BASS

MIKE ENDRES (Co-Principal Bass) is also a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Endres has Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music from the University of Michigan and graduate studies at six other universities.  He has studied conducting with Elizabeth Green and Henry Charles Smith.  He is retired orchestra director of the Plymouth/Canton, Michigan Schools.  His orchestras were invited four times to perform at state and national Music Educator’s Conferences.  He formed and conducted both the Plymouth Youth Symphony and the Westland Civic Orchestra for several years.  He is in his 31st year as conductor of the Symphony Orchestra at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan in the summer and is a Scholarship Representative for Blue Lake the rest of the year.  This camp serves over 5000 students each summer.  He is an active bassist and string adjudicator in both Michigan and Florida.  Michael and Judy Endres reside near Ann Arbor, MI the rest of the year.

DONI LANDEFELD (Co-Principal Bass) began studying the double bass at age nine.  Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she attended the Pennsylvania State University (main campus) on a full music scholarship and received a B.S. in Music Education and a Performer’s Certificate in String Bass Performance.  In addition to teaching private music lessons, she was an active performer in groups throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania including the Allentown Symphony, the Nittany Valley Symphony, the Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, Altoona Symphony, Music at Penn’s Woods, and numerous other ensembles.  After receiving her music degree, she immediately pursued a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Temple University and worked in executive college administration for several years. During this time, she played with the Abington Symphony. In 2004, she moved to Cape Coral with her husband Nathan, son, and adopted greyhound.  Since then, she has completed a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and has leveraged her former experiences toward the development of a professional coaching business.  As founder of Metamorphosis Coaching, Doni offers personal and executive coaching, specializing in the application of emotional intelligence and positive psychology strategies.

.

FLORENCE MARTIN began her music studies in piano and violin at an early age. However, she put them aside to raise her family and pursue a career in teaching and nursing. After meeting her husband David, they decided to make beautiful music together. Because the bass was the instrument that complemented her husband’s style of piano playing best, Florence embarked on studying that instrument. The rest is history. When in Florida she plays in three orchestras and in New York she studies bass and participates in the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra (LIMAGO).

MIKE MENDELSOHN is a classically- trained pianist. He turned to jazz as a teenager backing bands in Europe and London. Mike played with Zoot Sims, Bud Freeman, Kenny Devern, Peanuts Hucko, John Dankworth, Cleo Lane and Shirley Bassey. Mike returned to university to qualify as a pharmacist, joined the Orchestra of Ripon, St. Johns College of Music and City of York Guildhall Symphony Orchestra. Mike studied with Emil Zohar, principle bassist of the Israeli Philharmonic. On retiring to Naples, he discovered a vibrant music scene, playing with several jazz groups, an 18-piece big band (keyboards) and with Naples Chamber Orchestra and Gulf Coast Symphony (bass). Mike and his wife Jackie reside in Yorkshire, England when not enjoying Naples.

MARGARET SCALFANI was born and raised in Hudson Falls, New York and began playing piano at age five. She was an aspiring pianist but decided to broaden her outlook deeper into music and found the string bass to be an extraordinary, mysterious instrument and her new love. She attended Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, NY and performed for Lake George Community Band, Schylerville Community Theatre, Glens Falls Community Theatre and several other ensembles in the Tri State area. She also attended the Lake Luzerne Music Camp on several scholarships in the care of Charles Peltz and other talented musicians. In 2005, she moved to Cape Coral to be with her mom and further her music education at Edison Community College when Paul Brewer introduced her to Gulf Coast Symphony. Since then, she has graduated from Sunstate Academy, received her cosmetology license, and is working at Stacie Lee Nicole Salon in Cape Coral.