The Gulf Coast Flute Choir was formed in 2001 by Cindy Bruce. It is a non-audition group made up of adult flutists of different skill levels from Manatee, Sarasota, and Pinellas counties. Each year, the group performs a Christmas Concert and a Spring Concert for the public in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. They perform at various community functions throughout the year as well.
The flute choir plays a wide variety of pieces from classical to pop to show tunes to patriotic music. The music is written specifically for flute choirs, consisting of many parts, with the addition of the piccolo, E flat, alto and bass flutes to expand the range as in a vocal choir.
The flute choir plays a wide variety of pieces from classical to pop to show tunes to patriotic music. The music is written specifically for flute choirs, consisting of many parts, with the addition of the piccolo, E flat, alto and bass flutes to expand the range as in a vocal choir.
Our Director
Angela Galestro
Dr. Angela Galestro is a native of Sarasota, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Orchestral Flute Performance from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, her Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio and her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia where she studied with world-renowned flutist Jonathan Snowden. Angela served as the graduate teaching assistant of the flute studio at Shenandoah from where she taught applied lessons, was director and conductor of the Flute Ensemble, gave masterclasses on flute history and development, and instructed classes on scales, technique, and sight-reading for undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and artist diploma level flutists. Currently, Angela is the Instructor of Flute at the Sarasota Music Conservatory and has been appointed Director of the Gulf Coast Flute Choir.
Angela has notable professional experience performing around the world in cities throughout the USA, Europe, and South America. She has played the flute, piccolo, and alto flute professionally in symphony orchestras, opera orchestras, musical theatre, and chamber music ensembles including performances at Carnegie Hall.
Angela performs regularly with her husband, guitarist Jonathan Lee Smith, in the award-winning flute and guitar ensemble GS Duo. Both highly accomplished artists, the duo offers a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, Latin American, and popular music. Most recently, GS Duo won second place in The American Prize Chamber Music Competition making them the only two-person chamber music ensemble to earn a top prize in this category.
Dr. Galestro is an ardent advocate of wellness for musicians and embeds this in every encounter. Having lived through and fully recovered from two significant injuries, she has gained a unique perspective in advancing her pedagogical practices and promoting injury prevention and stress management for musicians. In April 2020, Angela accepted an offer to be the guest speaker for the College Music Society Wellness Webinar Series, and in October 2019 was invited to present at the Florida State Music Teachers Association Conference: “Music Meets Medicine” where she presented a lecture titled Pedagogical Perspectives highlighting her story along with breaking down the stereotypical wall surrounding injury and illnesses affecting musicians today. Particular emphasis is placed on the critical role of caring and creative music teachers in the prevention and recovery of injured students. Through these experiences, Angela holds a demonstrated history of extensive knowledge and experience including musicians’ neurological conditions, overuse injuries, performance anxiety, hearing health, external trauma, and musical occupational muscular-skeletal injuries.
Angela has notable professional experience performing around the world in cities throughout the USA, Europe, and South America. She has played the flute, piccolo, and alto flute professionally in symphony orchestras, opera orchestras, musical theatre, and chamber music ensembles including performances at Carnegie Hall.
Angela performs regularly with her husband, guitarist Jonathan Lee Smith, in the award-winning flute and guitar ensemble GS Duo. Both highly accomplished artists, the duo offers a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, Latin American, and popular music. Most recently, GS Duo won second place in The American Prize Chamber Music Competition making them the only two-person chamber music ensemble to earn a top prize in this category.
Dr. Galestro is an ardent advocate of wellness for musicians and embeds this in every encounter. Having lived through and fully recovered from two significant injuries, she has gained a unique perspective in advancing her pedagogical practices and promoting injury prevention and stress management for musicians. In April 2020, Angela accepted an offer to be the guest speaker for the College Music Society Wellness Webinar Series, and in October 2019 was invited to present at the Florida State Music Teachers Association Conference: “Music Meets Medicine” where she presented a lecture titled Pedagogical Perspectives highlighting her story along with breaking down the stereotypical wall surrounding injury and illnesses affecting musicians today. Particular emphasis is placed on the critical role of caring and creative music teachers in the prevention and recovery of injured students. Through these experiences, Angela holds a demonstrated history of extensive knowledge and experience including musicians’ neurological conditions, overuse injuries, performance anxiety, hearing health, external trauma, and musical occupational muscular-skeletal injuries.
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Our Founder and First Director
Cindy Bruce is a graduate of the Florida State University School of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She was the principal flutist of the Sarasota Pops Orchestra and has been a private flute instructor in the Bradenton area for 24 years. She has taught various flute clinics throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties as well as summer band camps in Ohio and Florida, including the Florida Southern College Band Camp in Lakeland. She is the Executive Director of the Florida Flute Association and is the designer and editor of their e-newsletter. She is also an active member of the National Flute Association.
Our Directors
Stacey M Havill was our assistant director from 2017 - 2019. She directed several concerts.
She has 20 years of conducting and teaching experience. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana State University. Though her principal instrument is the clarinet, she enjoys playing many instruments including the flute, trumpet, percussion, violin, and guitar. Stacey, a Hoosier at heart, moved to sunny Florida in 2016. In addition to performing with and conducing the Gulf Coast Flute Choir, Stacey performs in the Manatee Community Concert Band, where she is also the Band's Manager. She has also performed with Strings Con Brio and the South Shore Concert Band. Stacey is currently the band and orchestra director at W. D. Sugg Middle School in Bradenton, Florida.
She has 20 years of conducting and teaching experience. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana State University. Though her principal instrument is the clarinet, she enjoys playing many instruments including the flute, trumpet, percussion, violin, and guitar. Stacey, a Hoosier at heart, moved to sunny Florida in 2016. In addition to performing with and conducing the Gulf Coast Flute Choir, Stacey performs in the Manatee Community Concert Band, where she is also the Band's Manager. She has also performed with Strings Con Brio and the South Shore Concert Band. Stacey is currently the band and orchestra director at W. D. Sugg Middle School in Bradenton, Florida.
Taylor Irelan was our director from January of 2016 until December of 2019 and directed 7 main concerts with the Flute Choir. Under his leadership the Flute Choir also performed at the National Flute Association Convention in August of 2018 in Orlando, Fl.
Regarded as "the whole package" with a "clear sparkling sound [and] a vibrancy in all registers", Taylor Irelan is proving to be an exciting emerging artist. Taylor has collaborated with award winning composers to commission, premiere, and record new works for the flute, as well as write his own works and transcriptions for flute and various ensembles. He has been coached by composers including Ian Clarke, Wil Offermans, and Thea Musgrave in preparation of performances of their music, such as his performance of Musgrave’s Chamber Concerto No. 2 in the Barbican Centre as part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion Project, which was recorded and broadcast live by BBC Radio 3 in London.
He is the owner of the Tampa Flute Studio.
Please visit his website by clicking here for more information.
Regarded as "the whole package" with a "clear sparkling sound [and] a vibrancy in all registers", Taylor Irelan is proving to be an exciting emerging artist. Taylor has collaborated with award winning composers to commission, premiere, and record new works for the flute, as well as write his own works and transcriptions for flute and various ensembles. He has been coached by composers including Ian Clarke, Wil Offermans, and Thea Musgrave in preparation of performances of their music, such as his performance of Musgrave’s Chamber Concerto No. 2 in the Barbican Centre as part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion Project, which was recorded and broadcast live by BBC Radio 3 in London.
He is the owner of the Tampa Flute Studio.
Please visit his website by clicking here for more information.
Amanda Lyon was our conductor from August of 2014 until December of 2015 and directed 3 main concerts for the flute choir. An energetic musician and educator, Amanda Lyon holds a Master of Arts degree in Flute Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa where she studied extensively with renowned flutist, Nicole Esposito. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Flute Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Kim McCormick at the University of South Florida.
Click here to learn more about Amanda on her website!
Click here to learn more about Amanda on her website!
Deanna Kilbourne conducted the Gulf Coast Flute Choir's Spring 2014 concert. If she looks familiar, that's because played with the Gulf Coast Flute Choir several years ago! Deanna is a wonderful flutist and she is very active in the central Florida Flute community as she is also the director of the Tampa Bay Flute Choir! As their conductor, she had the opportunity in January 2014 to direct the Tampa Bay Flute Choir in a performance at the Florida Flute Convention in Orlando.
Kathy Master was the conductor of the Gulf Coast Flute Choir for our Christmas 2013 concert.
Mrs. Master gave her debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City in 1982. She has since been performing as a soloist and in chamber groups and orchestras across the eastern United States. She has been a soloist with the Contemporary Music Ensemble in New York, the New Jersey Garden State Orchestra, the Butler Symphony, and the American Wind Symphony. She is the founder of the Inwood Arts Ensemble and performed chamber music extensively in the New York City area.
Mrs. Master studied with Julius Baker, Robert Cole and Kay Borkowski. She holds a master's degree in applied flute from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree in music education from West Virginia University. She has taught flute at Dickinson College and Wagner College. She has recorded the Bach Sonata in B minor as well as many of her own arrangements of favorite hymns.
Mrs. Master gave her debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City in 1982. She has since been performing as a soloist and in chamber groups and orchestras across the eastern United States. She has been a soloist with the Contemporary Music Ensemble in New York, the New Jersey Garden State Orchestra, the Butler Symphony, and the American Wind Symphony. She is the founder of the Inwood Arts Ensemble and performed chamber music extensively in the New York City area.
Mrs. Master studied with Julius Baker, Robert Cole and Kay Borkowski. She holds a master's degree in applied flute from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree in music education from West Virginia University. She has taught flute at Dickinson College and Wagner College. She has recorded the Bach Sonata in B minor as well as many of her own arrangements of favorite hymns.
