MUSIC
MUSIC LET THE BEGIN
BY ELLEN GILLETTE
An evening with the Port St. Lucie
Community Band on its 30th anniversary
Anything that brings people of all races, ages and
backgrounds together is a good thing. When it
includes entertainment for all, it’s a great thing. Port
St. Lucie Community Band is a wonderful example,
whether young or old, bald or blue-streaked. The band personifies
“community” as it celebrates years of entertaining
the public.
Conductor John K. Southall, Ph.D. is also the music director
at Indian River State College, president of the Florida Music
Educators’ Association and past medal recipient for excellence
in music education. Under his leadership the band combines
the talents of middle school and high school students,
adults from all walks of life, retirees and snowbirds. Arriving
a bit late for rehearsal, just in from a conference in Dallas, he
apologies. “7his is my heart and soul,” he says. 7he mutual
affection between conductor and band is evident.
Donald Van Harken is a retired pharmaceutical research
scientist from Syracuse, New York, who has played clarinet >>
8 Port St. Lucie Magazine
ELLEN GILLETTE
The Port St. Lucie Community Band warms up under the direction of John K. Southall, conductor and musical director, in a rehearsal room on the Indian
River State College campus in Fort Pierce.