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Alex Tomlin, Percussion
Alex was born and raised in Wilmington, NC and has been playing drums since the age of 4. He was formally introduced to music when he joined the band at Williston Middle School, and remained in musical ensembles throughout his high school and college studies. His mother is a retired teacher from Laney High School, and his father is a retired fireman from the City of Wilmington.
In addition to his love and talent for music, he is notably known for making bow ties. Alex says, "It's very bizarre how I started sewing. In a nutshell, I was in summer school in college and was one class short of receiving financial aid. So I added sewing to my curriculum, completely bombed the course but am now an avid sewer. Weird, I know."
Alex also relates a funny story about playing in the Wilmington Symphony: "True Story: I had the bright idea of getting my eyes dilated on a Saturday once before. Just so happens that Saturday was a Saturday we had a concert….(you see where this is going?). At any rate, the inevitable happens. It's 8 o'clock, and I am now on stage with dilated eyes and can barely see the title of my music let alone the music itself. So what do I do? What any musician would probably do…rely heavily on your stand-partner & your remembrance of the music (including, what musicians call improvisation…ya know, a missed rest here, come in late there…no biggie). For helping me get through that challenging time, I have no one to blame but myself and no one to thank but [fellow WSO percussionist] Will Fassbender. Eternally grateful, yours truly…..signed: Alex Tomlin."
Casey Black, Trumpet
Casey has been playing trumpet in the WSO for five seasons. Outside of his involvement in the sympony, he keeps very busy as the Music Director at Topsail High School where he conducts seven ensembles. He often arrives at Symphony rehearsal straight from a three hour outdoor marching band rehearsal. When asked about his busy schedule Casey says, "I very much appreciate the WSO brass section for always pretending that they don't notice that I reek of sunblock and the great outdoors."
He became a musician due to the influence of Leona Fulghum, the Music Minister at the church he attended while growing up in Concord, NC, who was a mastermind at convincing reluctant musicians to perform for Sunday services and went to fantastic lengths to provide performance opportunities. Casey comments, "Most everyone I know who went through the church at that time still holds music as a central part of their life, and I firmly believe that Ms. Fulghum is a large part of that."
Casey also performs with the Wilmington Big Band, and in the pit orchestra for various productions produced by the Thalian Association and Opera House Theatre Company. In addition to the trumpet, he plays piano and ukulele when no one is listening.
Beverly Andrews, Concertmaster
Beverly comes from a musical family. Beverly attributes her career as a professional musician to a deathbed request made by her grandmother back in 1930. Her dying wish was to make sure that her daughter, only 5 years old at the time, received piano lessons. So, Beverly's mother grew up playing the piano, and passed along the family trade. She now attends every WSO concert since moving to town a few years ago.
When asked why she likes playing in the orchestra, Beverly says, "The sound of all those orchestral instruments is like the swelling of a huge wave in the ocean. We ride the wave like surfers or like dolphins leaping with musical joy in that wave of sound. It's exhilarating. It's satisfying. It fills holes in your soul."
When Beverly was in 4th grade, the public school system in Midland Michigan gave hearing tests to all the children. The results said, "Beverly sure can hear!", and she was asked to begin playing a stringed instrument at school, which changed her life.
At the dress rehearsal for her college senior recital she was playing with such passion that she ended Lalo's "Symphonie Espanole" with such flair that she launched her bow out into the middle of the auditorium. She says of the incident, "Luckily my bow didn't break and since then, I have hung onto it."
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In addition to playing orchestra concerts, many of the WSO musicians also provide music for special occasions such as weddings, receptions, anniversaries and birthdays. Many also offer offer private music instruction for both school-age and adult students — please contact each player individually with contact information provided on their biography page.
Player Profiles:
Beverly Andrews,
Concertmaster
Diana Daniel
Lisa Gattuso
Christine Meyer
Jane Radack
Anne Stohl
Shirley Lebo
Alexei Mejouev
Jane Tierney
Brent Trubia
Maria Fesz
Mike Pope
Sarah Howard
Deborah Phillips
Mary Jo White
Oboe/English Horn
Jennifer Muehrke
Rebecka Rose
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Coleman Burgess
Brittany Hamlin
Jim Boston
Kim Adams
Casey Black
David Goodwin
Mitch Hebert
​Alex Tomlin
Christina Brier
Typical groupings of instruments include string trios and quartets (violin, viola, cello), brass groups (trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba), and woodwind ensembles (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon). Musicians also serve as soloists at special occasions such as:
• RECEPTIONS
• HOLIDAY GATHERINGS
• ANNIVERSARIES
• CORPORATE EVENTS
• DINNER PARTIES
• MEMORIAL SERVICES
• BABY SHOWERS
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