Link to New Assistant Director
Link to Former Assistant Director – Dan Bowles
Link to Director Emeritus
Bob Miller, Our Conductor
Bob is proud to be beginning his ninth season as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Venice Concert Band. He hopes that you will enjoy and appreciate the variety of programs that he has planned for this season. Every concert is designed to invigorate, entertain, and project the band’s passion and enthusiasm for music. The band is comprised of adult and student volunteer musicians who joined the band to continue and to satisfy their love of playing band music in the concert ensemble setting.
This is also Bob’s tenth season as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Symphonic Winds of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda. He played principal euphonium in the North Port Concert Band for 12 years and was their assistant conductor for 10 years. Bob is a former conductor of the First Brass of Sarasota. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, his Master’s Degree in Music History and Literature, and his Music Supervisor’s Certification from Temple University in Philadelphia. Bob is retired from teaching instrumental and vocal music in the Abington School District in suburban Philadelphia. For each of 41 summers Bob took 100 – 200 high school musicians on a European cultural and performance tour with an organization called American Music Abroad. He also led a group of students on a performance tour of China. Bob has performed with community theaters in the Philadelphia area and with Venice Theater. Married for 57 years, Bob lives in Venice with his wife, Carolyn.
People often ask Bob, “How do you select the music for the band’s six concerts?” He answers by saying, “It is a long and tedious process of listening to hundreds of pieces of music, but one which I enjoy. Each concert is designed to entertain, educate, invigorate, and project the band’s passion and enthusiasm for music. Though some people prefer recognizable music, I try to program some pieces that the audience may not know, but in time may become their favorites.”
A conductor’s connection with the audience is an essential part of realizing a magical concert experience. To expand your knowledge of concert band literature, before each selection the band performs, Bob likes to share with you information about the piece, the composer, and the arranger. Hopefully during each concert, the audience will feel Bob’s love of conducting and that special spark needed between a band and their conductor as he molds the sounds of the band with his arms and hands and draws each note from his dedicated musicians.