Florida Enrichment Academy is dedicated to bringing the enjoyment of music along with music’s brain development and physical wellness advantages to Bradenton – Sarasota area residents.

Florida Enrichment Academy Faculty

Marilyn Spencer

Marilyn started playing the piano at age five and taught her first student at age ten. She has been performing professionally since age nine on piano, organ, harp and voice individually and with numerous orchestras, bands and community theatres.

She is the Music Director at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Kansas State University and a Master of Music Degree from the University of North Dakota.

Tom Spencer

Tom has been a musician since he was nine years old and picked up a trumpet. He plays the trumpet, guitar and piano. He also has had extensive experience in developing and managing child development and adult wellness facilities and programs.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Master of Healthcare Administration Degree from St. Louis University.

 

 

David Baguas

David began playing the trumpet at age nine. During his teens, he played in several professional bands and earned five superior ratings as a soloist in Minnesota State music contests. David studied with Luverne Boland of the Minneapolis Symphony and Minneapolis College of Music, Donald Stoyke and David Bach of the MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis, and David Baldwin at the University of Minnesota. He graduated from the US Navy School of Music in Washington DC. He toured Europe and Africa, with the Navy Band, as a trumpet soloist and assistant band leader. David then became a vocalist and trumpeter with the renowned 461st US Army Band and won the USAR Commendation medal for his work as leader of the jazz band.

Since 1986 David has played with the Venice Symphony, Sarasota Pops and Sarasota Concert Band. He is a member of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra, as well as several chamber ensembles. He has sung with Key Chorale and Gloria Musicae, and is currently a chorister and cantor for St. Martha’s Parish in Sarasota.

Greg Bolton

Greg was playing the guitar professionally at age sixteen. After serving in Vietnam, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in music from the University of Southern Florida and a Post-Graduate Certificate in music theory and improvisation from Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He then continued formal study in theory, arranging and composition for another two years.

After touring for several years with a Nashville Show Band, Greg was an Adjunct
Professor of guitar and directed the jazz band at Manatee Community College for eighteen years. He has organized bands and performed six nights a week in various R&B, Blues and Rock Bands for many years and now performs regularly with Southern Spice.

With over thirty years of experience in teaching individuals and in organizing bands
of every type and size, Greg is considered by many to be the foremost guitar teacher
in the Suncoast area.

 

Justin Costello

Justin Began playing the trombone at age nine. He received the prestigious Frost scholarship to the University of Miami. He holds an Bachelor’s degree in trombone performance from the University of Miami and is finishing up a Master’s degree. Justin is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Men’s Music Fraternity and plays professionally all over the Suncoast area in various bands, orchestras and ensembles.

Jim Gregory

Jim has been playing the drums since he was eight years old and has been performing professionally for over fifty years. He has cut records as the drummer for Lawrence Welk, played with Lionel Hampton and has appeared several times on the Washington, D.C. version of “American Bandstand”.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Over the years, Jim has organized and performed in all types of bands – jazz, rock, country and military while teaching young drummers. He currently plays with Summit Rock.

Gary Humphreys

Gary is a longtime drummer and professional musician who began playing the drums at age ten. He studied with the renowned drummer, Vincent (Muzzy) Mizzoni and learned from Muzzy’s contemporaries, Joe Morello, Louie Bellson and Cozy Cole. Gary taught at the Mizzoni Studio and became a professional musician as a teenager.

As a Union musician he worked with the Weldrey & Steel marching band and performance orchestras. He also gained much experience with numerous working bands. Gary emphasizes competency in the rudiments as well as hand control, speed and reading.

 

Click below to see a video of Gary performing a drum solo.

Zachary Johnson

Zach began studying piano and clarinet music at age nine.  At twelve, he discovered the classical guitar. Zachary received scholarships at Yale University, Stetson University and Florida State University.  He has studied with the renowned teachers Benjamin Verdery, Dr. Stephen Robinson and Bruce Holzman, as well as Andres Segovia’s protégé, Oscar Ghiglia and John Williams.

Zach has performed in venues from New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall to San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Recital Hall and as a selected performer for the Stetson International Guitar Festival. Zach is also an active teacher.

Zach holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree from Stetson University, a Master of Music Degree from Yale University and is currently a Doctoral Degree candidate in Music at Florida State University.

 

 

Stephen Miller

Stephen began playing piano at age four. He studied various styles of music from Classical to Jazz to Rock and Roll. He studied Music Performance and Music Business at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Stephen then began teaching and coaching bands while continuing his music writing and performance career. He leads and performs with the Youth Praise Band at Victory at Sarasota Church in Sarasota.

Estelle Schultz

Estelle began playing the piano at age nine and the flute at age fourteen and has been teaching children and performing for over forty years. She received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas and pursued additional studies at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, Kansas City Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington University in Saint Louis, as well as several other music schools.

She has performed on the piano, organ, flute and other instruments and has directed church choirs in Kansas, Virginia, and Florida and has performed with various orchestras and bands all over the country. She currently plays flute and piano with the Manatee Community Band, The Redeemer Lutheran Praise Band and the Gulf Coast Flute Choir.

Beverly Whitby

Beverly has been playing violin and piano since she was six years old. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Iowa Wesleyan College. She has performed with orchestras across the country including The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, the Mundelain Symphony in Illinois and the Ann Arbor Symphony in Michigan. Beverly Is a member of the Anna Maria Orchestra and performs with The Robin String Ensemble.