Co- Conductors
Ann Leffard is a retired music educator who taught band and general music in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa County during her 36-year career. Most recently, she was the band director at Clifford Meigs Middle School in Shalimar, and is also Past President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, a music education association championing "Music for All".
Garsche Roble is the Band Director at Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of West Florida in 2021 after student teaching at both Tate High School and Ransom Middle School. While at UWF, he played in the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, and served as drum major for the Argo Athletic Band. He is one of the selected conductors for the 2027 MAGFest Community Orchestra, an ensemble of about 300 members that rehearses and performs a wide variety of video game music during the annual MAGFest event in National Harbor, Maryland.
Luis Roman joined the PBCB in 2017, starting on euphonium, and now plays tuba. He graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a major in Youth Ministries and a minor in Music. He has worked in support-music ministry and as a choir director since graduating in 2001. Luis is very appreciative and excited to again have this opportunity to conduct a full-fledged concert band.
Connie Wilkes is recently retired after 31 years as Band Director at Jay High School in Santa Rosa County. In addition to Band, she taught History and sponsored the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Jay HS Garden Club. During her career at Jay she has been named "Teacher of the Year" and received the Florida Bandmasters Association "Tom Bishop Award". Connie graduated from Troy State University and taught in Alabama for 11 years. She is the Chancel Choir and Handbell Director at Brewton First Methodist Church.
Dallas Roper is recently retired as the Director of Wind Ensemble and Chamber Strings for the West Florida Home Education Music Association. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and West Virginia University and served as Naval Flight Officer for 11 years. He teaches science at East Hill Christian High School and and plays oboe/english horn/bassoon as a member of the Olive Baptist Church Orchestra. He plays bassoon for the Pensacola Civic Band, and Bassoon/Oboe for the Pensacola Praise Symphony.
Tony Denaro is the Director of Bands at Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. Originally from Ohio, he obtained a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Arts from Ohio State University. In addition to playing trumpet in the PBCB, he also serves as a band adjudicator throughout the Gulfcoast region. He lives near downtown Pensacola with his beautiful wife Hannah and their four cats.
Earl Turner, husband of Betty Turner (57 happily married years!), earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees in Music Education from Missouri State University and served 21 years in the USAF as a Director of Music of Air Force Bands in the U.S. and Central Europe. His teaching includes 21 years at the university, high school, and junior high/middle school levels. He has been recognized in Who’s Who In American Colleges And Universities and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. His involvement in church music includes Director of Music Ministries, Conductor of Orchestral Music, and Choir Director. Earl has played in orchestras, big bands, and his brass quintet. Since moving to Florida, he has played with the Pensacola Civic Band, the First Baptist Church Orchestra, a local Big Band, and now, the Pensacola Bay Concert Band.
Dr. Jason Hobratschk graduated Summa cum laude from Concordia University at Austin with BA degrees in Church Music-Organ, Church Music-Conducting, and Environmental Science. In 2005, he was awarded a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Portland State University. In 2011, he received a Ph.D. in Musicology from Florida State University, where he studied music as politics and propaganda under the Nazi regime. Since 2021, Jason has served as Director of Music Ministry at Christ Church (Episcopal), Pensacola. That same year he became a member of the Pensacola Bay Concert Band.