BASS

MIKE ENDRES (Co-Principal Bass) is a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and conducts his own 18 member “Sun Coast Ensemble” during winter months in Fort Myers. Mr. Endres has Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music from the University of Michigan and graduate studies at six other universities. 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 also formed and conducted both the Plymouth Youth Symphony and the Westland Civic Orchestra for several years. He is in his 27th 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 Central and Eastern Pennsylvania including the Allentown Symphony, the Nittany Valley Symphony, the Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, Altoona Symphony, Music at Penn’s Woods, and other numerous Penn State and church ensembles.  After receiving her music degree, she immediately pursued a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from Temple University and worked in college administration for six years. During this time, she played with the Abington Symphony. In 2004, she moved to Cape Coral with her husband Nathan, young son, and adopted greyhound.  Since then, she has been busy raising her son and pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Walden University.  She is almost done with the Ph.D., expecting to graduate in early 2009, will soon return to work, and is thrilled to be back to her music.

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.