Tallahassee Winds Celebrates 28 Years of Concerts

The community band welcomes founder as guest conductor for upcoming performance.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Tallahassee Winds, a community band founded in 1997, will celebrate its 28th anniversary with a concert on February 10th. The ensemble, led by Drs. Patrick Dunnigan and David Plack of the FSU College of Music, will welcome the band's founder, Dr. Bentley Shellahamer, as a guest conductor for the performance at Opperman Music Hall.

Why it matters

Tallahassee Winds provides a unique opportunity for adult musicians in the area to continue performing in a large ensemble after graduating, while also offering affordable, high-quality live music performances for the community. The band's long-running success is a testament to the strong university-community relationship it has fostered over the past 28 years.

The details

Tallahassee Winds was founded in 1997 by Dr. Bentley Shellahamer, then the Assistant Dean of the FSU College of Music, with the goal of creating a win-win-win formula. The first win is for adult musicians who want to continue performing in a large ensemble; the second is for the community to enjoy accessible, high-quality live music; and the third is for the College of Music to extend the reach of its knowledge and expertise. The ensemble has performed over 100 concerts, featuring a variety of classical and light classical music, and has consistently received standing ovations from the audience.

  • Tallahassee Winds was founded in 1997.
  • The ensemble will perform its third concert of the season on February 10, 2026.

The players

Tallahassee Winds

A community band founded in 1997 that provides adult musicians in the Tallahassee area the opportunity to continue performing in a large ensemble.

Dr. Bentley Shellahamer

The founder of Tallahassee Winds and former Assistant Dean of the FSU College of Music.

Dr. Patrick Dunnigan

Current leader of Tallahassee Winds and faculty member at the FSU College of Music.

Dr. David Plack

Current leader of Tallahassee Winds and faculty member at the FSU College of Music.

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What they’re saying

“This is not for beginners.”

— Dr. Bentley Shellahamer, Founder of Tallahassee Winds

What’s next

The Tallahassee Winds will perform their third concert of the season on February 10, 2026 at Opperman Music Hall.

The takeaway

Tallahassee Winds' long-running success demonstrates the power of university-community partnerships in nurturing musical talent and providing affordable, high-quality live performances for the local audience.