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 Artistic Director
Venezuelan - American flutist, teacher, conductor, and composer. Nicolás Real holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Flute Performance and Composition degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, a Master of Music (MM) Flute Performance degree from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Music (BM) Flute Performance degree from the former University Institute of Musical Studies (IUDEM) in Venezuela. Dr. Real begun his career in The National Youth Orchestra and Choir System of Venezuela “El Sistema”, where he was a flutist of The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and Flute Teacher at The Latin American Flute Academy. Dr. Real is also a former Flute Teacher of The University of Los Andes in Mérida, and The National University of the Arts (UNEARTE) in Caracas. As a soloist and a chamber performer, Dr. Real was founder member of Miquirebo - Flute Quartet of Venezuela, The National Flute Orchestra of Venezuela, and The RealPeña Duo (Flute and Piano Duet), with which he performed in concerts, recordings, and international tours. As a recording artist, Dr. Real has produced two independent solo CD recordings with a repertoire from Venezuela and Latin America respectively. Also, he has collaborated with many orchestra and chamber ensembles recording projects and under the production of renown recording labels such as Dorian Recording, Centaur Records, and New World Records respectively. As a conductor, Dr. Real is the former Associate Music Director of The Guárico State Symphony Orchestra at El Sistema, and The National Flute Orchestra of Venezuela, and a guest conductor and sectional coach at the Venezuelan “El Sistema” and many music education programs in the US. As a composer, Dr. Real works include flute quartet, flute choir, and mix ensembles, and a solo concerto for flute, string orchestra, and percussion. His compositions have been performed and premiered by The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, The Massachusetts Flute Choir, The Crescent Duo (flute and clarinet), The National Flute Orchestra of Venezuela, and Miquirebo-Flute Quartet of Venezuela among others. Currently, Dr. Real is the Artistic Director of The Gulf Coast Flute Choir in Bradenton-Sarasota area, Principal Flute at The Villages Philaharmonic and The Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, Flute Teaching Affiliate at Eckerd College, and Founder-Director of The Real Flute Studio in South-West Florida.
Click on his name, Flutist-Educator-Conductor-Composer | Nicolas Real , for his website. Our Assistant Artistic Director
Thom Gravelle graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, receiving Bachelor’s degrees in music and fine art. He moved from Milwaukee to the Sarasota area in 2016. He has performed with professional theater troupes, both on stage and in the pit, and played extensively in liturgical settings. Locally, Thom has performed with Sarasota Musica Viva, North Port Concert Band, Suncoast Flutes, Manatee Community Concert Band and the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra. He joined the Gulf Coast Flute Choir in 2017 and has served as the Associate Artistic Director since 2022. Thom is currently the graphic designer for Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
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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 Artistic Directors
Dr. Angela Galestro was our director from January of 2020 until April of 2024 and directed 3 virtual concerts during the Covid years. She also directed 5 concerts with the Flute Choir once we could perform in person again.
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 performs regularly with her husband, guitarist Jonathan Lee Smith, in the award-winning flute and guitar ensemble GS Duo (gs-duo.com) . 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.
Click on her name, Angela Galestro , for her website.
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 performs regularly with her husband, guitarist Jonathan Lee Smith, in the award-winning flute and guitar ensemble GS Duo (gs-duo.com) . 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.
Click on her name, Angela Galestro , for her website.
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.
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.
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.
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.
