Beginning Fall 2025/2026 Season

 Junior Benitez, a Florida native and self-proclaimed “Band Nerd” who grew up right here in Hernando County. He has been a low brass musician for 20 years, beginning with Euphonium to a self-taught Tuba player, performing in recent years with 2 different ensembles, our very own Weeki Wachee Winds Community Concert Band, originally founded by Mark Hengesh, and the Nature Coast Community Band in Citrus County. Junior has a strong passion for music and has a vision for continuing music education in the schools, and growing Weeki Wachee Winds into a well known ensemble in the Community.  

Junior has worked with various high schools including Dominion High School, Gateway High School, Hernando High School, and Central High School, as well as other high school and middle school ensembles throughout the area. Previously, he has served as the brass instructor and drill instructor for Hernando High School's Royale Regiment marching band. He has also performed with the City of Fairfax Community Band's Main Street Community Band in the northern Virginia area in the past. He remains to be an active force within schools and music programs throughout the area and is eager for the opportunity to conduct music with the Weeki Wachee Winds.

Junior has great visions for this group by expanding the concert season with more performances throughout the year, which brings more community awareness; growing membership to support additional ensembles within the band; to launch a youth summer band offering both middle and high school students a place to play, learn and grow as musicians even when school is out for the summer; hopes to create a scholarship fund to support music students and school programs in Hernando County; and continues to advocate for music education at the elementary school level where the first spark of musical interest is often born. Junior is a great example of how music can teach leadership, mentorship, and gives a person a sense of belonging, accomplishment and being an important part of an overall large family.