TRUMPET

DAVID HARLER (Principal Trumpet) started playing trumpet at age 9. He played throughout high school, taking lessons first with Larry Tichenor of the US Marine Band and later with Lloyd Giessler, principal trumpet of the National Symphony. David served his military service in the 1st Army Field Band in Fort Meads, MD, after which he played for fours in Atlanta rock bands. At age 26, Dave put his horn away for 27 years and didn’t play again until 2000. He began studying with Chuck Seipp, solo trumpet in the US Army Band. Dave joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2004 and his musical journey continues.

STEVE MONDORA, at age 8, after attending a children’s concert by the Youngstown Symphony, had no doubt that he wanted to play the trumpet. By the time he was 10, he had managed to fend off his father’s desire for him to play the accordion and had met Bill Omeis, a former Ringling Circus trombonist turned school music teacher. Three years later at age 13, Steve began playing professionally in concert bands, swing bands and brass ensembles in the Youngstown, OH area. He even played concerts with the Youngstown Symphony while a music education major at Youngstown State University. After two years at the Dana School of Music, Steve switched his course of study to engineering and finally ended up working in the computer industry for 35 years. Steve’s love for music never waned. He has continued to play his trumpet wherever and whenever possible. He has especially fond memories of the many people and musical organizations that have provided him with the opportunity to play his horn. And that would include Dr. Andrew Kurtz and The Gulf Coast Symphony.

JIM TAYLOR is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida. He is a former trumpet player with the Southwest Florida Symphony where he also served for numerous years in various roles on their Board of Directors. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Gulf Coast Symphony. He has participated in brass ensembles at numerous local churches and with the Gulf Coast Symphony. For the last two years he has played second trumpet for the Gulf Coast Symphony. In addition, he is active in his church choir and sings with the MasterSingers in our local community. He is a member of Symphonia Medicus, a physician group dedicated to the support of orchestral music and “classical” healing.

JOHN WINTERS