorably serve aboard the USS R.K.Turner (DLG 20) and USS Fox (DLG 33) serving 3 tours of duty in Vietnam.100% total and permanent disabled Vietnam Veteran. Former member of the US Navy Recruit and Service School Band 1969. Currently an active Member of the Michigan State Spartan Brass and Alumni Marching Band, Rochester Community Band, Genesee Valley Concert Band, Venice Concert Band, Suncoast Concert Band, North Oakland Concert Band.

Dorothy Blum

Scott Blum

Donald Carey

Becky Guth

Becky began studying piano and flute in elementary school in Hilliard OH. By the time she reached 7th grade she wanted to quit. During the summer her band director taught her how to play a trombone, and she returned to 8th grade as a trombonist. A retired clinical pharmacy instructor, she is a graduate of the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and met her husband-to-be in an OSU band. She played in the Columbus Women’s Symphony, Hilliard Community Band, Worthington Civic Band and Greater Columbus Concert Band. Currently, she serves as music librarian for Windjammers, Jazz Ambassadors, Suncoast, Hilliard, Manatee & Sarasota Concert Bands. In 1998 while working as a night pharmacist at the OSU Medical Center, she had a pulmonary embolism. She was in the right place medically, but the doctors could not keep her lungs open. She used breathing techniques she learned from her music teachers to force air through the narrowed lung passages and was able to survive the episode. In her own words, “I was saved by the Bone.”

Steve Liljegren

Steve began his musical career playing the accordion when he was 7 years old. By junior high, he moved to the percussion section where he’s performed ever since. He joined the Milwaukee Elks Youth Band (Milwaukee, WI) at 16. He also performed with the Music for Youth Symphony, Waukesha Symphony, UW-Milwaukee Jazz Ensemble and various other jazz ensembles from piano trios to 18-piece big bands. Later, he often played 6 nights a week with acoustic trios, touring shows and singers. He played with dixieland bands, including the Preservation Hall Dixieland Band in New Orleans; as well as in pit orchestras for musicals, stage shows and operas in the Milwaukee area. Since his retirement to Florida, he has performed circus music with The Windjammers; by invitation with the Williamsburg Consort (VA); The Allegheny Adult Band Camp Concert Band (PA); Highland Concert Band (Sebring, FL); Sarasota Concert Band, Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors, Suncoast Concert Band, North Port Concert Band, North Port Orchestra (Symphony) and Charlotte County Big Band. Steve and his wife, Donna have recently moved back to Wisconsin to be near children and grandchildren. Along with their three dogs, Taggart, Bella, and Carly, Steve and Donna make their home in the farm country of Wisconsin.

Joyce Mizer

Gail Ofterdinger

Gail was born in a suburb of Philadelphia where she began piano lessons at age 8. She was playing clarinet in the school band and accompanying the choirs by 6th grade. In high school, the band director moved her to mallet percussion. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and a minor in harpsichord from the Philadelphia Musical Academy. Graduate school took her to Temple University and she earned her Master of Music in music history. Additional graduate work in harpsichord at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music was followed by completion of the coursework for a PhD in historical musicology from Rutgers University. She and her husband and their feline moved to Sarasota in August 2017. She is delighted to be serving as organist/pianist/accompanist at Northminster Presbyterian Church and to have been welcomed into the Suncoast Concert Band.

Drew Trapani

Dr. Drew Trapani grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. His family life was immersed in music from birth. His father was one of the busiest professional trombonists in Chicago. His three siblings all became professional musicians. He and his brother organized a big band in high school and played dances and shows every weekend. Many of these early band members continued music careers, the most notable starting the band “Chicago”. Drew chose a different path. Though his passion for music never waned, he used his musical talents as a professional drummer (he was Dick Sarlo’s drummer for 30 years) to pay for 10 years of college studying biology at Loyola of Chicago, Dentistry at the University of Illinois and Orthodontics at Loyola.

He served as a Captain (base orthodontist) in the US Army Dental corps. Drew practiced or- thodontics in Elgin, Illinois for 45 years, retiring in 2016. He and his wife Pam have had a “snowbird” home in Sarasota the last 13 years and became full time Siesta Key residents in 2017. He joined the Suncoast Concert Band in 2017 and very much enjoys the quality of musicianship in this organization. Drew also plays in the Venice Concert Band, the Manatee Concert Band, the Jazz Ambassadors, the Suncoast Swing Band, the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble and many other musical groups in the area.

Gail McKay

Gail grew up in a small college town in central Michigan and started playing mellophone in sixth grade. After switching to French horn the following year, she continued playing through-out high school and college. As a member of the Ferris State College marching band, she was thrilled to represent the state of Michigan for the presidential inauguration of Richard Nixon. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering from Michigan State University. In addition to Michigan, Gail has lived in New Jersey and Ohio. Gail returned to Michigan in 2000, and after a hiatus from the horn for 18 years, joined the local College Community band, playing with them for 21 years. She is also a founding member of Con Brio Voce, a 25-piece brass ensemble and played with them nine seasons. She met her husband Nick, a clarinetist, in the local college community summer band and they have been married ten years, sharing their love of music. She and Nick became snowbirds and after enjoying six seasons in Venice, sold their Michigan home and became Florida residents this year. In addition to the Suncoast Concert band, Gail played three seasons in the Charlotte County concert band in Punta Gorda and is beginning her second season with the Venice Concert Band

John Palmer

Darryl Mizer

In 1989 Darryl and his wife Joyce moved to Sarasota and founded the Suzuki Institute School of Music. Darryl began playing trumpet in the 5th grade which has led to a life-long love of music. Darryl is an Air Force veteran and served in Vietnam (1962–1965). Following his service he supplemented his education by playing drums with the Statler Bros. Quartet and when needed played backup for Ray Stevens, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash

Darryl’s formal education was in clinical psychology. He began working in the field in 1972 and retired from Venice Hospital. He was in private practice in Sarasota. His musical experiences have included the Stonewall Brigade Band, Air Force Lackland Drum & Bugle Corps, North Port Orchestra, North Port Band, Venice Band, Sarasota Concert Band and the Suncoast Concert Band

Dick Polland

Richard was born at home in Livermore Falls, Maine, on April 1, 1939. (Doctor Eastman thought he was a joke.) When he was little, his mother taught him solfège, and encouraged him to sing in the choir at the First Baptist Church. He played in the high school band, the town band and the Blue Notes at the New Moonglow Dance Pavilion in Wayne, Maine. In college, he did a lot of a capella singing, in a group that favored the Four Freshman and the Hi-Lo’s. Later, Richard was a backup singer at a recording studio in Boston. His famous line was, “That’s myyy bank!” It was evident Richard was not going to become the next Matt Monroe, so he became a computer programmer. He wrote software for tracking satellites and programs that wondered why the rings of Saturn are where they are. (It’s the moons.) He wrote software for machinery that assembles automobile electrical parts. (That machinery is now in China.) Recently, Richard played in a trio backing up the Four Aces, a long time favorite group. Richard can be heard singing and playing with the Wednesday group at the Sarasota Friendship Center.

Alan Geller

Dr. Alan Geller is a retired dentist from New York, working for the Department of Veteran Affairs, Wash. D.C., serving our veterans for forty years. Now residing in Lakewood Ranch since 2012 and pursuing his “second career”, playing music locally in Sarasota-Manatee counties in various concert bands as well as his own group Pro-Jam. He has performed professionally on trumpet and flugelhorn in the NY area, doing club dates, concert bands and orchestras for over 50 years. He was a member of the Nassau Pops Orchestra of Long Island and the National V.A. Medical Musical Group, travelling to Europe and Russia as well as Constitution Hall (Wash. D.C.), Ken-nedy Center (Wash. D.C.) and Carnegie Hall, (N.Y.), alongside notables as Pat Boone, Shirley Jones, Andy Williams and Judy Collins for Veterans Day concerts.

Henry Roach

Having moved to a school district which had no instrumental music program in the middle of 8th grade, I had very little junior high participation and subsequently no high school or college music or band. However, I have immensely enjoyed a ton of on-the-job experience, having played a combined 38 years with four community bands; 20 years with the Sebasticook Valley Community Band from Newport, ME, concurrently with 13 years in The Brewer Hometown Band from Brewer, ME, 4 years with the Asheville Community Band in Asheville, NC, and last season with Suncoast Concert Band.

I thank God for the ability to play the clarinet, especially knowing I have played with and along-side many music educators and professionals. It is such a privilege. It is also such a pleasure to provide so much joy to people through music. I often wonder who enjoys or appreciates the concerts more, the audience, or me!!