by Monica Tsai
Staff Writer
After eight years of fund-raisers, Americana concerts and an uphill struggle to restore the Historic Snyder Memorial, St. Johns River City Band executive director Bobi McGinnis is calling it quits.
Music director Michael Davis will assume her duties Nov. 1. Program director Christopher Heacox will assist as associate music director. A replacement will not be sought for McGinnis’ post.
“This is about my need to move on,” said McGinnis. “It’s a big step, but this is a good time. If we didn’t have such a strong staff, I couldn’t walk away. Mike can pick up the reins without any slack.”
McGinnis leaves to pursue a career in art. She will freelance under the name Heart Strings, and work buying and selling antiques. Carriage House Antiques has allowed her to paint a mural on one of its walls as a sampling of her artistic ability. McGinnis will also freelance as a decorative and faux painter.
“Bobi felt she had reached a point where she wanted to do something else,” said Davis. “If I take the dual position, we can do more concerts. [Hiring her replacement] would take away from the budget.”
For the 2004 season, which runs December to June, Davis hopes to produce 8-10 concerts. Where the concerts will be held and what will be performed is still under review. A programming committee may be formed within the board to help with those issues.
McGinnis will remain through December as a consultant to help introduce Davis to the community and instruct him on the administrative side of the band. Davis will be building on the extensive management training he received while working as the manager of atmosphere talent and education programs at Disney World.
Before she leaves, McGinnis will consult with SJRCB president Dick Brown on how to deal with the loss of government funding for the historic preservation of the band’s headquarters at the Snyder Memorial. Recently, the band has faced several financial problems, including falling in default on a $650,000 loan it owes to the City.
Davis expects that to take about two or three months.
“I want to resolve what we’re going to do with the building so we can get on with making music,” he said.
Davis, who lives in the Orlando area, will no longer commute from Central Florida for band rehearsals and concerts. Because the executive/music director is a full-time job, he is leaving his wife behind to move to Jacksonville. The long-range goal is to buy a house and relocate the family here after his spouse retires. For the time being, Davis is intent on making the band a near-household name.
“I want to put our focus on the music and performing in the community more,” said Davis.
To that end, Davis has been pushing honors programs for middle and high school students. Master classes, where his musicians provide specialized training to schoolchildren on particular instruments, are yet another item on his agenda.
Since Davis became music director, he has been striving to position the band in national spotlight. Their brass band has been selected to perform the closing evening concert on Dec. 19 at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago.
“There are 13-15,000 music educators that attend,” said Davis. “This is the elite of clinics, with nationally-known artists.”
Additionally, Davis and his musicians have been invited to perform in Nice, France as part of an exchange program and at the American Bandmasters Association’s gala show next year in Gainesville.
“The ABA is made up of all the top band directors in the nation,” he said. “It’s an organization you’re voted into.”