Guiding the Symphonic Winds of Charlotte County

Bob is honored that this is his tenth season as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Symphonic Winds of Charlotte County. The adult and student musicians on stage are all volunteers and come from different walks of life including education, medicine, and business.

This is Bob’s ninth season as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Venice Concert Band. 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, and his master’s degree in music history and literature and his Music Supervisor’s Certification from Temple University in Philadelphia. Bob retired from teaching instrumental and vocal music in the Abington School District in suburban Philadelphia. For 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. Bob lives in Venice with Carolyn, his wife of 57 years.

A conductor’s connection with the audience is an essential part of realizing a magical concert experience. To expand the audience’s knowledge of concert band literature, the audience will hear 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.

Owen Marks, the Assistant Conductor of the Symphonic Winds of Charlotte County, graduated from Gettysburg College as a Music Education major. He taught junior high and high school music while performing, writing, and arranging professionally. He later founded an IT support company which he still runs, but he still enjoys playing trumpet, bass, and piano wherever there’s an opportunity. He lives with his wife, Laurie, in Punta Gorda.