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- What the Gifford Youth Orchestra Village Is Doing to Stay Healthy in 2020
- Gifford Youth Orchestra 17th Annual Concert
- GYO Vocal Coaching and Drama
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MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
The Gifford Florida Youth Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Corporation.
Your donations and gifts are tax-deductible.
GIFFORD YOUTH ORCHESTRA KEY STAFF
Crystal Bujol, Artistic Director and Music Teacher
Iva Powell-Perry, Executive Director of Programs
Joan Haar, Music Director - Strings Program
Sue Lorimier, Music Director - Piano Program
Abby Lorimier - Violin Teacher
Matt Oostdyk - Violin Teacher
Emily McCain - Violin Teacher
Courtney Diaz - Violin Teacher
Sukesha Crosdale, Violin Tutor
Iris Bloomfield and Ciera Hopewell, Teacher's Aides
Noemie Joseph, President Parent Action Committee and Special Assistant to Program Director
Debbie Avery, Outreach and Development Director
John Powell
Becky Anunziato
George Blythe
Annie Moore Powell
Michael Lewis
Dr. Crystal Bujol, President with Annie Powell who said to Crystal, "Our children are being left behind! What are you going to do about it?" The GYO is her response. Thank you Annie!
Some gyo board members reminding us of their illustrious past service
GIFFORD YOUTH ORCHESTRA VOLUNTEERS
Jim Parks, Volunteer Nutrition and Snacks
Hester Lillie, Volunteer Online Communications and Records
Alexis Krasotkin, Secretary of Gratitude
Other Volunteers:
Annette Reason, Phyllis Parks, Debbie Avery, Noemie Joseph, Patti Gibbons, George Blythe, Michael Lewis, Michael Anderson, Neferteria Bushell-Cue, Becky Anunziato, Linda Spiwak, Iris Broomfield, Dorothy Cobb, Annie Powell, and the 9 Working Board Members!
GIFFORD YOUTH ORCHESTRA ADVISORY COUNCIL 2020
Lawrence Trapp, who (during segregated schools) from 1958 – 1969, taught band to all of the black Jr. High and High school students. From 1969 to 1990, he taught band classes to all the Indian River County 7th grade students, Vero Beach Jr. High students until 1990. He later volunteered to teach music classes at the GYAC. He still teaches at Melody Music.
Jeryl Thompson, Professional Recording Artist and Businessman. Charter Member Gifford Youth Orchestra Board of Directors, Charter Member Crystal Foundation Board of Directors.
Barbara Hoffman, Co-Founder of Healing Arts/Arts in Medicine
Cindi Jorgenson, Recently retired school counselor, teacher.
Jennifer Idlette, Director of Transportation for the IRC School Board.
Carol Norton, Attorney and Businesswoman.
Jacob Craig, Music Director, 1st Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach.
James Broxton, Indian River County Public School Teacher, Basketball and Football coach, 2017 Teacher of the Year, and a very well known, magnificent saxophonist in Florida.
Dr. Joan Ortega-Cowan, President and Executive Director, Vero Beach Opera.
Woody Woods, International musician, choir director for international choirs, and President of the Las Vegas Jazz Society.
Charlotte Terry Real Estate Group, Alex MacWilliam Real Estate, Inc.
Contact Us
By US Mail:
P O Box 691166
Vero Beach, FL 32969
By Telephone:
772-213-3007
Rehearsals and Classes at Various Locations in Gifford and Vero Beach.
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President – Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol Indian River County
Indian River County Resident. Past president of the Indian River Community Oriented Police Enforcement and Education Committee (COPE). Recipient of the: 2007 Gifford, Florida’s Dreamer’s Ball Award. “Good Neighbor Award” from State Farm in 2006, Vero Beach, Florida. Cultural Council’s 2009 Laurel Award for Volunteer Activist Leadership in Vero Beach. Gifford Progressive Civic League Award for Special Services to Gifford, 2013. Member Vero Beach Beachside Toastmasters 2009 – 2014. 1st Chairperson Black Lives Matter Committee, Vero Beach, Florida, 2016. Retired Pastor 22 Years in the pulpit of 2 churches, simultaneously. PhD in Spiritual Psychology from Inner Circle University, Los Angeles, Ca. Artistic Director and Founder Gifford Youth Orchestra 2003 – present. 55 years’ experience as youth choir director and piano teacher. 20 years teaching and serving as Director of Training in Los Angeles at Computer Learning Center and Telco College of Urban Technology. Computer Operations and Programming for Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, and U. S. Navy. 2 years Accounting in Jr. College. 2 years in field audit with the Department of Internal Revenue.
Vice Chairperson – Dr. Elaine Word Berkeley, California, Alameda County Phone: 510-333-8265 Email: elaineword70@gmail.com
Alameda County California Resident. Adjunct Professor, Patten University, Department of Education, Oakland, California. Beginning Teacher Support and Administration Provider (BTSA). Elementary School Teacher completing 42 years in June 2016, currently employed part time for the Oakland Unified School District. Owner- ‘Word Tutoring,’ Oakland/Berkeley, CA from 1985 – 1992. Owner- ‘Aunt Bead Jewelry Designs’ 2012 – present.
Secretary: James Parks – Phone: 772-562-7663 Indian River County
Phone: 772-562-7663 Email: Roofsrepaironly@aol.com
Indian River County Resident. President Roof Repairs Only, Inc. from 1989 to present. 1983 State Licensed General Contractor. 1989 State Licensed Roofing Contractor. President of Treasure Coast Rotary of Vero Beach, past Treasurer, 1995, 2009 and 2010.
Treasurer - Roger T. Sobkowiak Frederick, MD Phone: 772-532-5469 Email: rsobkow@yahoo.com
Retired corporate executive (GE, ITT, CitiGroup), former board member and chair of Hope for Families Center and Bridges Early Learning Center. Volunteer consultant with the National Executive Service Corps providing management and organization guidance to non-profits.
Former resident of Vero Beach. Grandfather and photographer.
GYO Alumni Association – Jamari Johnson Williams New York, NY Phone: 772- 501-5819 Email: jamarijohnwilliams@gmail.com
Artist, born and raised in Gifford, FL . Studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Began his career in 2014 working in numerous regional theatres, creating new works and touring across the country. Notable credits include the national tours of Memphis and Motown the musical, The Wiz, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Hair. He currently performs in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations on Broadway; which is also his debut. He is a pioneer of change and hopes to inspire and heal people across the world as he was once healed through art.
Member – Helen Perry Member Indian River County Phone: 772 696 1221 Email: hvwp@aol.com
Indian River County Resident since 1964. Retired Kindergarten Teacher. Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with focus on Early Childhood Education. Employed by IRC School District from 1964 to 2003. Opened the J. A. Thompson Elementary and retired from there.
Taught kindergarten students at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center for 12 years. Currently serving as Clerk for Supervisor of Elections, Indian River County; musician for my church, member of the Martin Luther Birthday Committee, Indian River County Retired Educator's Association, Gifford’s Sr. Citizens Community Special K Aerobics Class, Concerned Citizens of Gifford, and Oslo Middle School's School Improvement Committee.
Member – James Jordan Member Indian River County Phone: 772-559-2188 Email:
Member – Larry Staley Member Indian River County Phone: 772-360-8877 Email: staleylarry15@gmail.com
Resident of Gifford, Florida since age two. BS degree from St. Augustine College, Raleigh, NC with a major in psychology, minor in recreation. 40 years’ experience working with youth as coach for baseball, track & field, and martial arts. 35 years’ experience as Park Director, Summer Camp Director, and Swim Coach. First African American licensed as a lifeguard in Indian River County. Director of the Gifford Aquatic Pool since 2003. Trained, licensed, and hired young people as lifeguards. Coached many of the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents of our GYO children. Teaches Senior Citizen Exercise Class in Gifford from 2002 to present. Served as a drummer at several Gifford churches from 1980 to present. President, Dr. M. L. King Birthday Committee for 18 years. Chairperson of the Dr. Martin Luther King Annual Parade in Gifford. Member Gifford Progressive Civic League, Local NAACP, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. 1980 High Hurdler on Olympic Team when USA boycotted Olympic Games. He uses this disappointment to teach young people how to “keep on keepin’ on!”
Member – Mark P. Wygonik Indian River County
Phone: 772-559-1203 Email: markwygonik@aol.com
Artist and advocate for Arts and Entertainment in Indian River County. Artist/Graphic Designer, runs a private consulting business for Arts & Entertainment, and is co-owner of FW Productions and M Boutique, Intl. University South Florida major in Communications/Marketing. Professional career includes working in the Advertising field in Stuart, FL; and in the Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Isles, as the Art Director for a Caribbean publication. Past 35 years, he has been a Director on several Arts and Theater Boards, including President of the VB Theatre Guild; Was Director of EYE OF THE LIZARD Art Gallery; Currently sits on the BOD and Leadership Team of the ART VILLAGE, is one of the Directors of ART IN PUBLIC PLACES for the Cultural Council, and is a past recipient of the Richard A. Stark Award for Cultural Leadership.
Marcus Rogers
Oscar Sales
Jane Burton
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Support GYO with a donation:
The Gifford Youth Orchestra
501(c)3 Corporation since 2010
Thank you for your donation!
Credit/Debit Card or PayPal
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