The Hollingsworth Winds was formed in 2003 by Frank Howes, retired Polk County Schools Senior Director of Fine Arts, and Dr. J Jossim, director of bands at Florida Southern College. Mr. Wansley has served as the ensemble's conductor since 2009. The band was designed to unite musicians from the community and provide opportunities for wind players and percussionists to perform high-quality literature in formal concert settings. Programming for each concert includes wind music that spans a broad difficulty level. The founders of the Hollingsworth Winds wanted to educate their audiences about wind band literature. To this end, the printed program notes often found inside the program are delivered to the audience through the Voice of the Hollingsworth Winds, retired band director Jimmy Parker.
Ivan G. Wansley, a native Floridian, is in his 16th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of The Hollingsworth Winds and his 49th year as a Music Educator. During this time, Mr. Wansley had successful teaching tenures at the middle school, the junior high school, the high school, and the college/university levels. While teaching in the public schools of Florida all areas of his programs were rated “superior” at both the district and state levels with the Florida Bandmaster’s Association. At Immokalee High School Mr. Wansley had the first “superior” at a FBA event in the history of the school. At Cape Coral High School, he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year,” and the CCHS marching band participated in the Cotton Bowl Parade, Dallas, Texas, Inauguration parade for governors in Tallahassee, FL, and first national commercial for the Twistee Treat Ice Cream Company. At Vero Beach Jr High School, he had three concert bands earn a “superior” at the FBA music performance assessment. Mr. Wansley received his BA degree in Music Education/Fine Arts and his MA degree in Wind Conducting from the University of South Florida in Tampa, studying with Dr. James Croft and Dr. Mallory Thompson.
Mr. Wansley still shares his knowledge with the directors and their students throughout Florida. He continues to present sessions at district and state conferences regularly. The recent series, “How To Fix It,” is attended by over 800-1000 participants annually at the Florida Music Educators Conference. He is co-owner of “Makes Sense” Drill Design and Leadership Camps which writes drill for some of the top bands in Florida. Mr. Wansley also provides leadership training for numerous high schools annually. He owns DOLCE woodwind mouthpieces which are used by professional and amateur woodwind players throughout the Southeastern United States. Mr. Wansley is currently in the 14th season as the Artistic Director/Conductor of the Hollingsworth Winds, an adult based concert band located in Polk County, FL. He has conducted 38 county, district, regional and all-state bands in Florida and North Carolina and the Festival of Winds at the University of South three times. Mr. Wansley is an active private clarinet teacher producing numerous all-state and all-county players. He is an active adjudicator for the Florida Marching Band Coalition, Music In The Parks, OrlandoFest and the Kentucky Music Educators Association.
His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmaster’s Association (life member - former board member and member of numerous committees), Phi Beta Mu International Band Director’s Fraternity (member of the Steering Committee – Past President), American School Band Director’s Association (State Clinics Chair), Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota (Friend of the Arts) Professional Music Fraternity, Delta Omicron (Patron) Professional Music Fraternity and the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society.
From Desoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas Polk, & Sumter counties.
FLUTE
Shayla Bryan, Band Director
Amy Earnest, Music Teacher
Kathy Johnson*+, Retired Band Director
Alex Morales, Project Analyst
Lindsey Peterec, Publix
Aidan Reed (picc), Church Secretary/Treasurer
Kira Wenck, Choir Director
OBOE
Carole Leidi*, Elementary Music Teacher
Jeri Tevaga, Homemaker
CLARINET
Rhonda Beeby (bass), Project Manager
Jesse Bryant II*+, Band Director
Miles Bryant, Student
Marilyn Erb (bass), Retired
Amber Hanson, Band Director
Richard Harman^, Retired CPA,CIO
Cheryce Harris+, Retired Band Director
Qiana Lamb, Orchestra Director
Terri Longdo, Retired
Celestine Maxwell, Retired Registered Nurse
Cameron Grace McLaughlin, Student
Stephanie Rivera (bass), Homemaker
Tracey Stephens^, Chief Domestic Officer
Raymond Woodruff, Band Director
BASSOON
Chuck Beutel*, Retired Band Director
Jacob Heist, Student
SAXOPHONE
Mike Harris+^ (tenor), PCPS Network Manager
Luke Hart* (alto), Band Director
Vanessa Jones (tenor), Automotive Photographer
Joni Long (bari), Executive V.P.
Chris Mejia (tenor), Bank Teller
Jason Prosper (alto), Special Operations
Joshua Castro Roldan (alto), Student
FRENCH HORN
Richard Collins, Retired-Cmdr. 38th Division Band
Travis Johnson-Nieves, Ins. Claims Adjuster
Michael Longdo*, Retired Band Director
Klae Peek, Universal, Attractions & Entertainment
TRUMPET
Stephen H. Bates^, Attorney
Wynn Bonner, Retired
Brian Chance, Network Manager
Madelyn Hart, Student
Colette Holt, Courthouse Administrator
Joe Jennis, Orchestra Director
Albert McCullough, Retired Business Owner
Don West*+, Sr. Coordinator of Music (PCSB)
TROMBONE
Kyle Guira*+, Assistant Principal-GJHS
Raymar Hojilla (bass), Music Director
Alexander Mejia (tenor), Marketing Assistant
Greg Newell (bass), Project Manager
Steven Satone, Retired-West Point Band
Walt Shaffner, Band Director/Administrator
EUPHONIUM
Fernando Frank, Band Director
Sylvester Johnson III*, Utilities Technician
Ken Schultz, Band & Orchestra Director
TUBA
Daryl Johnson, CPA/Consultant
Ken Henry, Retired Transportation Executive
Robin Ortega, Student
Brett Williams, Automotive
Richard Wohl*, Middle School Band Director
PERCUSSION
Steven Amowitz, Real Estate Broker Associate
Elliott Green, Student
Amos Lindner, Student
Jeffrey Robinson*^, Band Director
Arona Tevaga, Student
*principal player +charter member ^board member
Musicians from Desoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas Polk, & Sumter counties are performing this evening.