| Artistic Director |
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 William Barbanera
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Career: Faculties of St. Petersburg College and State College of Florida. Owner Barbanera Woodwind Studio
Education: Bachelor of Music Education; Master of Music in Performance of Multiple Winds
Music Interests: Adjudicator, Florida Bandmaster Assn.
Plays with Sarasota Orchestra and Florida Orchestra
Founder/Conductor of the Sarasota Saxophone Orchestra |
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Clarinets- Concert Master
Nikki Kemp has recently relocated to the beautiful state of Florida, and is in her second season with the Sarasota Concert Band. A native New Mexican, and a graduate of New Mexico State University, she holds a B.M.Ed (emphasis in Early Childhood Music), and a B.M. (clarinet performance). She has made teaching music to young children her specialty and currently teaches music to 75 preschool students at the Experiential School of Tampa Bay, a division of Shorecrest Preparatory School. She also maintains a private clarinet studio with students of all ages and abilities . Nikki’s performance experience includes over almost 30 years of symphony orchestras, pit orchestras, professional wind ensembles, chamber music, and guest solo appearances. In addition to teaching and performing, Nikki enjoys hiking and photography.
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 Nancy Bauman |
Education … BM (Music History & Literature)
Work … Flute Teaching … especially enjoy Adult Learners
Interests … “Collect” … Flutes & Music
Favorite Performance Medium … Chamber Groups
Love to … Ride Bicycles, Read, Talk |
 Michael Berndt |
Studied … John Boulton, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker
Education: BM in Flute; BM in Music History
Careers: Symphony and Pit Orchestra player, Military Bands
Favorite Music: Romantic
Love to … Perform, Read, Play Cards |
 Susan Hamilton |
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 Arlin McKim |
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| Flute/Piccolo |
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 Sue DeLaney* |
Grew up in … Urbana, IL; spent 35 yrs in Tallahassee, FL
Studied with … Charles DeLaney, University of Illinois
Played … piccolo,Tallahassee Symphony; flute, Atlantic Chamber Players and Tallahassee Winds
Also worked as … medical office manager; flute teacher
Love … walking beaches, reading, & traveling with Art, especially to visit grand kids & extended family |
| Clarinet |
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 Rivka Chatman |
Education: BS Industrial & Labor Relations (Cornell Univ.), MS Community Services(Univ. of Rochester)
Career: Social Worker, School Administrator
Music: Piano from childhood, Clarinet learned at age 62
Music Groups: Play in Rochester, NY New Horizons Band and Clarinet Ensemble, Sing in Sarasota Jewish Chorale
Favorite Activities: Music, Reading, Crossword Puzzles, Travel, Swimming |
 Bob Geraci |
Interests: Physician, Musician, Naval Officer, Yachtsman
Career: Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy (ret.)
Education: Georgetown University (BS); Univ. of Buffalo (MD); University of Pennsylvania (Anesthesiology)
Post Retirement Career: Music! Music! Music!
Family: wife Patricia, three adult children, two grandchildren |
 Candy Herrera |
Studied with Harry I. Phillips, Played under the direction of Aaron Copeland
Education: BS in Organizational Management/Certification in Art K-12. Graduated from Goshen College.
Career: ESOL Teacher Para, Brookside Middle School
Music Groups: Piano Friends II |
 John Polites |
Instruments: flute,clarinet,sax & double reeds
Music Experience: Navy Musician, 6 years, member of state flag honor guard in Pres. Kennedy’s funeral 1963, 2yrs. In Far East 5 times to Vietnam.
Career: 33 years in sales w/ECOLAB INC.
Music: Jazz, Big Band, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s Motown, Doo-Wop.
Life’s Pleasures: Grandchildren, gigs, gardening, sports,reading, honey-do-list and doing nothing! |
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 Paula Rothman* |
Studied With: D. Stanley Hasty, Anthony Gigliotti
Education: BM Eastman School of Music, MM Performance Temple University
Career: Teacher of music, and educational technology, clarinet performance; now enjoying retirement
Lives: Native of Hartford, CT but have spent my adult life in the suburbs of Philadelphia
Interests: Tennis, Golf, Photography, Knitting, Weaving, a Techno-Geek & Baseball nut |
 Sheldon Slifstein |
Studied: Classical Clarinet under Leon Russianoff,NYEducation: City College of NY, Cooper Union, Manhattan, NY
Career: Architect (retired)
More: Married, 2 children, lots of grandchildren
Volunteer: Coast Guard Auxiliary Sarasota, Avid Archer |
| Bass Clarinet |
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 David Evans* |
Studied clarinet with Norman Carrel, New England Conservatory of Music. Graduated Boston University.
Music Experience: Joined Musicians Union in 1950. Played all clarinets (especially bass) and all saxophones.
Career: Nissan dealership owner until 1989.
Music:Formed/led South Bay Saxophone quartet. Play in 3 “concert bands” and 2 “swing” bands.
Lives: Winter in Sun City Center and summer in Maine.
More: Married 53 years. Two Children, two grandchildren.
Interests: Have 3 antique cars in Maine. |
| Oboe |
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 Bob Salzman |
Studied with: Harry Shulman, William Arrowsmith
Education: B. Music (Oboe); MA Musicology
Career: Teacher, Administrator, Conductor
Favorite Type of Music: Symphonic
Love to: Travel; see family; play music; continue to learn |
| Bassoon |
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 Paul Chassy |
Studied …Harold Goltzer (N.Y. Philharmonic), Walter Stein
Education…Ph.D. (Sociology), J.D.
Career…Professor, Attorney, Federal Administrator
Favorite Type of Music...Chamber
Love to…Travel, Chamber Music, Bridge, Movies
Currently … Arbitrate, Mediate, Investigate Government Waste, Teach Retirees |
 Mary Ellen Snell* |
Studied With: R. Tyree, University of Iowa
Education: BA in Ed.(elem.), MA in curriculum design National Board Certified
Career: Elem. Teacher, Curriculum designer
Like all Music. Least favorite is jazz. Love Broadway shows!
Love to: Golf, read, travel, garden, craft |
| Alto Saxophone |
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| Baritone Saxophone |
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 Mark Levenson* |
Studied with Dr. Frank Bencriscutto
Education: BS in Music education
Careers: 1. High School Band Director 2. Human Resource Executive
Favorite Type of Music: Romantic Era
Love to: Conduct, Repair Woodwind Instruments, Fish |
| Tenor Saxophone |
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 George McLain* |
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| Trumpet |
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 Alan Geller |
Studied trumpet with Roy Stevens Costello Studios
Education: B.A.Biology Brooklyn College N.Y. and Doctor of Dentistry, Wash. D.C.
Career: Dentist and Professional Club Date Musician in NYC
Music: Trumpeter in Concert Bands, Orchestras, Small Ensembles and Teaching for 40 years
Hobbies: Music Performance, Cooking and Traveling |
 Larry Herris |
Career: Retired music educator in Ohio public schools
Education: BS and MA in music education
Music Interests: Several concert bands and brass quintet
More Music: Active in vocal and instrumental sacred music
Work: Tuning pianos part-time by appointment |
 Don Stiber |
Studied with William Brophy
Education: Music & Communication Science, Ohio Univ.
Career: Entrepreneur, “C.E.T” Certified Electronic Technician “ISCET” International Certification
Music Interest: Latin, Funk, Rock and Pop
Music Experience: Toured in MOTOWN band, Ohio Univ. Brass Choir, Symphony Orchestras/Bands
Interests: Bandleader: Sarasota Gold |
 Michael Valasek |
Education: BFA from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Band Director Lake Geneva, WI
Career: Owner of International Talent Agency Allstar Entertainment, Milwaukee, WI for 35 years.
Music Experience: Backed Legendary acts such as The Supremes, The Beach Boys, Frankie Avalon, The Lettermen, and The Drifters.
Love to… ride my Harley |
| French Horn |
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 Sandy Peterson* |
Studied: Barry Benjamin, Randy Jones, Dave Viemeister
Education: BBA Business - Marketing, University of WI
Career: Purchasing and Supply Management, Also owner of Pelican Music Publishing.
Favorite Type of Music: Classical (with awesome horn parts), Jazz, Brass Band, Flamenco Guitar
Love to…Computer, play with Dogs, be with friends. |
 Dick Poland |
Taught solfeggio by mom; sang in church choir.
Played sousaphone in Livermore Falls HS Band in Maine.
Sang ‘jingles’, ‘oohs’, ‘aahs’, Ace Record Studios, Boston.
Played trombone in the circus for many years, and bass in lots of varied settings.
Computer programmer at the Smithsonian Observatory and Sylvania/GTE. |
| Trombone |
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 Becky Guth* |
Studied with … John Crumley
Education: The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
Career: Clinical Instructor, Ohio State University (Pharmacy)
Music Experience: Jazz Ambassadors, Sarasota Gold and other concert bands (Suncoast, Venice, Manatee)
Love to… Solve Logic Problems, Enjoy Grandchild, Spend Time with Family, Build and Repair Computers |
 Eric Guth (Bass) |
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 Ron Pruitt |
Studied With… Gayle Grove
Education… 2.5 years Music Education Major 1.5 year Christian Education Major
Other Music: Piano Tuner/Technician, Piano Technicians Guild R.P.T. (Registered Piano Technician)
Interests: Member of SREIA (Suncoast Real Estate Investors Association) |
| Baritone / Euphonium |
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| Tuba |
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 Richard Gans* |
Education: Cornell University (B.A.), University of Washington (J.D.), University of Florida (LL.M.)
Work: Attorney, Fergeson Skipper, Sarasota, specializing in wills, trusts and estate planning.
Play: Reading, being with my family, cooking, road trips. A major baseball fan.
Musical Tastes: Likes jazz, 20th century, mellow electronic. Don’t like ’50s, modern country |
 Max Ricciardi |
Studies with Dr. Laurie Penpraze
Education: Goes to Bayshore High School
Music Experience: Principal Tubist of the Sarasota Youth Philharmonic
More: Tuba teacher at Lee Middle School |
| Percussion - Timpani |
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 Charlie Ackerman* |
Studied with Dr. Anders T. Tellstrom ,Dr. William Toland
Played Drums 65+ yrs; Navy Concert and Dance bands
Principal timpanist Concord Band 40 yrs in Concord, MA
Pit Bands in over 50 Musical Productions in the Boston area
Love to play as much golf as this old body can handle |
| Percussion |
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 Kendall Carrier |
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| String Bass |
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 Bill Ibrahim* |
Studied with Jeff Berlin, Dave La Rue, Victor Wooten
Education: BS Criminology. MS Management. Graduate Players School of Music
Career: Retired Police Major. City of Miami Police Department
Music Favorites: Smooth jazz, Funk, Big Band, Motown
Interests: Boating, Nature, Cruising, Softball |
| *Principals |
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