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Gifford Youth Orchestra

More violins - Better Tomorrows

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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

                                                                           

 

 

 

 

email: xtalankh@gmail.com

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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