I was privileged to play viola in the orchestra at Southwest Miami Senior High School from 1961 - 1964. I never had a private lesson and couldn’t even tune my instrument, but I could play fairly loud and never got lost so Mr. Fink, as he was known then, made me section leader.  So I always sat directly in front of  the conductor’s podium. It was an amazing experience as I could hear the blend of the entire orchestra around me. We had an excellent orchestra with outstanding people. We were a pretty close group that had a lot of fun together, especially on our trips. And we had wonderful trips to district and state contests. I learned a lot about music and performance from Mr. Fink, which, since I played a relatively unpopular instrument,  enabled me to take advantage of several opportunities. These included performing Handel’s Messiah  every Christmas, participating in string quartets, being selected to All State Orchestras for two years. I still can’t get over performing our All State concert at the Jai A’lai Fronton in Daytona. My first trip was to Tampa for state competition. The two senior cellists turned their Tampa motel room into party central. I wonder who paid for all the damage and theft from our rooms? Of course the most memorable trip was to the New York Worlds Fair in 1964. I sold Krispy Kreme donuts every Saturday. I’m still sick of those donuts. Then there were the Pops Concerts that we did every two weeks in the cafeteria, as another means to raise money for the trip. It was awesome taking the train to DC, which we all toured. Then we took buses to the West End Hotel near Central Park. 

Hard to believe it’s been over 57 years. Orchestra was by far my most enjoyable, memorable, and also the source of my greatest pride in all our accomplishments. from  my high school years. Thank you Dr. Fink. You taught me so much about dedication, perseverance and life. The music was good too.

I spent quite a while crafting a message for this book, only to have it lost while I was trying to edit my picture. So, here's the brief version. I met Dr. Phil while I was a Junior High student at Southwest Miami High School. He was still in college and doing an internship there. He went on after graduation to become the Orchestra Director and held that position for a number of years before moving to a position at the Miami-Dade Community College, South Campus where I lost track of him. I have lots of memories of him and the SW Orchestra during the 6 years I attended SW. I will be happy to share my memories of those early years in his career with his family members via phone if they wish to contact me. He was an early influence on my life-long love of music and I have many fond memories of those years and the people involved in his early career. I suspect that since I had to use my email address to create this memory that the family can use it to contact me.  

In our last years at OCPC, long after Phil’s passing, I still imagined that he could walk into choir rehearsal and take up right where he left off with Battle Hymn of the Republic. I loved Phil Fink.

Mr. Fink was our Orchestra professor at Southwest Miami High School during the 4 years I attended, 1964 through 1967. We won State Champion those 4 years also. He was brilliant, talented and respected. Condolences to his wife and daughters. September, 2020.

He was my wonderful cello teacher from age 9-14. I’m a professional cellist today and he was a real inspiration, playing a significant role in the musician I have become. 
My condolences to his family. I will never forget him.

My friend and mentor, advisor and conductor was many things simultaneously as are we all. I remember so vividly sitting with him in his office as he listened to a cd of a classical piece he wanted the orchestra to play, as he wrote out each part precisely, including the transcriptions into all the various instruments keys without errors by hand on staff paper. At the time I sat in awe and wonder as to how anyone could accomplish such a feat; and I still do! I loved this man, and thank Almighty God we had time together in this world and look forward to seeing him in Christ's heaven.

Dr. Philip Fink, may he rest in peace, was our dear colleague and friend. We worked together, in the School of Music, at Florida International University, where he was Chairman, and established a core curriculum for Music And Music Education Majors. His foresight and wisdom helped to develop these programs,  well respected throughout Dade County and the State. Dr. Fink was a sought after Orchestral consultant and adjudicator and First Chair Cellist of the Miami Philharmonic.

He will be sorely missed by Drs. Violet and Ara Nisanian.

Our condolences to our dear Joyce and their three daughters and their families.

OBITUARY

Philip Holcombe Fink

April 18, 1935 – August 5, 2015

Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood

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