Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Virginia Wind Symphony, organized in 1994 by Dennis J. Zeisler, is a wind ensemble made up of professional musicians, military musicians, public and private school teachers and independent music instructors. The group was created to provide a musical outlet for musicians throughout the Hampton Roads area and is dedicated to playing the finest original and tran-scribed wind literature available. Members benefit from the positive musical experiences brought about by musicmaking in a spirit of camaraderie, and from the opportunity to serve the region through a lifelong love of music with concerts throughout the year. The Virginia Wind Symphony has been conducted by ABA members Terry Austin, Ed Lisk, Frederick Fennell, Ed Downing, Linda Moorhouse, Harry Begian, Frank Wickes, James Keene, Arnald Gabriel, Michael Haithcock, Myron Welsh, Thomas Rotundi, Donald Hunsberger, James Barnes, H. Robert Reynolds Tom Palmatier, Lowell Graham, Brian Waldon and David Holsinger. The Virginia Wind Symphony has recorded 6 commercial compact discs.
The Virginia Wind Symphony is honored to be a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Founda-tion's Sudler Silver Scroll Award! The Sudler Silver Scroll is an international award to identify, recognize and honor those community bands that have demonstrated particularly high stand-ards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years, and which have played a significant and leading role in the cultural and musical environment in their respective commu-nities.
The Virginia Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, December 2004 and 2012. Past guest conductors have included Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, Conductor Emeritus of The United States Air Force Band, Dr. Terry Austin, Loras John Schissel, and Edward S. Lisk. The Wind Symphony has been selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic in December 2017.
For more information on the ensemble's history and schedule of events, please visit: www.virginiawindsymphony.org
Virginia Wind Symphony
Conductor's Bio
DENNIS J. ZEISLER has been on the faculty of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia for more almost four decades, serving as Director of Bands, Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone, and Chairman of the Music Department. Under his direction, the Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble has developed into a premiere performing ensemble. They have recorded for TRN Music Publishers and Frank Erickson Publications and have been featured in concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. While serving as former Chair for fifteen years, he led the steady growth of the Old Domin-ion University Music Department at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Professor Zeisler has a B.M., B.M.E., and M.M. from the University of Michigan, where he was solo clarinetist of the Symphony Band, under the direction of Dr. William D. Revelli. He was solo clarinetist of the Detroit Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Leonard Smith, and clarinet soloist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. Mr. Zeisler had his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall in May 1974 and has performed at three International Clarinet Society Conferences. For 31 years, he was on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan where he was principal clarinet of the faculty orchestra conductor of faculty and staff ensembles, and on the international conducting staff. In 1998, Professor Zeisler was awarded membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 1999, he received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha for, “significant and lasting contributions to the cause of Music in America,” and the Virginia Music Educator of the Year Award from the Virginia Music Educators Association. In 2004 he received the National Band Association Mentor Award, and in 2009 was awarded a University Professorship at Old Dominion University for excellence in teaching. He is founder and conductor of the Virginia Wind Symphony, a professional wind group com-prised of primarily music educators from throughout the area of southeastern Virginia. The Virginia Wind Symphony has recorded six commercial compact discs and been featured in concert at two American Bandmasters Association Conventions (2004, 2011) and Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinics (2004, 2012).
Zeisler is Past-President of the Southern Division of CBDNA, former Virginia State Chair of the National Band Association and the International Clarinet Society. He is Past-President of NASM Region VII and is currently chair of the NBA Merrill-Jones Composition Contest, and on the Board of Directors of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation and the Midwest Clinic. Zeisler is the 77th President of the American Bandmasters Association.
He and his wife Carol, live in Norfolk, Virginia and have four grown children, Nathaniel, Jennifer, Sarah and Jeffrey.
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