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For Robert Longfield, orchestra director at Palmetto
Senior High School, the best part of being a music teacher is working
with music everyday and with talented students who share his interest.
Robert Longfield, orchestra conducter
Longfield has two classes of strings, each with 30
students. After school, all of the string players combine with the
wind instrument players and percussionists to form 90-member
orchestra.
"The students are here because they love music
and they want to learn how to play an instrument," Longfield
said. "So, we try to stay focused on the music, learn new
techniques on the instruments and polish off the pieces for
performance."
Longfield's students have had many opportunities to
display their talent this year. The orchestra gave a glittering
performance for the school musical, Me and My Gal, which was performed
in conjunction with the fine arts department.
"It was a lot of hard work," said Longfield.
"This was not a watered down version. This was the actual music
and the actual script. It involved costumes, sets, lighting, sound and
choreography. When it all came together it was a lot of fun."
Longfield says he was very satisfied with the
collaboration with the fine arts department and was thrilled with how
well the production was received by the audience. He says he hopes to
have the musical become an annual tradition at Palmetto.
Other performances the students participated in this
year include the holiday concert, the Teacher of the Year Banquet and
the Principal of the Year Banquet. There also were shows for the
Chamber of Commerce South, the Miami Water-Color Foundation and the
Athalie Range Foundation.
A composer and arranger of music, Longfield brings a
great deal of knowledge to his job. Longfield has published 45
arrangements and original compositions with four different publishing
companies. Currently, he is the band editor for FJH Music Company, a
music publisher in Broward County.
A native of Michigan, Longfield has always had an
interest in music. "I was inspired by my parents love for
music," he said. "I joined the high school band and had
teachers who were good role models. By tenth grade, I decided that was
what I wanted to do."
Longfield graduated form the University of Michigan
before receiving his Master's degree at the University of Miami.
Longfield conducts the Palmetto Middle School
Orchestra, as well as the Greater Miami Symphonic Band, a community
orchestra that practices at the University of Miami.
"We appreciate the community support," said
Longfield. "We are trying to provide the best possible artistic
experience for the kids. And we always would like to invite the
community to our productions, whether they are musical or
dramatic."
The final community event for the season is the spring
concert, set for Tuesday, May 30, 7 pm at Palmetto Senior High School.
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