- July 26, 2024
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Conductor Joe Martinez guides the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble through the National Anthem to begin the "Song and Dance" concert Feb. 4 at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay HeaterJim Damoulakis does the heavy lifting on the tuba for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.
Photo by Jay HeaterLynn Cleary says she loves playing for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble because of the band's impressive overall collection of talent.
Photo by Jay HeaterOn the cornet are Jim Hill, Vince DiMartino and Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble founder Joe Miller.
Photo by Jay HeaterMike DiPietro and Beth Hurlburt handle the bassoon for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.
Photo by Jay HeaterJoe Bruno, Jr., lends support to the wind instruments by playing the string bass.
Photo by Jay HeaterTom Bancroft plays the flute during the "Song and Dance" concert.
Photo by Jay HeaterDrew Trapani awaits his turn with the cymbals.
Photo by Jay HeaterGinny Elkins-Barbaro and Matt Barbaro are a husband and wife team who play the French Horn for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.
Photo by Jay HeaterA crowd of 200 packed Peace Presbyterian Church for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble's "Song and Dance" concert Feb. 4.
Photo by Jay HeaterJohn Oppenheimer plays the trumpet for the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.
Photo by Jay HeaterGene Bohland performs during the "Song and Dance" concert at Peace Presbyterian.
Photo by Jay HeaterKaren Romig, on the flute, has been with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble since its formation in 2019.
Photo by Jay HeaterPatti Preves plays the piccolo at the Feb. 4 concert at Peace Presbyterian Church.
Photo by Jay HeaterStanding in the back row of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, and partially obscured by two timpani, North Port's Lynn Cleary said she had butterflies before the "Song and Dance" concert.
Since Cleary conducts both the Manatee and North Port concert bands, and performs as a percussionist with several other groups, it was interesting she could be nervous Sunday at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch in front of a couple hundred music fans.
But, as Cleary put it, "The talent in this room ... if I could can this, I would be a millionaire, This is the cream of the crop."
When founder Joe Miller formed the group in 2019, Cleary said she was honored to receive an invitation.
"I knew it," Cleary said when asked if she thought the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble was going to be special.
A couple rows in front of Cleary was Sarasota tuba player Jim Damoulakis, who said he looks forward to every Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble performance.
"This group plays a lot more challenging stuff," he said.
The challenging stuff on Sunday included Russell Alexander's "The Southerner," C. Friedemann's "Slavonic Rhapsody," and Norman Della Joio's "Satiric Dances."
Del Webb's Meredith Fry is a returning fan of the wind ensemble who said she loves having such talented musicians perform so close to her home. She brought a neighbor, Pat McMillan, who has heard such positive reviews of the band that she has cleared May 5 on her schedule because that is the next concert at Peace Presbyterian.