Concerts

2022 FMEA Professional Development Conference CONCERTS

Thursday

January 13, 2022

Coordinator: Jason Albert

8:30am-9:30am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Plant High School Chamber Orchestra

Director: Steven Bossert The Chamber Orchestra is the top orchestra at Plant High School. The group performed for the FMEA President’s Concert in 2012. In 2013, the Chamber Orchestra won the State Level award for the Foundation for Music Education National Honors Orchestra. In 2018, the Plant Philharmonic took third place at the ASTA National Convention Orchestra Competition. In 2019, this orchestra won the overall Grand Champion award at the Music USA Festival at Universal Studios, Orlando. In 2021, the Chamber Orchestra took second place Gold Rank at the World Strides Virtual Instrumental Competition. Also at that competition, this orchestra won the prestigious Adjudicator Award and was awarded a spot to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2022. The students in this ensemble have won seats in the Hillsborough Honors All-County Orchestra and the FMEA All-State Orchestras. This ensemble consistently earns superior at district MPAs. This ensemble performs programs at school and throughout the community each year.

Florida A&M University Concert Choir

Director: Mark Butler Very well known for the versatility of their various singing styles, the Florida A&M University Concert Choir’s diverse repertoire spans the choral genres of classical, acappella spirituals, contemporary, gospel, jazz, and multicultural styles. The Concert Choir consists of some of the most talented students on the campus of Florida A&M University. These gifted students assemble weekly to prepare for annual events such as fall, holiday, and spring concerts as well as performance invitations and concert tours. Past tours include Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. Most recently, the FAMU Concert Choir was selected to be the first group to sing the Black National Anthem—Lift Every Voice and Sing— at an NFL game. This national historical performance was a compilation presentation with vocal artist Alicia Keys. The FAMU Concert Choir was the first place winner at the recent HBCU Battle of Voices.

6:30pm-7:10pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom B

Stetson University Concert Choir

Director: Timothy Peter The Stetson University Concert Choir is one of four choral ensembles in the Stetson University School of Music; it is a highly selective principal vocal touring ensemble made up of 56 vocalists. Conducted by Dr. Timothy Peter, the Concert Choir has performed concerts throughout the United States and has been selected by competitive audition to perform for several prestigious conferences including the American Choral Directors National Conference, National Collegiate Choral Organization, and the Southern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association and of the Music Educators National Conference. The group has appeared at numerous conventions of the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida ACDA, and the Florida Music Education Association.

Thursday

January 13, 2022

Coordinator: Jason Albert

Friday

January 14, 2022

Coordinators: Jason Albert, Stephen Gabin

8:30pm-9:10pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom B University of South Florida Wind Ensemble

Director: Matthew McCutchen

Pictured above

The USF Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band at the University of South Florida. Comprising the most outstanding undergraduate and graduate wind and percussion majors in the School of Music, its 50 members are highly skilled and versatile musicians. The ensemble is dedicated to the performance of the finest wind repertoire and aims to present concerts that are artistically significant, emotionally rich, and aesthetically pleasing. As a flexible and inclusive medium that honors its rich history, while also championing living composers, the USF Wind Ensemble provides an ideal laboratory for students to encounter a wide range of musical viewpoints. Innovative programing, interaction with faculty artists, and a commitment to commissioning new works are of core importance to this ensemble. Over its 61-year history, the band has been led by a virtual “Who’s Who” of esteemed directors including Gale Sperry, James Croft, Richard “Dick” Floyd, Jerry Junkin, Michael Votta, Mallory Thompson, and others.

9:30pm-10:10pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Florida State University Faculty Jazz Combo

The Florida State University Jazz Combo features six of the top jazz musicians and educators in the country. All members are avid performers having performed across the United States and around the world. To that end, Scotty Barnhart, professor of jazz trumpet, is the current leader of the Count Basie Orchestra. The group features Leon Anderson on drum set, Rodney Jordan on bass, Bill Peterson on piano, Scotty Barnhart on trumpet, Kevin Jones on trombone, and David Detweiler on saxophone. The concert will feature a program that focuses on jazz as a world music. Jazz music is culturally diverse, accepting and celebrating influences from various cultures while retaining elements of blues, improvisation, and swing—all elements that make jazz an essentially American art form.