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The Dunedin Music Society hosted the second Pinellas Festival of Community Bands on Saturday, April 8 2017, connecting over 1,000 enthusiastic fans of live music.

Over 1,000 people attended and performed in the Pinellas Festival of Community Bands 2017, hosted by the Dunedin Music Society

The Pinellas Festival of Community Bands began last year after local Conductors and volunteers had the same idea at the same time: to help each other share live music with our communities, by collaborating.

The event was such a success that this year’s Festival was expanded to include additional community bands from outside Pinellas County. An estimated 680 audience members sat in warm sunshine at Dunedin’s Highlander Park as almost 500 volunteer musicians performed on Sindoon Stage, each community band performing separately but then combining at the end for a rousing rendition of “Washington Post” by Sousa. “Passion and collaboration have proven time and time again to be far more effective and impacting than pride or individual gain,” says Stephen P. Brown, Interim General Director of the newly-formed Dunedin Music Society.

Bill Findeison (far right), Founder and Director of the Awesome Second Time Arounders Marching Band, helps some of the performers warm-up before the Pinellas Festival of Community Bands 2017

Performing groups included the Awesome Second Time Arounders Marching Band, the Dunedin Concert Band, the Eastern Hillsborough Community Band, the St. Petersburg Community Band, and the Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble. Over $100 was donated to each band after Festival expenses were accounted for. Festival Coordinator Lee Lafleur said “We are thrilled so many community members support live music enough that the Festival could actually contribute to each volunteer band’s expenses. Having Papa John’s Pizza and Strahan’s Ice Cream feeding everyone definitely helped create a festive mood.”

Papa John’s Pizza helped feed hungry audience and performers at the Pinellas Festival of Community Bands 2017, including saxophone player Greg Howard of the Dunedin Concert Band

Ben Hrpka and Kenneth R. Watts, both Conductors of participating bands, remarked on how difficult it was to maintain composure on the outdoor stage. “This wind is a bear!” said Watts when he addressed the audience. Walking around Highlander Park during the Festival, Dunedin Concert Band performers Alicen and Ted Barrett overheard audience comments such as “I love the music. A nice variety.” “I had no idea Dunedin had a band. They are really good.” “Wow, I love music outdoors,” and “We have to be sure to come next year.”

The St. Petersburg Community Band prepares to open the Pinellas Festival of Community Bands 2017 while flag twirlers of the Awesome Second Time Arounders warm up.

“The Dunedin Music Society is very encouraged by the reaction of the audience at this year’s Festival,” said Tom Krisa, Chair and President of the Dunedin Music Society. “We are already working with the City of Dunedin Parks and Recreation Department to find an alternative venue or an alternative date for 2018’s Festival, which looks to be even bigger than this year’s!” Next year’s Festival may include additional community bands based in Pinellas County as well as bands from around Florida and other States. Interest has even been expressed from bands beyond USA borders including Canada, the UK, and Germany, which would mean the Pinellas Festival of Community Bands will be connecting local communities with live music at an international level.

The Dunedin Concert Band is presenting a “Dance with Disney” concert on Friday, April 21 at 7:30pm in the Dunedin Community Center. Admission is free, but donations of $10 per person are invited. More information is available at www.dunedinconcertband.com

Overall, 68 individuals and businesses, all listed on the Dunedin Music Society website, contributed to the cause.

The Dunedin Music Society, Inc. Board of Directors: (L-R) Tom Doddridge, Tom Krisa, Meagan Montmeny, Lee Lafleur, Maestro Stephen P Brown. Not pictured: Julie Longen. (credit: http://timelessphototampa.com/)

DUNEDIN, Florida. March 21, 2017 – The Dunedin Music Society was formed in last days of 2016 after more than twenty volunteers spent two years consulting and visioning the future of music in Western Tampa Bay. Armed with little more than the slogan “Connecting local communities with live music,” the Board of Directors invited interested parties to become official Founders of the organization. At the initial fund-raising event in which performers delighted the audience with ragtime, classical, jazz, bagpipe, acoustic rock music, and much humor, Maestro Stephen P Brown shared the reasons for creating the Society, as well as what it intends to do and how.

Overall, 68 individuals and businesses, all listed on the Dunedin Music Society website, contributed to the cause that was sparked by the City of Dunedin Parks & Recreation Department’s desire to see the 35-year-old Dunedin Concert Band become its own entity. Volunteers in the band and from the community helped shape what that entity would look like, resulting in the Dunedin Music Society. Since 2014 Brown has transformed the band from a large exclusive club for amateur musicians into a fun, high quality performing ensemble consisting of advanced amateur, semi-professional and even professional musicians, with an active presence in the community. The Dunedin Music Society plans to supplement the Dunedin Concert Band with a less technically demanding group for amateurs and students not yet at an advanced level of playing.

Meagan Montmeny, member of the Dunedin Music Society, Inc. Board of Directors and Manager of SPCA Tampa Bay’s Sniff University, shares her passion for live music, with Maestro Stephen P Brown looking on. (credit: http://timelessphototampa.com/)

“Passion and collaboration have proven time and time again to be far more effective and impacting than pride or individual gain” says Brown on the Dunedin Music Society website. As Interim General Director of the Society, Brown’s collaborative approach to sharing music with others is demonstrated again by the second Pinellas Festival of Community Bands being hosted at the Dunedin Community Center on Saturday, April 8, in which five bands from Pinellas and beyond perform independently and together. The Society also hopes to collaborate with Classic Pinellas Radio and broadcast concerts live online.

Bliss Street perform a rousing version of “Kashmir” at the Dunedin Music Society’s Founder’s Day 2017: (L-R) Rose Mallare, Sebastian Johnson, Orinta Delain, Melissa Petrescue. (credit: http://timelessphototampa.com/)

With the initial funds donated by the Founders, the Dunedin Music Society can make preparations (including establishing a visual identity such as a logo) to create a membership program and take over ownership and operations of the Dunedin Concert Band, as well as offer small concerts by existing and new chamber ensembles at lunchtimes, Saturday mornings, and privately at residential facilities in the area. There is also an educational element to the Society through its Summertime Music Reading Workshops and, eventually, instrumental music lessons.

Lizzie Elftman calls the Dunedin Music Society’s Founder’s Day 2017 to order with her bagpipes. (credit: http://timelessphototampa.com/)

“We are thrilled so many music fans in the area actively support the same vision for live music that the Dunedin Music Society does” said Meagan Montmeny, a member of the Board of Directors.

“I would certainly enjoy being included in your ranks as a Founder.” said Pasco resident James Reid and now a Founder of the Dunedin Music Society. “If I can be of further help, please feel free to offer suggestions. I am a Juilliard alumnus, orchestral performer and a violin & viola music theory teacher.”

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The Dunedin Music Society, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity that connects local communities with live music. The result of performers and audiences working together, the brand new Society hopes that residents and visitors rediscover the spark that live music in local communities generates, through small and large concerts, festivals and educational opportunities. Visit DunedinMusicSociety.com for details and news of the Society’s progress.