~Violin~
Gary Hayes
Gary Hayes
Born and raised in southern Ontario, Gary grew up in a musical family, with all but his youngest brother playing music. A violin student. he went on to study music at the University of Toronto, gaining a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. His musical experience included his classical studies, playing drums in a popular high school rock band, performing as a singer/songwriter at local Toronto clubs, and composing works for a variety of ensembles from solo to orchestral works. Following his graduation, he wrote numerous pieces, mainly on commission, and had his music performed and broadcast across Canada, the USA and Europe.
In 1975, he joined the staff at CBC Radio as a music producer, where he was responsible for producing concerts, recordings and programs on classical music in Ottawa for local, regional and national release. He produced and eventually hosted local and network music programs, as well as becoming involved in a number of musical and arts organizations in the national’s capital. He was a founding member of three new music organizations, and on the boards of several community and arts organizations. In addition to these, Gary has been on the Boards of the Mariposa Folk Festival, the National Radio Producers Association, and President of two youth sporting organizations.
After 30 years with CBC, he retired and took on the development of a small recording company and label, CanSona Arts Media. He has produced and engineered numerous concerts, CDs and videos, and continues to take on projects in those areas. As well, he returned to performing on violin, joining two Ottawa community orchestras, and beginning in 2011 learned viola which has become his main instrument. In 2014, he and his wife moved to Cape Coral, and he joined the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, which has been a terrific addition to his musical journey. The incredibly busy schedule of the orchestra and range of the repertoire has been a welcome challenge. In addition, through GCSO, he has become very active playing chamber music, both for fun and occasionally in public performance. He joined the GCSO Board of Directors this year, and is currently chairing the committee of Community Image.
Cecilie Pope
Cecilie Pope
Cecilie grew up in the Boston area where she began studying violin at the age of 6. Growing up she was very involved with the arts, performing in orchestras, ensembles, school musicals, and dance recitals. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College where she majored in Studio Art and minored in Violin Performance. Upon graduating, she was a substitute teacher at a local middle school and started a group, “You are a Gift to Share: Communicating Through the Arts.” The group traveled to local nursing homes sharing their musical talents, emphasizing verbal and instrumental communication. At the time, she was heavily involved in ballroom dancing and costume design and soon went on to earn a degree in fashion design from Parsons School of Design. She moved to Cape Coral 4 years ago after accepting a job at Dore Designs, a couture dancewear company. There she is Production Manager and Assistant Designer, designing costumes for So You Think You Can Dance, Miss Texas, The Knicks Dancers, and countless professional and amateur ballroom dancers. She married her long time dance partner over Labor Day weekend this year, which would not have been complete without a group of 9 cellos playing for the ceremony. Upon moving here, she was beyond thrilled to find the Gulf Coast Symphony where she can continue her violin in a fun, challenging, and professional environment! Being so far from family, the symphony provides a community and network that enhances her life here.
Ellen Fox
Ellen Fox
Cleveland, Ohio
My father was a violinist and music teacher in the Cleveland suburb school district. I began my training as a violinist in the fourth grade with my fortunate early exposure and opportunities in music experiences. My teacher was a member of the Cleveland Symphony orchestra who played under George Szell. Throughout my entire elementary, junior high, and high school education I performed in the orchestras and was honored with a solo in high school (Bruch concerto). The one year I was a member of the first violin section in the OSU concert orchestra and it was ended after a year as I pursued nursing education at the OSU school of nursing followed with a masters in nursing from University of Cincinnati. I’ve performed for weddings, charitable events and participated in many other music enrichment classes at schools, and special programs and Gulf Coast Symphony is one of many communities orchestras I’ve played in. Others include Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus community orchestras during which I was raising my four children and working as a nurse administer. I am so blessed to have had music in my life and I hope to play as long a I can remain healthy and able!
Dorothy Kunkel
Dorothy Kunkel
Dorothy Kunkel is a retired music educator who enjoyed a thirty-six year career conducting public school orchestras in Illinois and Michigan. Her orchestras gained national reputation with performances at the Kennedy Center and the International Band and Orchestra Conference. Kunkel also guest conducted many All-State and regional orchestras as well as the Chicago Symphony’s Petite Promenade Concerts and the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra. Individual honors include election as Michigan Orchestra Teacher of the Year and the Medal of Honor for outstanding service to music education from the International Band and Orchestra Conference. Dorothy spent many summers conducting at the Interlochen Music Camp and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan as well as overseas at the Czech Music Camp for Youth in the Czech Republic. She earned her Bachelor’s in Music and Master’s in Music from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Currently, Dorothy lives in a local retirement community where she conducts the concert band she started five years ago with four members which has now grown to almost forty participants. She also enjoys playing in the Gulf Coast Symphony in the winter, and as soloist at churches in Michigan during the summer months.
Erica Griswold
Erica Griswold
Fort Myers, FL
Violinist Erica Griswold is a Fort Myers native who began playing the piano at age 5, but whose true love is the violin. She started the violin at age 11, when she joined the orchestra at Lee Middle School, which is now James Stephens International Academy. She graduated from Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts. Erica earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, FL, after which she returned to Fort Myers and taught violin at First Note Music in Cape Coral. She now teaches at Fort Myers School of Music and writes fantasy stories. Her book The Ethermoor Chronicles: The Night Sorceresses is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks.
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Gilbert Jacobson
Gilbert Jacobson
Gil started playing the violin at age seven in Philadelphia and a year later moved to New York here he attended the Juilliard School of Music. In high school, he was concertmaster of the orchestra and also played with the Queens College Orchestral Society and Great Neck Symphony. At age 16, Gil was selected as one of 25 high school students to play with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Maestro Wilfred Pelletier in Carnegie Hall. His summers were spent at music camps.
Gil majored in music at the State University of New York at Fredonia, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. During this period, he played in the College Orchestra and was selected to be soloist with the orchestra as part of an Honors Senior Recital playing the Bach Violin Concerto #2 in E Major. In addition, Gil played with the Erie Philharmonic in Erie, Pennsylvania, for three years under the direction of James Sample.
Upon graduation, Gil taught instrumental music for seven years in two public schools and earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Queens College.
Gil then left teaching and focused on educational administration where he served as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Pennsylvania and New York. During this period, he earned a Doctorate Degree from Columbia University, Teacher’s College.
Upon his retirement from education, he then served for seventeen years as Director of Special Projects for a Risk Management Company.
Prior to relocating to Florida, Gil joined the New Westchester Symphony in New York and served as concertmaster. Once in Fort Myers he joined the Gulf Coast Symphony.
Gil has been an avid pilot, sailor biker and traveler. He and his wife Jeanne together, have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Jan Faber
Jan Faber
Miami, FL
Year Joined - 1998
Jan Faber’s father was a semi-professional opera singer with the Miami Opera Guild for 30 years, so his home was often filled with the sounds of classical music. Having been named after Jan Peerce, the famous tenor, our Jan’s dad had hopes his son’s voice would follow in his father’s path.
However, Jan found that he could barely croak out “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” so he turned to the violin while in the 4th grade. Jan says he’s not sure whether his early violin playing sounded much better than his singing. But he persevered, and his playing blossomed. Jan subsequently studied violin until he was graduated from high school. He attended music camp during summers at Florida State University, where he played weekly community concerts and studied music theory, orchestration and conducting.
Since then he has played with various community orchestras and participated in chamber music workshops around the country. Coming to Fort Myers in 1997, he soon found and joined the Gulf Coast Symphony. He also plays with the Florida Southwestern State College orchestra as well as with various string quartets and trios.
~Viola~
Alfonso Giordano
Alfonso Giordano
Alfonso is a founding member of the Gulf Coast Symphony. Born in Port Washington, NY and raised in Cape Coral he studied privately with local music legend Betty Haines throughout high school and majored in Mathematics at USF in Tampa. Alfonso was appointed principal violist of the USF Symphony and later the Charlotte Symphony and has also played with numerous other groups from Orlando to Naples. He also participates in numerous chamber music groups throughout Southwest Florida. He is an aficionado of 20th and 21st century music especially American and Soviet classical music and American and British musical theatre, attending numerous concerts and shows throughout Florida every season. Alfonso and his brother Joseph own Maria’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Cape Coral, a family restaurant established in 1991 by their late father Giovanni, an Italian immigrant from Naples.
Sandra Corbett
Sandra Corbett
Sandra hails from Meadville, PA and moved to Cape Coral in 2010. A graduate or Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she was a music educator for 36 years in the Crawford Central School District, serving as Middle and High School Orchestra Director and Department Coordinator. Upon retiring and moving to Florida, she joined the Gulf Coast Symphony as a violist.
Sandra has served on the Gulf Coast Symphony Board of Directors since 2013 and is actively involved in community outreach and the MusicWorks! program.
Tracey Kinnunen
Tracey Kinnunen
Tracey Kinnunen was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and moved to the SWFL area with her family at the age of seven. She has loved music since an early age, but was inspired by her music teacher at Heights Elementary to learn the viola. Ms. Kinnunen competed in local and state level competitions during my middle and high school years and participated in both school and community orchestras. During college she had the opportunity to participate in various orchestra and chamber music groups. Ms. Kinnunen graduated from the Florida State University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy in spring of 2011 and passed her board certification exam that summer. During her time at FSU she received the Music Therapy in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit specialization training, focusing on utilizing multi-modal stimulation paired with live music to support infants in the NICU. In 2012 she established the music therapy program at De LaSalle Academy of Fort Myers, a small private school for students with learning disabilities. The program focused on using music to meet the social, emotional, and cognitive goals of the students from second to twelfth grade. In September of 2014 Ms. Kinnunen began working as the second music therapist at the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The program provides music therapy services to pediatric patients to promote normalization of the hospital environment, decrease anxiety, support pain management, and provide support during procedures. In August of 2015, Ms. Kinnunen received a Master of Music in music therapy from Colorado State University.
Renata Ribeiro
Renata Ribeiro
Renata Ribeiro was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil where she acquired her Bachelor’s degree in viola performance. In her early career she was a winner for many soloist competitions and recitals such as Young Artist Soloist Competition of the Orquestra Sinfonica do Sesiminas. Ms. Ribeiro had been part of numerous professional orchestras in Brazil, such as Municipal Theater Symphony Orchestra of Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras Symphony Orchestra, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra where she performed with renowned conductors including Kurt Masur, Roberto Minczuk, Krzysztof Penderecki and Isaac Karabtchevsky. She has participated in numerous master classes, with Rainer Moog, Wilfried Strehle, Jason Fisher and Timothy Deighton and attended the International Viola Congress in 2010. She was a teaching assistant at Penn State University, where she completed her master’s in viola performance and a professional performance certificate. Appearances with the Penn State Symphony Orchestra and The Penn State Viola Quartet include concerts at the Carnegie Hall and The Lincoln Center. As a member of the Penn State String Quartet she had masterclasses with Emerson String Quartet, Kronos Quartet and Biava Quartet. She initiated a doctored program at Shenandoah University, where she was also a teacher assistant for one year and completed an MBA degree. She moved to Florida in 2015 and enjoys working with students from the El Sistema inspired program, MusicWorks!
Edward Brennan
Edward Brennan
After 30 years as an experienced choral singer, took up viola in retirement. 4 years later asked to rehearse for Star Wars concert, then asked to return in the Fall. A life-long devotee of music, attending hundreds of recitals, concerts, and operas, and amassing a CD collection of over 2000 discs, playing in Gulf Coast Symphony is a dream come true.
~Cello~
Andreas Werle
Andreas Werle
Dallas, TX
Year Joined - 2015
Andreas Werle was born and bred in Dallas, Texas, where he started playing cello seriously at the age of 12. Since then, he has performed in orchestras, with few breaks during school and his subsequent medical training and practice.
Andreas variously has been a member of community orchestras in Dallas, Houston, Galveston, Kansas City, and Denver. He moved to Fort Myers and started with the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2015. He also enjoys playing chamber music with GCS colleagues.
By profession, Andreas is a busy pediatric ear, nose, and throat physician working in Fort Myers with Lee Health, based at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Graham Appleton
Graham Appleton
Graham is a UK-based cellist who lives near Oxford, England and spends 3 of the winter months in Naples. After practising as a consultant surgeon in England, he retired early to concentrate on cello playing. He also set up and runs ‘A440 Chamber Orchestra’ – an Oxford-based string ensemble of 18-20 that plays standing up and without a conductor. His passions are for chamber and orchestral music and he facilitates meetings of keen players both in the UK and the US. Whilst in SW Florida he is in a regular string quartet with other members of GCSO. The quartet has supported GCSO’s extensive outreach activities with concerts in Boca Grande and Ft Myers. Graham enjoys making music with GCSO for the colleagues, the varied repertory, and just the sheer joy of playing his cello.
Julie Cornwall
Julie Cornwall
Julie Cornwall is celebrating her 47th year as a professional cellist, having begun her career in the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in 1973 under the direction of Margaret Hillis, who was also the Choral Conductor for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Besides the Gulf Coast Symphony, Julie has performed with the Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony and the Viennese Strauss Symphony of the America’s. She is principal cellist with the Venice and Charlotte Symphonies and has played with the Evansville Philharmonic in Indiana, the Rockford Symphony in Illinois, the Rockford Pops Orchestra, the Janesville-Beloit Symphony in Wisconsin and the Owensboro Symphony in Kentucky. She has also backed celebrity artists, including Bob Hope and Jose Feliciano. Julie earned her Bachelors degree in music at the University of Wisconsin and completed her Master’s at Indiana. Julie plays a 1740 Italian cello.
~Flute~
Sherrie Mangan
Sherrie Mangan
Brunswick, OH
Sherrie Mangan played flute and piccolo in concert and marching bands through high school in Brunswick, Ohio. She later performed with I Musici de Napoli in Naples, Florida, from 1994-2007. She not only has played with the Gulf Coast Symphony, but she also has served on the GCS Board of Directors. Sherie currently is a foundation specialist at FSW State College Foundation.
Deborah Handley
Deborah Handley
Principal flutist Deborah Handley has a solid musical pedigree, having studied with Julius Baker (ret.) of New York Philharmonic, Patricia Kendall (ret.), of the Philadelphia Opera and Loren Lind of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Deborah has performed in masterclasses by Michele DeBost, of the Paris Conservatory, celebrated flutists Jean Pierre Rampal and William Montgomery, as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra’s John Krell (ret.). She is also a winner of the Baltimore Music Club’s Baltimore Flute Competition and has performed as soloist with Saratoga Summer Orchestra, Lyric Band of Hanover and the Westminster Symphony Orchestra.
In addition, Deborah has performed with numerous chamber groups, orchestras and flute choirs in the Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania areas, variously over more than 25 years. She also has played at The Lyric in Baltimore, The Academy of Music in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall, in New York City.
Deborah and her husband moved to Florida in 2017, where she currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Hussian College.
Rebecca Bahr
Rebecca Bahr
Rebecca Bahr was graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2019. She is passionate about bringing medicine and counseling to patients. While medicine is her first passion, music has been an important part of her life since childhood. The Gulf Coast Symphony has allowed her to express her love of the flute for the past six years. She also expresses her love of music through her voice. She is a member of both the First Presbyterian of Bonita Springs church choir and the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers. Music runs in the family, as she is married to Jason Bahr, a composer of music. Together they have two cats, Cho-cho and Ray.
Rebecca Bahr was graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2019. She is passionate about bringing medicine and counseling to patients. While medicine is her first passion, music has been an important part of her life since childhood. The Gulf Coast Symphony has allowed her to express her love of the flute for the past six years. She also expresses her love of music through her voice. She is a member of both the First Presbyterian of Bonita Springs church choir and the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers. Music runs in the family, as she is married to Jason Bahr, a composer of music. Together they have two cats, Cho-cho and Ray.
~Oboe~
Joseph Kowalski
Joseph Kowalski
Joseph Kowalski is an eleventh grade student at Fort Myers High School. He plays oboe and English horn for the Gulf Coast Symphony. He began playing the violin at age three, and oboe and English horn in the seventh grade. He has been in the US Naval Sea Cadet Corp for the past seven years and plans on working as a merchant marine in the future.
Kareema Colson
Kareema Colson
Fort Myers
Year Joined - 2018
Oboist Kareema Colson attends Fort Myers High School as an Sophomore in the International Baccalaureate program. Kareema started her musical journey in sixth grade at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School under the direction of Mathew Murrell, where she found her love for the oboe. Since then she has played in the All County Honor band, where she has won first chair three years in a row. She also has been accepted into Symphonic Celebration at University of Central Florida and the All County Jazz for two years in a row. Kareema has received the Directors award at her middle school and superior ratings in solo and ensemble.
Kareema studies with Andrew Snedeker, co-principal oboe with the Naples Philharmonic. She started her journey with oboist Ruth Christman who introduced her to the Gulf Coast Symphony, which has given her the opportunity to play and grow musically since the age of 13.
Kareema desires to continue her music studies at university, but for now is focused on completing high school and spending time with family and friends.
Beky Steinbrecher
Beky Steinbrecher
Beky Steinbrecher comes from a musical family. Her father learned to play the acoustic guitar from his father, while her brothers play french horn and trombone, respectively. Beky adds that her mother “plays the radio.”
Beky began playing flute at age 11 but switched to oboe on the suggestion of middle school band director Jim Meredith. At 14 she joined the Orchestra of Praise at Thomas Road Baptist Church, participating in weekly worship services and the annual Living Christmas Tree program for eight years. While studying at Liberty University, Beky toured each spring with the college’s symphonic band, under the direction of Dr. Stephen Kerr, making stops in many southern states, including several locations in Florida. It was during this time that she met her husband, a baritone player named Billy. After Beky’s marriage, Hershey, PA., became the family’s home.
As a member of the Hershey Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, Beky had the opportunity to perform at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City. And when a job change for her husband brought the family to Fort Myers in 2019, Beky didn’t have to look far to find a place as principle oboist with the Gulf Coast Symphony.
Beky enjoys reading, crafting and spending time with her family. She continues as a software systems administrator for a community bank in Pennsylvania where she has worked for 20 years.
~Bassoon~
Stacey Gossmann
Stacey Gossmann
Idaho Falls, ID
Year Joined - 2005
Stacey Gossman studied cello and bassoon in her youth. She first majored in cello performance at Idaho State University but switched to study bassoon performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music with George Goslee, principal bassoonist with Cleveland Orchestra. Stacey completed her Bachelor’s degree there, after which she spent almost four years performing with professional orchestras in the-then West Germany.
After coming home to the U.S., Stacey turned to business, joining technology giant Xerox in a full-time management role, first in Cleveland and then in Rochester, NY. That was at a time when full-time professional jobs for bassoonists with U.S. orchestras were rare. Still hoping to continue playing the bassoon, Stacey advanced her career at Xerox, while at the same time completing a Masters in Music at the Cleveland Institute. She later achieved an MBA at Rochester Institute of Technology, ultimately becoming a finance specialist at Xerox.
In 1999 misfortune struck, as Stacey suffered a catastrophic brain aneurysm that incapacitated her for two years. As a result, she moved to Fort Myers to live with her sister, Sharyl Leifeld (who plays violin for the Gulf Coast Symphony) and her late brother-in-law Klaus. Music was a key to Stacey’s recovery, as she started studying with Kristen Sonneborn, principal bassoonist with Naples Philharmonic. Today Stacey is also principal bassoonist of the symphony orchestra at Florida Southwestern State College. She has performed with the Charlotte Symphony, and was principal bassoonist with Naples Orchestra and Chorus from 2014 to 2018. Five years ago, Stacey resumed studying and performing the cello.
Stacey joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2005 and performs separately in small ensembles and at area church services. She has taught bassoon performance and is on the board of the Music Foundation of Southwest Florida, which is dedicated to advancing opportunities for youth musicians through high school.
Stacey is passionate about caring for dogs and is known in her gated community as the “Dog Mom!”
~Trumpet~
David Harler
David Harler
Washington, D.C.
Year Joined - 2004
Principal trumpet Dave Harler is in his 16th season with the Gulf Coast Symphony. Prior to moving to Florida and joining the Symphony, he played with groups in the Northern Virginia area outside Washington, D.C. These included the National Concert Band of America, the Alexandria Virginia Band, the Falls Church Virginia Band and the Veterans Administration Orchestra, which performed in various venues around D.C., including the U.S. Capitol.
His musical beginning was an eight-year-old who was given a trumpet by his uncle. What a gift, as it became the most important part of his life for many years. The horn led him through middle and high school, including three years in the Virginia All-State Band. It allowed him the chance to visit other areas of the country through the high school band exchange system. In 1964, he was selected to join the Fred Waring Summer Music Camp in Pennsylvania. It presented him the opportunity to join the Army Band System in Fort Meade, Maryland at the height of the Vietnam War, where, as well as playing trumpet in the Concert Band, he was honored to play the final call of Taps for some two hundred fallen heroes of the war. After military service, he had to make a living, so he joined a rock band working out of Atlanta, GA. At the age of 27, life got in the way, and he retired from playing for some 26 years. As middle life settled, and time was again available, he returned to his first love, picked up the horn in 2000, started over again, took lessons, got involved, and the road continues.
His teachers and inspirational counselors include his high school band director, Everett C. Buskirk and Musician and Educator, Fred Waring. His teachers include Larry Tichenor, U.S. Marine Band, and Chuck Seipp, solo trumpet with the U.S. Army Band for 30+ years.
John Winters
John Winters
John has played trumpet with GCS for the past eight years. He and his wife, Sheryl, retired thirteen years ago to Florida from Crookston, Minnesota where he practiced law for 31 years including being elected county prosecutor. Sheryl worked in the office as his office manager and secretary. Two lifetime hobbies John has continued in retirement are playing the trumpet and learning Spanish. He has studied trumpet with Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie for the past nine years. He is now teaching beginning Spanish for adults through a FGCU program. John holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and the University of Chicago in political science. His law degree is from Cornell. He taught political science in Oneonta, NY, then law school in Cleveland, OH and served as a trial lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice. Writing fiction has become a new hobby and he published two novels in 2012 based on previous legal experiences. A third novel is in the works. John loves the great variety of music played by the orchestra. Even more, he treasures the close friendships made as a result of being a member of GCS. The orchestra has become family.
Ronald Holmes
Ronald Holmes
Ronald Holmes plays Trumpet and is beginning his second full season with the Gulf Coast Symphony. Ron began playing trumpet at the age of 11, and went on to major in Music at Kent State University. There he studied trumpet with H. B. Herforth former trumpet player with the Boston Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. Ron, his wife and children moved to SW Florida in 1984. Since that time he has performed with several brass ensembles and Big Bands. Recently, he earned his Masters Degree in Biblical Studies and currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Music at McGregor Baptist Church. He looks forward to the 2017-2018 season with GCSO.
Sam Piazza
Sam Piazza
Year Joined - 2018
Sam Piazza has played trumpet for 52 years and says he is still learning how it works. Sam has performed in many musical ensembles and genres through the years and has a BFA in Music Education. Upon graduation, he discovered greater interests in Science and Math. So he returned to college, graduating with an MS degree in Industrial Engineering. He then embarked on a nearly 36-year career in global technology sales with IBM Corp., retiring in ealy 2019.
In 2017, Sam and his wife moved to Southwest Florida, where he joined the Gulf Coast Symphony the next year. Sam says: “Being a member of the GCS trumpet section has brought great, excitement, friendship and musical development. I love it! The orchestra members and conductor are great, the programs are musically challenging, and the SWFL audiences are awesome!”
Sam Piazza has played trumpet for 52 years and says he is still learning how it works. Sam has performed in many musical ensembles and genres through the years and has a BFA in Music Education. Upon graduation, he discovered greater interests in Science and Math. So he returned to college, graduating with an MS degree in Industrial Engineering. He then embarked on a nearly 36-year career in global technology sales with IBM Corp., retiring in ealy 2019.
In 2017, Sam and his wife moved to Southwest Florida, where he joined the Gulf Coast Symphony the next year. Sam says: “Being a member of the GCS trumpet section has brought great, excitement, friendship and musical development. I love it! The orchestra members and conductor are great, the programs are musically challenging, and the SWFL audiences are awesome!”
John MacLeod
John MacLeod
Year Joined - 2018
With roots in the Naples area dating back to 1983, Trumpeter John MacLeod joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2018, after relocating to Estero for work purposes. Prior to moving here, he served for 15 years as principal trumpet with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in New Hampshire. John also has led a thriving brass quintet and has enjoyed over 30 years of freelance playing and conducting in musical theater and opera pits. And he has taught orchestra and theatre in high school. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Duke University and credits Tom Gannon, James Ketch and Robert Stibler as his most influential teachers.
~Tuba~
David McCormick
David McCormick
David C. McCormick, tuba, is in the Gulf Coast Symphony because performing great music stimulates and gratifies the emotions, intellect, spirit, aesthetic sense and physical well-being. His eclectic career spans membership in The United States Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”) of Washington, D.C., to academic vice president and interim president of the University of Louisiana System. Orchestra, band and quintet performance venues have extended from the White House, National Capitol, National Gallery of Art, Federal Departmental Auditorium and Arlington National Cemetery to concert halls in Chicago, New Orleans and Fort Myers, and in rural schools, neighborhood parks and disadvantaged Chicago schools. Conductors have included Arthur Fiedler and Morton Gould. He conducted the band and college-community orchestra at Manchester College, Indiana, and he held faculty and administrative positions at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond. David considers his most important work to have been as a high school band director in Cicero-Berwyn, Illinois. After appointment as visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, he moved to Florida in 1993 as dean and chief executive officer of the University of South Florida Fort Myers Campus, charged with expanding that branch unit to become the core of Florida Gulf Coast University; when it opened in 1997, he retired. Since retirement, he has lectured and conducted in several parts of America and in seven European countries, including the Governors’ Orchestras of the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod Regions of Russia. In 1995, he married Connie Dennis; their blended family consists of ten children, nine spouses, eighteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Sam Griggs
Sam Griggs
Year Joined - 2019
Sam Griggs studied the tuba at Rice University and New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed with orchestras and brass quintets in a variety of settings and musical styles. His teachers include David Kirk, Toby Hanks, Sam Pilafian and Chester Schmitz. Sam has performed in the past with the Houston Symphony, the Boston Philharmonic and the Florida Philharmonic. He is a past recipient of the Coleman Chamber Award and joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2019.
~Harp~
Christian Bell
Christian Bell
Chris began taking harp lessons at the age of eight, igniting a lifelong passion of music. He studied Music Performance in his undergraduate program at College of the Ozarks. After working as a professional harpist and spending a year serving the Ride Nature Organization here in Fort Myers, he taught music at an international Christian school in Panama, Central America.
Chris then completed his graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, where he received his master’s degree in Harp Performance. While working toward his graduate degree, he worked as a Patron Services Representative for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He discovered a love of marketing for orchestras and music organizations, eventually serving the CSO as their Subscription Coordinator and then Box Office Manager.
Chris lives in Naples, FL with his wife, Emily, and their son, Grady. They try to be outside as much as possible—hiking, camping, and swimming in the ocean.
~Trombone~
Craig Mayer
Craig Mayer
Dr. Craig Mayer was born and raised in North Dakota and lived in Minneapolis, MN until 1986 when he moved to Fort Myers, FL and began practicing dentistry in Lehigh Acres at Mayer Family Dental, where he still practices today. He began playing the euphonium in the third grade and has performed with the Edison College Concert Band (1986-1995), McGregor Baptist Church Orchestra (1989-), Southerners British Brass Band (1992-2003), Bonita Springs Concert Band (2008-), National Sousa Community Band (2008-), and the Gulf Coast Symphony (2008-).
Scott Layman
Scott Layman
Scott Layman, Trombonist, is from Peoria, Illinois. He started playing professionally with a local dance orchestra at age 15. Through and after college, Scott performed with numerous bands, combos, and classical orchestras in a three-state area. He has toured for a year each with the Jan Garber Orchestra and the Al Pierson Orchestra. Scott also has spent a year serving on the M.S. Independence with American Hawaii Cruise Lines and 2 years on the M.S. Caribe with Commodore Cruise Lines out of Miami.
Stewart Ross
Stewart Ross
Dr. Stewart Ross received a Ph.D. in Music Education from Northwestern University in 1985. He served as Director of Bands and professor of low brass at Minnesota State University for 21 years and was a professor at the same institution for 39 years, retiring to Ft. Myers in 2015. Stewart was a student of Frank Crisafulli of the Chicago Symphony, and for much of his career was a trombone soloist/clinician for the Holton and later Conn Company. During his final 10 years at Minnesota State University, Stewart served as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, where he helped 600 faculty members with their teaching. Stewart also helped form a small company in 2002 that aids faculty in designing courses for college classes. He has delivered over 160 workshops on Integrated Course Design both nationally and internationally. He served as a Kiwanis International Trustee from 2009-2012. Besides playing principal trombone in the Gulf Coast Symphony, Stewart performs with the Naples Klezmer Revival Band.
~French Horn~
Bethany Smith
Bethany Smith
Bethany Smith is originally from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio with French horn as her major instrument and a Bachelor degree in music education. She received her Master of Music Education degree from Florida State University. In the past, Bethany has taught middle school band in Colorado as well as Florida. She currently teaches general music, band, and drama at Fort Myers Christian School in Fort Myers, FL. Bethany also enjoys playing in the French horn section of Gulf Coast Symphony and is now in her 12th season playing with the group.
Lani Poynter
Lani Poynter
Lani Hendricks-Poynter was born in Michigan to a musical family. She started playing cornet in the 4th grade, and switched to French horn in the 8th grade. She held 1st chair in her school’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble throughout high school, and was selected to play in the Michigan Honors Band in her senior year.
Lani has played in various orchestras and dinner theatres in Michigan and Florida as well as the praise band at her church. She and her husband split their time between Florida and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where they own and operate the Delaware Copper Mine Tours. They share their homes with two dogs and a pet skunk.
Thomas Schiller, MD
Thomas Schiller, MD
Tacoma, WA
Year Joined - 1994
Dr. Tom Schiller is originally from Tacoma, WA, where he was introduced to the french horn in 4th grade. Tom continued to play through high school, college and his medical school studies at Vanderbilt.
After moving to Fort Myers in 1987, he joined the Southwest Florida Symphony, and in 1991 became principal horn for the Charlotte Symphony. Tom joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 1994 as a founding member and played in the orchestra’s inaugural concert. He has played principal horn for the GCS in the 25 years since.
Tom previously also played in the Spokane Horn Club and the Whitworth College Orchestra, among others. Professionnaly, he is a full-time, board-certified pediatrician with the Lee Physician Group.
Susan Oliver
Susan Oliver
Susan Oliver began her college studies as a music major after earning orchestra and band honors at the state and regional levels in Ohio and Texas. Susan graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in Mathematics. Susan most recently has played with Brass Music Elements, Lee County Community Band and Westerville Community Band.
Hometown: Born in Izmir, Turkey, but consider my home in the US to be Columbus, Ohio.
Years with GCS: 1
~Bass Clarinet~
~Bass~
Doni Landefeld, Ph.D.
Doni Landefeld, Ph.D.
Bethlehem, Pa.
Dr. Landefeld grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. With a background in executive college administration, she began her career in Student Services and worked her way up to Academic/Executive Dean. She became passionate about leadership development after leading large academic teams and serving in numerous leadership roles that began in her high school days and continue through present time. Since moving to Florida in 2004, she completed a Ph.D.in Organizational Psychology from Walden University and created Metamorphosis Coaching to help business professionals transform their performance, well-being and leadership skills. Dr. Landefeld now balances her professional time as a trainer, speaker, coach-consultant and creator of “Lead Yourself First.” Doni also holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Temple University and a B.S. in Music Education and double-bass performer’s certificate from the Pennsylvania State University, main campus. She completed training from the College of Executive Coaching and works with her own personal coach. Doni performs as a semi-professional musician throughout Southwest Florida. She began studying the double bass at age nine and since 2008, has performed with the Gulf Coast Symphony in more than a dozen performances per season. She has served on the Symphony’s Board of Directors since 2010, and as Board President since 2011. Doni is a member of the Education Committee of the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce and a founding member and rotating Chair for Taste of the Cape, an event that draws 10,000 annually and benefits scholarships and musical outreach in Southwest Florida. She’s married to Nathan, her pediatrician husband of more than 20 years and is proud mom to her teenage son Teddy, an accomplished pianist and member of the Caloosa Coast rowing team. In other time, Doni enjoys any activity that involves the beach, being on or in the water, saltwater fishing, and eating and preparing great food for family and friends.
Melissa Barlow
Melissa Barlow
Melissa Barlow, originally from Pennsylvania, has been playing the double bass for over 20 years. She has had the opportunity to perform throughout the United States, most notable the Kimmel Center and Heinz Hall in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA respectively and internationally throughout Europe in England, France, and Spain. While in Pennsylvania she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in K-12 Music Education and Double Bass Performance Certificate. Barlow has performed with various professional and community orchestras throughout Pennsylvania including the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Nittany Valley Symphony and Reading Pops Orchestra. After graduating from Penn State she taught middle school strings in Reading, PA while continuing to perform with the Reading Pops and Genesius Theatre as a pit musician.
Barlow left her position in Reading, PA to pursue a master’s degree at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. While at Shenandoah she completed her internship with the Play On, Philly! program in Philadelphia, PA and performed with the Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra and accompanied them on an international performance trip to Spain. After graduating, she accepted the position of MusicWorks! Program Director with the Gulf Coast Symphony in Fort Myers, FL. She is incredibly excited to start this new career path and continue to follow her passion for teaching and performing music. Now in her second year with the MusicWorks! program she has been able to share her passion of music with her students from The Heights Center in Fort Myers in an effort to ensure that every child has access to music education, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Arthur Mooradian
Arthur Mooradian
Providence, RI
Year Joined - 2017
Arthur Mooradian plays double bass for the Gulf Coast Symphony and other ensembles in Southwest Florida. Prior to settling in Fort Myers, he played with community orchestras in the New York/New Jersey area. He has studied with double bassist Richard Frederickson. A relative newcomer to the bass, Arthur played clarinet and bass clarinet for more than 40 years in community orchestras, wind symphonies and concert bands in Europe and the U.S., having studied clarinet in his formative musical years with Sidney Forrest and Leon Russianoff. Arthur is a retired journalist.
John Wadsworth
John Wadsworth
Philadelphia, PA
Year Joined - 2018
From an early age, John Wadsworth knew he would become a musician because music was the “family business.” John’s grandfather was principal French Horn with the Philadelphia Orchestra and had played with the New York Philharmonic as well as Dallas and Baltimore Symphonies.
John began playing trombone in multiple jazz and big bands in the Philadelphia and New York area. He began studying the double bass a few years ago and enjoys playing in the GCSO bass section.
Logan Hedgepath
Logan Hedgepath
Naples, FL.
Year Joined - 2020
Logan Hedgepath took up the double bass while a student down the road at North Naples Middle School and honed his skill on the instrument during his high-school years at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Mass. While in Natick, Logan played with the NEC Youth Symphony, the NEC Youth Philharmonic and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestras. He also played in chamber and baroque ensembles. After graduating from high school in 2014, Logan took a break to work. He currently is a sophomore pursuing a music-performance degree at Florida Southwestern State College. He joined the bass section of the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2020.
