During Family RV Association’s recent “Lafitte’s Lost Treasure” convention, Frustrated Maestros chapter members performed with a pirate flair.
By Bruce Taylor, F298785
July/August 2025
Free doughnuts!” That was a rally-goer’s response several years ago when asked why he attended FMCA (now Family RV Association — FRVA) conventions and rallies. The Frustrated Maestros think he really meant to say, “To listen to the great music from those guys in red shirts and white pants while eating my free doughnuts.”
Regardless, the Frustrated Maestros have built a long-standing tradition of providing music for morning coffee hour at association events.
In Perry, the Frustrated Maestros crew included music director Sue Siegler, top left, and rally captain Elisabeth Schultz, top right.
At FRVA’s 110th International Convention in Perry, Georgia, this past March, more than 40 volunteer musicians and support personnel from the association’s Frustrated Maestros chapters made wonderful music for the crowds that gathered each morning in the Kleen Tank Town Center for coffee, doughnuts, and fellowship.
Currently, six Frustrated Maestros chapters are active around the U.S. and Canada. The only requirement to play at Maestros performances during an international convention or area rally is to belong to one of these chapters. At the March convention in Perry, Maestros from five of the six chapters were on hand. But as rally captain Elisabeth Schultz observed, “Once they arrived at Perry, it felt like one big chapter — the Maestros have built friendships all across the FRVA.”
Music director Sue Siegler commented on the unique challenges these gatherings present for the Frustrated Maestros — “trying to fit suitable music to the mix of instrumentation, singers, and skill levels of those signed up for the rally. While the music library of Maestro music is extensive, there is always a need to find new music, keeping the programs fresh and relatable to our audiences.”
The Maestros arrived in Perry on the Sunday prior to the start of the “Lafitte’s Lost Treasure” convention and attended an organizational meeting. Full-day rehearsals began on Monday and ran through Wednesday, putting together a mix of old standards and new selections. Some 50-plus pieces were rehearsed, including crowd favorites, patriotic music recognizing the different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and some new additions to the Maestros repertoire. Music premiered at this event came from movies — Pirates of the Caribbean (to go along with the “Lafitte’s Lost Treasure” pirate theme), The Blues Brothers, and “Under the Sea” (from Disney’s The Little Mermaid). Other new numbers included “Hawaii 5-0” and Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are.”
Sue described the many hours needed to prepare, rehearse, and perform at the morning coffee hours and the ice cream social as “a labor of love. It’s all about making beautiful music together and having fun.” It should be noted that Sue is also the chief cheerleader for the Maestros. She encourages audience participation at Maestros performances with songs like “Sweet Caroline” (“So good, so good, so good”); a little stroll with “New York, New York”; and, of course, dancing the “Beer Barrel Polka” and line dancing to “Alley Cat.”
Upcoming events for the Maestros include Family RV Association’s 111th International Convention & RV Expo in Gillette Wyoming, July 16-19, 2025; the Rocky Mountain Area Rally in Farmington, New Mexico, October 1-5, 2025; the Northeast Area Rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, October 8-11, 2025; the Frustrated Maestros Eastern Sharps & Flats chapter’s Annual Music Camp in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, October 28-31, 2025; the Eastern Area Rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, November 5-9, 2025; and the Southeast Area Rally in Lakeland, Florida, February 4-7, 2026. The association’s next two March international conventions will take place in Perry, Georgia; the Eastern Area will host the 2026 event and the Southeast Area will host in 2027.
Interested in becoming a Frustrated Maestro? All skill levels are welcome — the only requirement is a love of music. For more information, visit frva.com and search for “Frustrated Maestros.” Or, contact Bruce Taylor (bet426@comcast.net; phone/text 706-255 4081).
Behind The Scenes At A Frustrated Maestros Rally
Elisabeth Schultz
To paraphrase an old sentiment: Behind every great rally, there is a great rally captain. The Frustrated Maestros found a great captain for the Perry convention in Elisabeth Schultz. This is a big job and a critical position, and Elisabeth accepted the challenge as a rookie.
Elisabeth began working months ahead of time with music director Sue Siegler, Southeast Area personnel, and the FRVA events team. During the planning phase, dozens of details were worked out: performance venues and schedules; requirements for tables and chairs; sound system needs; rehearsal space; chapter meeting space, etc. So that the music director could plan appropriately, registrations were tabulated to determine how many Maestros would be performing, along with what instrument they play or what part they sing. As the convention approached, Elisabeth became “command central,” communicating last-minute details to participants.
Elisabeth was one of the first to arrive on-site. She checked out the facilities, procured keys, and got the lay of the land. She put together the organizational meeting, which covered schedules, performance locations, social plans such as happy hour, restroom and shower locations, and other pertinent information. Because they were playing outdoors in Perry, she organized a team for stage setup and takedown each morning. She also monitored the weather; if conditions were deemed unacceptable to perform, the Maestros would be notified via text. (Fortunately, all performances took place.)
Finally, because the Maestros were scheduled to play the entire time during the morning coffee hour, Elisabeth was responsible for making sure there were plenty of doughnuts (and coffee) for the group when they were finished performing. It always circles back to “free doughnuts.”
On behalf of all the Frustrated Maestros at Perry, thank you, Elisabeth, for a job well done!
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