By Amos-Cola/Amos Staff

Interviewing Pat Miller, musician, designer, director.

Where is home? Where you’re from or where you are or other?

-I grew up in Northern Virginia, just outside of DC.  Sarasota, FL has been our home since 2022.

Is your career (work/profession) who you are?

-I am a teacher/musician/artist, I guess you can say I am a combination of all those professions. Which one I am at the time depends on what is happening.

What do you do for a living?

-For most of the last 28 years, I have been a full time band director.  I am stepping away from my day job and the classroom as of June 8th of this year.  I don’t feel like I am as productive as I need to be anymore in the classroom to make a difference.  I plan on working through the summer and fall marching seasons for now, we will see what opportunities come my way later in the fall.

Aside from your phone, wallet, and keys, is there anything you have with you most of the time? 

-Probably my laptop and bag, at least if I am teaching or traveling somewhere.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

-Alaska or Italy.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

-Mint Chocolate Chip

Favorite place that isn’t work or home?

-beach with the family

Best place for thinking?

-I don’t have a designated place.  I tend to think when I am alone; driving in the car, in the shower, riding my bike.

What inspires you?

-My students.  Working with students who are giving so much of their time to be great at something inspires me to work hard for them.  I want to help give them an experience they will remember and learn from.

You can invite three people for dinner, alive or dead. Who are you inviting?

-Mozart(would love to hear how his brain works), George Washington(what was it like to start a country), Dizzy Gillespie(one of my all time favorite musicians).

What do you serve for that dinner?

-Chinese, extra egg rolls (if Todd drops by)

What’s unappreciated in the world? 

-How hard it is to just be a good person. We waste too much energy being negative and critical of others for no reason.

Favorite swear word or swear substitute?–

As a teacher I have tried real hard to never swear in front of any of my students, there is no place for it.  But if I had to chose one, it would be Fuck!