A Little History of our founder JR Farley
When John Ross Farley came down to Florida in 2008 from his hometown of Fairmount, WV, he knew very few people in the area. Using his charisma and large pallet of talents, he befriended and collaborated with local musicians to create multiple new groups within the community. JR Farley, who loved to teach music to the next generation, spent some time instructing his own studio, Bandology, in 2020.
Along with ASW, JR Farley also worked in several other bands such as Cruise Control, Lazy Boy and the Rockers, plus JR ran a few different sized Jazz based ensembles. He also arranged for various groups within the community in his spare time.
The amount of work JR Farley did in the short span of his life will live forever in the hears of those he played with, through those he touched within our community and through his written arrangements. Overcoming the barriers of moving to a new area, he created a strong musical culture within the local community.
About our Conductor:
Christopher T. Greco, born in 1992, initiated his musical journey in elementary school as an alto saxophonist in the band. His talent shone through middle and high school, earning him spots in prestigious honor ensembles across the county and state. Although he dabbled in arranging during high school, it wasn't until his third year at the University of South Florida, where he was pursuing a Music Education degree, that he revisited and honed this skill for smaller ensembles. After graduating in 2014, he began teaching in Pasco County Schools and eventually became a high school band director at River Ridge, his alma mater. His ensembles garnered high accolades and performance invitations both within and beyond Florida. Concurrently, Chris composed and arranged music for local and university bands.
The COVID pandemic prompted Chris to further his education, leading to a Master's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, which he completed in 2023. He then took on the role of music director at Bayonet Point Middle School.
Over the past ten years, Chris has created a plethora of arrangements and compositions for friends and colleagues across the United States, including marching shows, stand tunes, jazz ensembles, concert pieces, and commissions. He eagerly looks forward to sharing his creative endeavors with the world.
Board of Directors
President - Miles Dyer
Vice President - Leslie Napolitano
Secretary - Margie Polen
Treasurer - Jordan Bacon Graveline
Librarian - Shaw Bacon Graveline