THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507280204
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY WILLIAM D. SROUFE, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 172 lines
ON A HOT summer day, a little wind is always a welcome relief.
Chesapeake residents Carroll Bailey, Alan Coyle, Holly Maxson, Diana Werner and Danielle Winfield have a different kind of ``wind'' to offer - The Tidewater Winds.
These five professional musicians join about 80 others in a Sousa band tradition established 11 years ago by conductor Sidney Berg.
Beginning in July, The Tidewater Winds have presented free shows five days a week throughout Hampton Roads. Their final Chesapeake performance of the season is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Great Bridge High School.
Chesapeake musician Carroll Bailey, 73, who plays the string bass, has been performing for more than 30 years and is a charter member of The Tidewater Winds.
Bailey originally played the trumpet, but gave it up after more than 20 years.
``The Lord works in mysteriousways,'' Bailey explained. ``I just came to rehearsal one night and just couldn't play. I had lost my lip.
``I started playing the string bass in about 1962 and fell in love with it,'' he said. ``I had to borrow one at first, but after a while I liked it so much I went and bought one.''
Bailey said playing for The Tidewater Winds during the summer helps keep him prepared to play for the Virginia Symphony in the fall.
``It's exciting music,'' explained the former band director at Norview High School. ``I never thought I would do this. I thought I may do some dance-band playing, and that would be all. But it has worked out that I've played in one symphony orchestra after another.''
Bailey, who also plays in a trio at the Williamsburg Inn Friday and Saturday nights, said that he'll keep playing as long as he has his health.
Alan Coyle of Chesapeake looks forward to playing in The Tidewater Winds all year.
Coyle, 20, a junior at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., said playing with The Tidewater Winds has helped him to grow professionally.
``It took me a long time to get where I am,'' he said. ``I've had a lot of encouragement from my teachers and my parents. They're colleagues now, and I feel very privileged to be working with them. They've helped me realize that this is really what I want to do for the rest of my life.''
The trumpet player said he was accepted by The Tidewater Winds on a trial basis two years ago.
``I think they probably doubted me at first,'' he explained, ``but after the first week they saw I was serious, and let me continue playing.
``The group plays a good variety of music,'' Coyle said. ``It can be challenging sometimes. You go to practice, and they say, `Play this,' and you've never seen it. But as a professional, you have to get it right. It's a challenge to myself to make sure I get it right the first time.
``When you're finished, and the audience gives you a standing ovation or even when they just clap, you know then you've done a great job. After all, that's what it's all about.''
Flutist and piccoloist Holly Maxson, 21, of Chesapeake said performing with The Tidewater Winds keeps her on her toes during the off-season.
``I don't think I would practice this much if I wasn't playing in the group,'' Maxson explained. ``I like to be busy, and this gives me an opportunity to play.''
When she took up music 11 years ago, Maxson wanted to play the saxophone, but she was diverted to the flute because she wore braces on her teeth and the instrument was easier for her to play. She stuck with it.
``I've always liked group activities and always liked music, so what better way to enjoy both?'' she said. ``I'll always play, no matter what I end up doing. I'll never stop playing.''
She wants to complete her master's degree and one day teach on a collegiate level or direct a wind ensemble or symphony orchestra.
``I'm not sure where I'll be in a year,'' she explained. ``I graduate in May, and right now I'm interested in going to Europe for a year or two.
``I'd like to go to Austria. That's where everything really started (musically), and I would just like to see how I compare to people over there,'' Maxson said. ``Music looks the same in any language. So even though I don't speak the language, I'll always be able to communicate through music.''
Unlike other musicians in the concert band, bass clarinet player Diana Werner of Chesapeake said her goal is not to be a professional musician but a lawyer.
``I think I'll always play,'' the Old Dominion University sophomore said. ``I'll probably always play part-time.''
Werner explained that while the road has been tough along the way, she has had good instructors to keep her on the right path.
``If it wasn't for the encouragement from everyone, I don't think I would be where I'm at today,'' she said. ``I think I've been dedicated to my music, I think most musicians have to be. When you're in high school or even middle school everyone else was worrying about what they were going to do on Saturday night. I was practicing or doing my homework because I had been practicing earlier.
``I'll continue to play with the Winds for as long has they'll have me,'' she said. ``Maybe I'll get into an ensemble one day. Playing in the Winds helps because you meet a lot of people and it opens a lot of doors for you.''
Danielle Winfield, 17, of Chesapeake, who recently left The Tidewater Winds to audit a class taught by Julius Baker, former primary flute player of the New York Philharmonic, said her love for the instrument flourished while she was living in Scotland with her father.
``I started playing about six years ago,'' Winfield said. ``But, I really fell in love with it while I was with my dad in Scotland. I played in a great wind ensemble, and that's when I really knew that this is what I wanted to do.''
Chosen to play for The Tidewater Winds on the recommendation of her former high school band director, Winfield said it was difficult at first, but she caught on quickly.
``Everything goes pretty fast, but you get used to it,'' the young flutist said. ``You had to learn 25 pieces that you may have never heard of in a couple of hours, but after the first time it got easy.''
The first-year Tidewater Winds player left for Connecticut July 23 for the exclusive class. She said she was looking forward to the experience.
``I can't wait to meet Julius Baker,'' she said. ``The class will be like having a two-hour lesson three times a day for a week, but I can't wait to hear the players who will be there.
``I'm going to brush up on certain pieces while I'm there - some Mozart concertos and Prokofief sonatas,'' she said, ``and also refine some basic flute skills.''
When asked if she would be back to play with The Tidewater Winds next year, Winfield said she wanted to, but would have to wait to see what the next year would bring.
``I've got a lot going on the next year,'' the Mary Baldwin College freshman explained. ``I want to play next year. Sidney Berg is great, and all of the people are real professionals. But a year is a long time.''
Winfield said her lifelong goal is to play with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.
``After that, I'll play anywhere in Boston,'' she said. ``I love Boston, and, hopefully, after Mary Baldwin I'll transfer to Boston College.''
Winfield explained that whether she comes back next year or not, she has learned a lot from playing with the concert band.
``I learned to appreciate a lot of different styles of music and different performers,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Conductor Sidney Berg founded The Tidewater Winds 11 years ago.
Danielle Winfield left the band to study under Julius Baker, who
played for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Joel LeMon, left, and Alan Coyle look over music before a
performance.
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Carroll Bailey, who plays the string bass, is a charter member of
the band.
Conductor Sidney Berg confers with Holly Maxson before a
performance.
Diana Werner says she plans to be a lawyer, not a professional
musician.
[Color Photo]
ON THE COVER
Chesapeake musician Holly Maxson, 21, plays the flute during a
concert with The Tidewater Winds in a photo by staff photographer
Steve Earley. ``I don't think I would practice this much if I wasn't
playing in the group,'' Maxson said. ``I like to be busy, and this
gives me an opportunity to play.''
ON THE ROAD
Here is the schedule for the final week of Tidewater Winds South
Hampton Roads summer performances. This week's program is ``A
Broadway Spectacular,'' which will feature an array of Broadway
tunes as well as the usual Sousa marches.
All performances are free. Call 464-9290 for more information.
Sunday - Wells Theater, downtown Norfolk, 7:30 p.m.
Monday - Great Bridge High School, 301 Hanbury Road, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday - Beth Sholom Home, Virginia Beach, 7 p.m.
Friday - Willett Hall, Portsmouth, 7:30 p.m.
by CNB