Longtime teacher gears up to conduct the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble

When Owen Bradley steps up to guest conduct the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble during April Showers and Serenades April 27 at Peace Presbyterian Church, a lifetime of leadership will be on display.

Bradley had more than 35 years in regional schools as a band director, including 22 years at North Port High (through 2023). But none of it might have been possible if he didn't encounter some strong leaders in his own young life.

Losing his father (Patrick Bradley) at the age of 7 and his mother (Eleanor Bradley) at 16, Bradley said he was in dire need of strong adult figures in his life. His own band director at Charlotte High School, Ray Durkee, stepped forward.

“At that point, I needed somebody really strong to keep me from going down a dark path,” Bradley said. “I was so impressionable, and he was very strong.”

Durkee's impact was so strong that by late in his 10th grade year, Bradley knew he wanted to be a band director himself.

Eventually, Durkee offered to be Bradley's guardian. He is still his guardian to this day and still checks on Bradley. 

“That's God in the works, because if there wasn't a grand plan, I could have ended up totally different,” Bradley said. 

Before Durkee had taken him under his wing, Bradley said he had another strong band director in Bob Schaer, who later would become a colleague.

“We're all products of teachers,” Bradley said. “Everything that you do in your life, you need to have a foundation.”

Photo by Madison Bierl

Bradley earned a bachelor's degree from Florida State in 1988 and a master's in instructional technology from Walden University in 2003. He later earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University in 2013.

In 1989, Bradley reunited with Schaer as the assistant band director at Southeast High School in Bradenton. He was 21, teaching 18-year-olds.

“I understood the cultural references and everything, but I also had to be the person in charge,” Bradley said. “Luckily, I looked older than I was.”

In 1992, Bradley left Southeast High School to accept a position at Bayshore High School, where he taught for seven years.

He eventually took the band director's position at North Port in 2001.

Bradley said he was able to lay the foundation for some incredible musicians and that was satisfying to him. He didn't regret not being a career musician.

Photo by Madison Bierl

“Teaching was the best decision I made because that's really where my passion was, and I have had a phenomenal career,” Bradley said. “My kids were amazing and the bands were able to make incredible music.”

Bradley’s last concert as band director was an important event to him. He described it as overwhelming and emotional. 

“The auditorium was filled with friends, family, and former students. We had a monster concert, it was amazing,” Bradley said. “I got some real good closure.”

When Bradley retired, he took a year off to do nothing, but still wanted to help where he could.

“I just told all my colleagues that I would do free help for a year,” Bradley said. “I've got nothing but time so I can go in and help.”

Bradley’s wife Amy Bradley is a clarinet player who joined the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble in 2023. 

“I came the first year just to watch and support her,” Owen Bradley said.

Amy Bradley wanted her husband to join as well. After speaking with Joe Martinez, the director of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, the Bradleys discovered that they had enough trumpet players, which is Owen Bradley’s principal instrument of choice.

“I said, ‘Look, I can play pretty much anything, if you need percussion or whatever else,’” Owen Bradley said. “I just wanted to be involved, because Amy's involved.”

He played percussion in the ensemble until his trumpet talents were needed.

Bradley is looking forward to leading the band. 

“I said absolutely, that's stellar,” Owen Bradley said when asked by Martinez. “What an opportunity — to conduct this wonderful group.”

Owen Bradley chose the piece “Mandalen Landscapes” by Philip Sparke to conduct during the concert. He said the song is about springtime in Scandinavia and the piece is very lyrical. 

“When I got up there and conducted the ensemble, we really connected,” Owen Bradley said. 

He said he hopes he has the opportunity to guest conduct again in the future, but has no desire to be in charge. He said his main purpose always has been teaching.

"Increasing my knowledge of music, personally, was second to increasing others capacity for understanding music,” Bradley said.