Sean O’Neil

A native of New Orleans, Sean O’Neil began violin studies at the age of five with Doris Ballard Hansen. He also studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Encore School for Strings, where he was a pupil of Robert Lipsett. Mr. O’Neil pursued the Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied with esteemed violinist Vartan Manoogian and chamber music under the Pro Arte Quartet as a fellowship member of the Strelow graduate string quartet. Upon graduation, he was awarded a full-time position in the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra of New Orleans, where he was a founding member of the Cypress String Quartet and an artist-in-residence at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. During his tenure, he was a featured soloist with the LPO in the world premiere of Jay Weigel’s First Violin Concerto. After his time in New Orleans, Mr. O’Neil moved to Cleveland, OH where he performed with the Cleveland Pops, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and as assistant concertmaster of both the Akron and Canton Symphonies. In the summers, Mr. O’Neil has taught and performed at the Breckenridge Music Festival, Western Slope Music Festival, and was on the faculty at Point Counterpoint Chamber Music Camp. Currently, he is Artistic Director of the Sarasota Music Academy and during the summer, he is director of orchestras at the Académie Internationale de Musique in Flaine, France. Since 2002, Sean has been a member of the Sarasota Opera, The Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and this year he will be dividing his time between the Sarasota Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic and other professional musical organizations on the Gulf Coast of Florida. During the 2010-2011 season, he was a featured soloist with the Venice Symphony to critical acclaim with a performance of Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto.

Donna Smith

Principal 2nd violinist

Donna Smith, originally from Allentown, PA, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.F.A in violin performance and a B.A. in music theory and composition with a minor in piano performance. She did graduate work at the University of Michigan in music composition and violin performance. She also earned a Masters degree in Information and Library Studies (M.I.L.S.) from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Management (M.S.M.) from Troy State University. Donna performs in Southwest Florida as a solo violinist and pianist and also performed in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia as part of Varna Tours International. She also performs with Palm Strings, Sun City Chamber Players, and Romanza Strings in addition to serving as Principal 2nd Violinist with The Venice Symphony. She has been a church musician for over 20 years and currently serves as music director for Lakeside Lutheran Church and as music director for Epiphany Cathedral’s Life Teen Mass, both located in Venice. Donna teaches private violin and piano lessons. She serves on the Board of Directors for Venice Symphony and also volunteers as an adoption counselor at St. Francis Animal Rescue in Venice.

“I am so blessed to be able to perform and spend time with the incredible musicians and leadership of this symphony. The talent of this group is amazing and the friendliness and caring of the individuals gives Venice Symphony the feel of family.”

Karen Tuttle

Principal Viola

Karen comes from a family of musicians so it is only natural that she began playing violin at seven years of age. She performed as a violinist in Florida All-State orchestra and as a violist with the Florida West Coast Symphony in the early 1980’s. She was a founding member of The Venice Symphony and their principal 2nd violinist for many years.

Karen currently serves as the Venice Symphony’s principal violist, teaches both violin and viola, and is an active chamber music performer.

Linda Martin

Principal Cello

Ms. Martin started playing with Venice Symphony in 2003, and took over as principal in 2006. She received her BS in music education from the State University of NY at Potsdam, and took lessons with cellist Bruce Rogers of the Beaux Arts String Quartet. Having received a scholarship from the State University of NY at Geneseo, she earned an MS degree in Special Education, and taught children with special needs for 34 years. She played with the Ft Collins Symphony Orchestra in CO for 24 years, including assistant principal cellist for 6 years, as well as acting principal for 1/2 year. She also played with the Cheyenne (WY) Symphony Orchestra for 14 years. During her years living in Colorado, she played with the Greeley Philharmonic, Ft Collins Opera Orchestra, Larimer Chorale Orchestra, Canyon Concert Ballet, Loveland Chamber Orchestra, Loveland Chorale Society, Bellacordia String Quartet, and was a soloist for the Loveland Friends of Chamber Music. Linda also currently plays with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

“I enjoy being a part of The Venice Symphony because it is a big family that cares for its members.”

Gayle Williams

Principal Flute, Board of Directors

Gayle Williams, a Florida native born in Orlando, fled her sunny home after high school to study with William Hebert, the famed piccolo of the Cleveland Orchestra. Graduating with a degree in music (and business and German) from Baldwin-Wallace College, a severe case of cold feet led her away from the orchestra audition circuit and into a job at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. For the next 15 years or so the flute was kept in the closet. When she returned to Florida as the marketing director for the Florida West Coast Symphony (now Sarasota Orchestra) the flute came out again and she found herself playing with the FWCS when needed. When Wes Schumacher offered her a chance to perform as a soloist with The Venice Symphony, she was thrilled. She has played flute in Venice since 1999.

In addition to wielding her flute on stage, Gayle owns Vision Marketing, a Sarasota business specializing in inbound marketing strategies, as well as AnythingArts.com, an online community and E-newsletter about the arts in southwest Florida. And finally, when not busy with all of the above, she attends concerts as a music critic for the Herald Tribune Media Group.

“Creating music together builds a unique bond among musicians. My musician colleagues are like family and I miss them terribly over the summer when we are not performing. We hope the audience feels the same way.”

Leslie Ann Jones

Principal Oboe

Leslie Jones started playing with the Venice Symphony over 20 years ago. She is an active orchestral musician in our region and has served as principal oboe in the Sarasota Pops, Anna Maria Island Orchestra, Sarasota Concert Band and many pick-up orchestra for local events.  Previously she served and played in the U.S. Marine Band in Quantico, VA,  and performed with the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra. She was a student of Patricia Stenberg, former principal oboe of the Florida West Coast Symphony.  Leslie holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Central Florida, B.S. in Elementary Education, and an M.S. in Science Education from NOVA University.  When not performing, Leslie teaches fourth grade at Stewart Elementary School in Bradenton.

Susan Custer

Principal Clarinet

David Wernicke

Principal Bassoon

Robert Moore

Principal French Horn

In addition to performing extensively in chamber ensembles and as a soloist, French horn player, Robert Moore, has performed with many of the major orchestras in both Germany and France, including tours with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Europe and the West German Radio Orchestra in Japan. In 1978 he was appointed solo horn with the Orchestra der Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Germany, and from 1988-1998 was solo horn with the Orchestre Philharmonique in Nice, France. Moore received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music from Florida State University School of Music. Currently he performs with the Sarasota Orchestra, the Sarasota Pops, Venice Symphony, and numerous other ensembles in the Southwest Florida area. Moore is also teaching music at Palma Sola Elementary School in Bradenton where he resides with his wife, Martine. They have two children, Laura and Jonathan.

Wendall Schmoe

Principal Tuba, Board of Directors

Following graduation from Jordan College of Music, Butler University, Wendall taught public school music in Indiana for 10 years. His teaching career continued in the Chicago suburbs where he served as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Glenbard North High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for 26 years. He received a Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University and completed advanced studies at the University of Illinois and Vandercook College of Music.

Wendall has been a member of the Venice Symphony and Symphony Brass Quintet since 1999.

Jamie Marshall

Principal Trombone

I am in my 23rd year with the VSO. I am also beginning my 23rd year with the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, and my 22nd year with the Suncoast Brass Quintet. I am currently head of music studies and administrative ombudsman at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton, teaching music in grades Pre-K through 12.

“I hold the Venice Symphony in the highest regard. The orchestra has maintained an excellent musical standard over the years while retaining a family atmosphere. Its members are warm, caring, articulate people who gather each season to make beautiful music together. I am honored to be a part of the ensemble.”

Joe Martinez

Principal Trumpet

Conductor, Performer, Business Owner, Education Software Developer, and Teacher, Joe Martinez began his music career in the mid 60’s. Growing up in the heart of Miami, Mr. Martinez built a strong background in Latin music. He continued his studies with Broadway a show trumpeter, Jack Pinto. Mr. Pinto helped to build the musical and show music background that was to be an important part of Mr. Martinez’s career. With his performing career continuing to build in Miami and Miami Beach including appearances with the Miami Symphony, Mr. Martinez moved to Tallahassee to continue his classical trumpet studies with professor of music Bryan Goff at Florida State University.
His Sarasota performing career includes eighteen years with the Sarasota Orchestra, almost thirty years with the Venice Symphony and Sarasota Concert Band as principal trumpet. He continues to perform with the Sarasota Brass Quintet and Venice Brass Quintet.

“I enjoy working with the Venice Symphony because it provides a non-critical environment for musicians who must maintain a second job and still be able to provide top quality performances for the public.”

Jeff Mael

Principal Percussionist for 20 Years

Jeff has been teaching private lessons and school music camps all over the Eastern half of the U.S. and Canada since 1972. He is considered a Marching Band and Drum and Bugle corps expert since his involvement in the outdoor competitive music activity spans 5 decades and he has won numerous state, national and international championships. Jeff holds a B.S. in Music Management, a double Major program combining Music Performance and Business Management from The College of Saint Rose, Albany, N.Y. He took private lessons in Percussion and Music Theory at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. and currently teaches General Music at Meadow Park Elementary School in Port Charlotte, Fl. to students from K – 5th grade. He has a very large Chorus program. Jeff is a Marching Band Consultant at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, FL., and he can be found performing at numerous churches, with choral groups, in the orchestras for many theatre groups as well as local bands. (rock, blues, country, jazz etc… ) He has been a member of the Venice Symphony for over 20 years.

“The Venice Symphony is like a large family, with all of the emotions, all the friendships and close relationships you should expect in a family setting.”

Tasha Robinson

Principal Harpist

Tasha Robinson recently moved to Florida from the Midwest. She is currently Principal Resident Harpist with the Venice, Ocala and South Shore Symphonies. Tasha has performed concertos with local orchestras and is also the principal harpist for the Sun City Chamber Ensemble. Tasha has a varied background as both working with orchestras, choral and chamber ensembles.

Tasha has been a teacher for both the Royal Conservatory Method and was an instructor of harp at the Gulf Coast Youth Harp Festival in 2010. She has created harp ensembles for youth to adult and is recently working with local churches and elementary schools to create harp programs within their musical ensembles and lessons. Tasha is an extremely varied performer, having been a harpist for the Four Points Hotel to cruise lines as well. She will also be offering piano study at her golden harp studio near Venice Florida and can be reached at [email protected]

“I love the Venice Symphony because of the incredible support I receive from both my fellow musicians, the stage hands, administration and conductor. The Venice Symphony is a family of growth and support for me.”