At the Charles F. Dodge Center, crowds of people gathered in the lobby, waiting for the brass quintet of the famous South Florida Symphony to arrive. The South Florida Symphony was nearing the end of its Summer Series, a month-long musical journey throughout South Florida where each section would play music everyone can relate and resonate with.
The quintet, which consisted of two trumpets, a trombone, a French horn, and a tuba, delivered exactly that. Their list ranged from classical music to jazz standards and movie themes, and even included a few pop and rock songs.
“What we put together is a little mix of everything,” says Thomas Mckee, the group’s lead musician and trombone player.
“It’s like going to your Spotify ‘Liked Songs’ playlist. There’s a little bit from each genre, and the whole idea is to have music that resonates with the audience.”
That variety wasn’t the only thing that stood out. The musicians made the night feel personal by sharing what inspires them to play in a brass quintet.
Ricardo Chinchilla, one of the trumpet players, explained that his passion for trumpet came from his dad.
“My dad played trombone and fixed instruments, and one day he just challenged me to play trumpet. I got hooked right away,” says Chinchilla.
Joseph Alvarez, the tuba player, has been with the Symphony for several seasons and is even a professor at the University of South Florida (USF).
For Thomas Mckee, the best part of playing isn’t just the music—it’s the people.
“Part of being in music in the first place is the camaraderie and the friends you make,” he says. “It sounds cheesy, but some of my best friends are in band. We’re all here for the same reason—to become better musicians,” Mckee states.
That friendship and energy showed on stage. The quintet played everything from Star Wars themes to brass classics. During intermission, instead of heading backstage, they walked around the crowd of about 150 people to answer any questions people had.
The South Florida Symphony also extends that same spirit to local schools. Through its Symphony in the Schools program, musicians visit middle school bands to teach lessons, lead masterclasses, and help students prepare for concerts.
“The engagement with the public is what makes South Florida Symphony so unique,” Mckee further explains.
By the end of the night, the brass quintet had played 18 hits, helping gather loud applause from the audience. As someone who plays an instrument, being able to get to know these individuals myself was a pleasure. You could see their passion and eagerness to inform anyone curious about music. Many of them began their musical careers in high school, proving that with passion and persistence, any dream is within reach.
