Randy F. Sonntag has been the conductor and music director of the Palm Beach Gardens Concert Band since 2009. He retired from the Palm Beach County School District after serving for 35 years as a band/orchestra director at Jupiter High School, Jupiter Middle School, Bear Lakes Middle School, and Independence Middle School. He was also the founding Dean of the Music Department and Director of Bands and Orchestras at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Randy has conducted honor bands in 16 different counties in Florida, as well as the Florida All State Middle School Honor Band. He is a life member of the Florida Bandmasters Association and very active as an adjudicator and consultant for bands throughout Florida receiving numerous awards and recognitions. In 2014, Randy was nominated and inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame. Most recently he was inducted into Phi Beta Mu an international fraternity recognizing outstanding contributions to bands and music education. Randy is also a very active and accomplished trumpet player appearing frequently at Jupiter First Church and with the Orchid City Brass Band.

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Manuel “Manny” A. Camacho II earned his Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Miami. He studied euphonium with the late John Olah and studied tenor trombone with Tim Connor, and performed in all of the major ensembles at UM. After graduating, he was offered a Graduate Assistantship in Instrumental Conducting at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, under the tutelage of Eric Rombach-Kendall. He continued his euphonium studies with Dr. Karl Hinterbichler. Once he earned his Master of Music Degree, he moved back to Miami.

Manny taught for eight years in Miami-Dade County public schools. As the Director of Bands at Miami Coral Park Senior High School, his program received Superior ratings in Concert Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band. They were also awarded many accolades including the Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award and the Otto Kraushaar Award. During his Miami-Dade teaching years, he was twice awarded the College Band Directors National Association Conducting Fellowship Grant, which took him to the Hartt Conservatory to study conducting with Robert H. Reynolds and Glen Adsitt. The second time he was awarded this fellowship, he had the opportunity to study conducting with Michael Haithcock and Rodney Dorsey at the University of Michigan. After Miami, Manny moved to Palm Beach where he is currently the co-director at Independence Middle School, teaching alongside Julie “Chris” Murray. The band program, founded under the direction of Randy Sonntag, has continued its Superior reputation. A notable achievement the band has recently earned, is the prestigious 2019 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational Middle School Honor Group designation.

Manny is also a current member of the Orchid City Brass Band. He plays euphonium and baritone, and has also been their guest conductor. During the summers, he has taught at the Palm Beach County Band Camp, First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach Music Conservatory, and beginning this year, the Florida Atlantic University Elementary Band Camp.

Manny has a wonderful family with his wife Josephine and their children:  Giacomo, Annabella, and Marina.

 

Questions? Call Eissey Theatre 561.207.5900 or email us