Music Staff

FYO Music Director, Thomas M. Sleeper, is also Director of the renowned University of Miami Symphony Orchestra and Guest Conductor worldwide. He earned his Bachelor's in Music Education at the University of Texas, and his Master's in Conducting at Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He was appointed to his first position as Associate Conductor of the Dallas Civic Symphony and the SMU Chamber Orchestra and Opera Theater at age 22. He later became Interim Music Director of the Dallas Civic Symphony until joining the faculty at Stetson University as Conductor of the university orchestra. In 1992 he received an appointment as Foreign Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor for the China-Wuhan Symphony.

Mr. Sleeper has guest conducted major orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, appearing with the Rousse, Bulgaria, State Philharmonic; Savannah Symphony Orchestra; Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China. He has conducted a series of highly successful concerts and radio/television broadcasts with the Philharmonic Orchestra of China, and led that orchestra in a historic tour to Shanghai, the first time the orchestra had performed there since the revolution of 1949. An active composer, his compositions have been performed throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Asia, and have been recorded on six labels.

A native of Australia, Steve Burnes holds a Master's Degree from the University of Surrey, with performance studies completed at the Royal College of Music in London. He taught in the Government Schools for the New South Wales Dept. of Education, and has vast performing experience at the Sydney Opera House, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the "Con Brio" Chamber Ensemble, among others.

Dr. David William Brubeck is a full-time member of the music faculty at Miami-Dade College, Kendall Campus, where he serves as Instrumental Program Coordinator and conducts the concert band and brass ensemble, in addition to teaching applied trombone and music theory. An active professional freelance bass trombonist as well, Dr. Brubeck has performed regularly with numerous brass ensembles, the Boca Pops Orchestra, The Miami City Ballet, The Symphony of the Americas, and the New World Symphony. Dr. Brubeck's performance credits also include appearances with Stevie Wonder, Manhattan Transfer, The Bolshoi Ballet Orchestra, Diane Warwick, The Four Tops, and Shirley Jones. He has premiered and commissioned several new works for the bass trombone, and is in the process of publishing an innovative series of unaccompanied solos which he has written for bass trombone entitled "Stereograms Nos. 1-20".

Laura Joella, a second generation conductor, holds the position of Director of Orchestral Studies at Florida Atlantic University. The Sun-Sentinel has praised her as having a “superbly idiomatic touch” and for “drawing tremendously energized rhythmic kick and verve” from the orchestra.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting degrees from Michigan State University, and has conducted at the Conductor’s Institute at Spoleto, Mason Orchestral Society, the Michigan Youth Symphony, the Naples Philharmonic and many others, as well as serving as the Music Director of New England Music Camp’s Concert Orchestra in Maine.

Brian Mirsky received graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins and Princeton Universities and has been on the faculty of the University of Georgia, New Mexico State University and Florida International University. He held the position of Orchestra Director at the Dreyfoos School for the Arts and at Pine Crest School, and has performed with the Palm Beach Opera and other distinguished ensembles. In addition to performing as a violinist, Mr. Mirsky is an active piano accompanist, serving as accompanist at the Dreyfoos School and Florida Atlantic University.

Teresa Esparza, an accomplished cellist, received her Bachelor's in music from the State University of New York, where she studied with Bernard Greenhouse. She taught school in New York and Miami, and has been a member of the Miami City Ballet Orchestra. Currently Ms. Esparza is a member of the Symphony of the Americas.

Stephanie Firdman earned a Bachelor's in Music on Viola Performance at Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Heidi Castleman, and continued on to receive her Master's in Music at the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan. She performed in the Mexico City Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony and the New Artists String Quartet before joining the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra.

Marie Schwartz is a professional flutist and piccoloist who pursues an active career as a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician in both Florida and New York. A proponent of new music, Marie collaborates with composers, who have written Woodwind Quintets for her group, 4 Winds & A Horn, and is awaiting the completion of a Flute Concerto written for her premiere. She frequently performs with The New Philharmonic and the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, and is a member of The New York Wind Trio and The Art Trio. Marie has numerous TV appearances, and has been featured on National Public Radio. Additionally Marie was instrumental in developing the "Young Musicians in Performance" (YMIP) concerto competition series that was broadcast on New York City's renowned classical musical station WQXR. She is a member of the National Flute Association and the Florida Flute Association.

• Cornelia Bode, Cello
• Matt Calderin, Percussion
• Shirley Crow, Repertory Administrator
• Jeanne Halberg, Strings
• Pierre Holstein
• Dawn Janosik, Director of S.T.E.P.S.
• Joseph Janosik, Administrative Assistant
• Calvin Jenkins, Brass & Winds
• Geremy Miller, Strings
• Chauncey Patterson, Strings
• Jennifer Rudzinski, Production Assistant
• Maria Seto, Library
• Deena Shapiro, Strings
• Gabriel Torres, Bass
• Carina Voly, Cello
• Harvey Walfish, Operations
• Missy Walfish, Symphony Administrator