Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Tara Winds is an all-adult symphonic band celebrating over 25 years of excellence in musical performance. Tara Winds is composed primarily of musicians from metropolitan Atlanta, but draws its total membership from instrumentalists throughout Georgia. Musicians of various professions are represented, however the majority are music educators. The mission statement, "Music: Enjoyment For All Ages," expresses their commitment to music as a source of life-long enjoyment that is evident through the giving of their time, energy, and talents. The Tara Winds Scholarship Foundation was established in 1993 to share the love of music by providing funds to further music education. Since its inception, nearly $100,000 has been awarded in scholarships for middle and high school band students to attend summer music camps and colleges.
Under the direction of Dr. Andrea DeRenzis Strauss, Tara Winds continues to be recognized as one of the finest adult ensembles of its kind. It has presented invitational performances for numerous regional and national music conferences, and has the distinction of having performed for the Midwest Clinic in 1994 and 2001, and the American Bandmasters Association National Convention in 1999. Additional noteworthy performances include the 1990, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Southern Division CBDNA/NBA Conventions, the 2006 Western International Band Conference, the 2013 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival, the 1993, 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2009 University of Georgia High School Music Festivals, the 1990 University of South Carolina Band Clinic and Conductor's Symposium, the 2004 and 2011 University of Southern Mississippi All-South Band Clinic, the 1997 Atlanta International Band and Orchestra Conference, the 1999 Bands of America Regional Concert Festival, and throughout its history has performed for numerous GMEA In-Service Conferences. The Tara Winds educational outreach initiative includes annual performances with the Youth Bands of Atlanta in cooperation with the Conn-Selmer Corporation.
Conductor's Bio
Andrea DeRenzis Strauss is the Conductor and Artistic Director of Tara Winds and has taught elementary, middle, high school, and college at both public and private schools in Georgia. Dr. Strauss attained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with a minor in conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi and the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Music Education from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in clarinet performance. She is the former Director of Bands at Georgia Tech and served as Associate Professor of Music at Shorter University. Her ensembles have performed in Australia, China, and Ireland as well as Southern Division CBDNA/ NBA Conventions and GMEA In-Service Conferences. In addition to adjudicating and conducting honor bands across the United States, she has conducted in Italy, adjudicated in Canada and Ireland, and presented clinics on various aspects of teaching and conducting for the NAfME Division In-Service Conferences, TBA, GMEA, and various universities. Articles by Dr. Strauss have been published in the MEJ and NBA Journals and she has served as a Rehearsal Lab conductor for the Midwest Clinic. Dr. Strauss is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Band Association.
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