Student Bios

Ashley Chavarria: I am a sophomore at UCF, and I love playing my flute. Over the summer, I went to Oberlin Summer Flute Institute and had a great experience. One of my favorite quotes from Michel Debost is "Hold your flute!," for balance is a key to a beautiful tone. Music is the third love of my life. The first being my Lord Jesus Christ and second my family.

Kate Gargiulo is a third year music student at the University of Central Florida. Before relocating to Orlando in 2003 to study with Nora Lee Garcia at UCF, she studied with Kim Calvi-Logan of Boca Raton. Kate has performed and participated in masterclasses with Amy Porter, Aaron Goldman, Bonita Boyd, Daphne Sohellener, Bernard Goldberg, Kathleen Chastain, Skip Healy and James Galway. Kate recently finished a workshop at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, in which she performed for Jan Vinci and Jeffery Khaner, Principal Flute of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to training as a soloist and an ensemble player, Kate has experience as a teacher of beginning flute students. After graduation in spring 2007, Kate plans to pursue a graduate degree in music theory. She is a native of West Palm Beach, Fl and a graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School.

Becky Gonzalez is a Senior pursuing her BME at the University of Central Florida. She is currently a member of the UCF Flute Choir. She has participated in Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band and Pep Bands during her career as a music student. Her plans for the future include graduation in Spring 2006 and seeking a job in the public school system as a Music Educator.

Genevieve Jimenez is a native Floridian and has lived in the Greater Orlando area all her life. She has loved music from an early age when she took piano lessons and sang in her church choir. She is a 2004 graduate of Oviedo High School and an Alumni of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. A current major of Music Performance with the flute at UCF, Genevieve also enjoys sewing and martial arts.

Tiffanie Pirro was born and raised in Boca Raton, FL. She developed a love and appreciation for music at a very young age. Currently, Tiffanie is a freshman at UCF and is in the flute studio as a music education major. She wishes to become a band director for middle or high school so she can share her love and knowledge of music.

Jennifer Scott is a 2004 graduate of Winter Park High School and alumni of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. Her major at UCF is Molecular and Microbiology.

Megan Szymanski: I have been playing the flute since I was 10 years old. I now play a 14K gold Powell flute with a gold Faulisi headjoint. I have taken private lessons from Dr. Garcia since 2002. I am a member of the Florida Flute Association and the National Flute Association. In 2005, I was the principal flute and piccolo in the All-State Orchestra. Previously, I have participated in the All-State, All-County, and Tri-State bands. For three years in high school I played in the Florida Young Artists Orchestra and I won the concerto competition in 2005. In 2003 I went to Canon Music Camp and in 2004 I attended Interlochen Arts Camp. In summer 2005, I studied with Michel Debost and Kathy Chastain at the Oberlin Conservatory Summer Institute. I have played flute in the Orlando Philharmonic and I am a part-time member of the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra. In 2004-2005, I was dual enrolled at UCF for flute studies and I am now a first year full-time student as a flute performance major. At UCF I am principal flute and piccolo in Wind Ensemble and principal flute in the Orchestra. I love to teach private lessons as well as perform, and I plan on earning my doctorate degree and continuing studies nationwide and worldwide for my whole life.

Lindsey Waite is a freshman Flute Performance major in the University of Central Florida's Flute Studio. She is a native of Sarasota, Florida. While there, she studied under Lisa Barbanera and Betsy Traba, was the principal flutist in the Florida West Coast Youth Philharmonic, and was the winner of the 2004 Ida and Edward Wilkof Young Artist Concerto Competition. Lindsey has also taken lessons/participated in masterclasses with Eva Amsler, Amy Porter, Thomas Robertello, and Carol Wincenc. Currently, Lindsey is a full-time music student, and is also teaching privately in the Orlando area. Her first passion in life is Jesus Christ, followed by her passion for music.