Members of the Dunedin Music Society (DMS) had a hankering to travel, to play music, and to enjoy camaraderie with fellow concert band performers from all over the nation and the world – so in true DMS style, a new ensemble was established! The Florida Symphonic Winds (FSW), initially conceived in 2020, met for three workshops and several rehearsals before embarking on a week-long tour, not only to sightsee in the beautiful regions of Austria and Bavaria, but most importantly to participate in music-making together with communities across the ocean. 

On July 16, the week before the group left for Europe, they performed their prepared program in a pre-tour concert locally in Clearwater, at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. 41 musicians and their conductor for this overseas adventure, Dr. Jeffrey Traster, gathered in the church to showcase the music they would be playing in Austria and Germany for an enthusiastic full-house audience.

Florida Symphonic Winds in rehearsal for a pre-tour concert

Mondsee, Austria

On July 22, as FSW percussionist Stephanie Lafleur noted, “Everyone arrived [in Europe] on time, and we loaded a beautiful motor coach headed for Mondsee. The ride from Munich was rather long since it was a Friday afternoon, and the locals were heading out for the weekend or summer holiday. The view from the bus, however, did not disappoint. The countryside was dotted with villages and lush fields. As we got closer to Mondsee, the mountain line got more dramatic out our large bus windows.  Finally, we arrived at Schloss Hotel in Mondsee, an adorable boutique hotel set in an idyllic Austrian village.”

The Florida Symphonic Winds 2022 European Tour skimmed the edge of the Austrian Alps

One of the ensemble’s first concerts was at Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg. The group set up their instruments and equipment in the shady outdoor venue as audience members passed by. The concert consisted of 12 pieces of American and European contemporary and classical music, wrote ensemble member John Herring. Todd Emmer remarked, “As we play, some audience members are obviously deeply affected and there are some shared tears among audience and band members.” 

The musicians were excited and pleased with their performance.  One of the emotional highlights of their sightseeing visit to Salzburg was a tour of Mozart’s birthplace!  The FSW also performed in the town square of Mondsee.

Florida Symphonic Winds performing an outdoor concert at the Marketplatz in Mondsee, Austria, near the church in the wedding scene from the movie “The Sound of Music”.

Vienna, Austria

On the fourth travel day the ensemble departed from Mondsee to Melk and Mank, still in Austria. Highlights in those towns included Melk Abbey founded in 1069 and the Schafer Brass Factory where horns are made from sheets of metal. Finally the FSW made it to beautiful Vienna. According to trumpet player John Herring, “Off to an early start in Vienna, the FSW toured the Art History Museum.  This was followed by free time to explore other cultural activities such as the ongoing Film Festival.  The FSW prepared for another outdoor concert at 6PM in Vienna at the Maria Theresien Platz on the other side of the Art History Museum.”

Florida Symphonic Winds performing at the Maria Theresien Platz in Vienna, Austria

On July 28, the intrepid group hit the road toward Wurzburg, Germany. As Stephanie commented, “we stopped along the way for breaks and lunch. In the late afternoon, we arrived in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. This medieval town is located on the “Romantic Road” and is full of kitschy shops, sidewalk cafes, and great photo opportunities. We quickly set up our concert in the town square, adjacent to the church and in front of many spectators. Our music was well received and it was amazing to look out into the crowd with the small German village as the backdrop!” 

Overseas discovery

One of the audience members in the crowd at Rothenburg, Jan Senkyr, spotted the band and posted on social media: “We saw you guys! It was an amazing performance. We went all the way to Germany to stumble upon your performance and find that we have great talent from our own backyard in Dunedin.” Hopefully she and her family will be new audience members of all the Dunedin Music Society ensembles right here at home!

Dunedin resident Jan Senkyr traveling with her family came across the Florida Symphonic Winds in downtown Rothenburg, Germany!

Amid sightseeing days filled with museums, wonderful breakfasts, marketplaces, and medieval churches, the Florida Symphonic Winds concluded their tour by playing together with the Moderner Spielmanns- und Fanfarenzug Retzbach-Zellingen band, and enjoying community friends, a macaroon festival, and other summer traditions held in Retzbach. Finally, at the end of the concert tour, musicians had the opportunity either to come back to Florida or to extend their stay for a visit to Prague, Czech Republic. 

Tremendous thanks must go to Lee Lafleur, DMS Tour Coordinator, and Maury Schulte of Tour Resource Consultants, as well as our friend Sabine Binzberger in Retzbach, for putting together an inspired moment of memories treasured by so many. 

Keep moving

After 2½ years of isolation and uncertainty throughout the world, it is magnificent to see musicians teaming up with each other around the world and forming new bonds of friendship through the shared love of live music. With future workshops, weekend retreats and tours already being considered, who will the FSW connect with next, we wonder? 

Welcome home, Florida Symphonic Winds.

Florida Symphonic Winds and the Moderner Spielmanns- und Fanfarenzug Retzbach e. V. performed together at a festival in Retzbach, Germany.

Contributors: Todd Emmer, John Herring, Stephanie Lafleur, Jan Senkyr.

Print version

“Finding our tribe” became a trend that marketers like Seth Godin touted as the way to succeed. However, these days a tribal mindset has caused strife, resentment and divisive bickering. We can easily overcome such fanatic deception by connecting our local communities with live, in-person music.

Music itself remains a-political. Only those who refuse to consider its deep impact on each individual – and even its ability to save lives – will use music as a means to justify their actions or support their cause. Music is not a tool, it is a language – the language of emotions that you can’t put into words. Participating in music as either a performer or audience member is not only good for the soul, but time and time again throughout history it has proven to build better communities. 

The immediate problem is that the practice of seeking “tribes” causes people to push against what they don’t already know, like, and appreciate, and music becomes a mascot for the cause they are determined to adopt. “People speak with enormous pomposity and arrogance about music,” said Elvis Costello, but it doesn’t have to be that way. 

There are people who recognize music for what it is, over and above winning trophies and awards, serving as a marketing tool, or providing emotional manipulation in movies and political rallies. Many of them are performers, or were at some point in their lives. Although music education in schools often consisted of daily group practice towards winning a State adjudication or competition, the music itself remained a part of every human soul. Those with courage find ways to keep their music alive: sometimes throughout their lives, and sometimes reviving it 20 years later when their nest is empty.

That is why the Dunedin Music Society accommodates those who want to experience live music in person, as well as those who are more comfortable meeting in smaller groups. Unable to sufficiently cater to the wide variety of music-making demands throughout Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, and now Manatee counties with just one local band, the DMS now hosts multiple ensembles to help people break down the barriers of “tribal” stereotypes.

Their flagship ensemble, the Dunedin Concert Band, helps advanced woodwind, brass and percussion players challenge themselves, whereas the Pinellas Community Players gives proficient performers a chance to play, too. The Rhythm Kings Jazz Orchestra and a chamber ensemble are high-quality professional groups providing both serious and dance-like entertainment, and the new Novice Adult Band and Novice Adult Strings help beginning and returning instrumentalists nourish their passions. The Florida Symphonic Winds will represent our local music community in Europe next year, and there is also a new homeschool orchestra in North Pinellas for students under 18.

“As someone who has been involved with classical, theater and choral music for most of my life, I picked up an instrument new to me, the cello, from scratch in 2018 and was thrilled to be welcomed into the Pinellas Community Players this year. The enthusiasm and encouragement with which they received me, even after this horrible pandemic year, to play music with a group of adult peers at my level, was an invaluable experience,” said Melissa Brown.

No matter your social identifiers, you can help make our world a better place by sharing your music together with people from other circles of influence. Players and students of orchestral and band instruments are strongly encouraged to pick up where they left off and join a Dunedin Music Society ensemble this Fall.

Passionate individuals should reach out to the DMS at http://dunedinmusicsociety.org or 727.800.3727