Voice, Piano

Mrs. Bertine was born in Ohio.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, majoring in Music Education/Vocal Performance with a minor in Piano.  She has been a music teacher in the public schools for five years in elementary and high school music, private voice and piano teacher for 20 years, and Minister of Music for 17 years.  She has performed in many local dinner theaters in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.  She currently holds the position of Minister of Music/Worship at Gulf to Lake Church in Crystal River, Florida and resides with her husband in Beverly Hills, Florida.

Art

Elizabeth "Babs" Damesimo was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Babs received a B.S. and a M.S. in Art Education from Buffalo State College. She taught middle school art in Niagara Falls Schools, N.Y. for thirteen years. A move to Daphne, Alabama prompted the opportunity to become a full time fine artist. She also experienced working as a Mardi Gras scupltor in Mobile, Alabama. Babs continues to utilize her expertise in the medium of colored pencils to create one of a kind colored pencil house portraits and has a web site at www.Babsartstudio.com.

Jeff Eekhoff, BM Music Education

Guitar

Mr. Eekhoff grew up in central Iowa and was active in both athletics and the arts in high school, singing in local churches and competing as both a vocal soloist and a member of a touring ensemble.  Jeff attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI where he received a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Music Education (Secondary).  While at Calvin, Jeff studied voice, guitar and piano and directed the student led choir, New Beginnings, for two years.  He also performed as a member of the North American Choral Company, directed by well-known choral music arrangers Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory.  Upon receiving his degree, Jeff began teaching vocal music at Seven Rivers Christian School in Lecanto.  He now leads worship at Nature Coast Community Church, a plant of Seven Rivers in Homosassa.

Adam Lindo

Violin

Adam Lindo was born and raised in the state of Massachusetts and has always had a love for music.  At the age of eight, he began taking lessons for over one year.  When he turned ten, his parents signed him up for the Rhode Island Philharmonics.  While under the teaching of David Rubenstein, he furthered his skills and education of playing the violin. At the age of thirteen, he moved to Florida.  Adam started playing in Gulf to Lake Church's youth ministry and remains on the worship team there to this day. Because of the opportunity that was given at GTLC Student Ministry, he has been able to perform for various charities, fundraisers and graduations.  Simultaneously, he kept learning the violin using the Rosen curriculum, for a good student never stops learning and challenging him or herself.  Adam is honored to share his talent, knowledge and love for music and violin with those that have the same passion he does.  It's not an easy road, but the challenge is worth it!  PROVERBS 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?  He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

Stacy Mason, BM Music Education

Piano, Voice

Mrs. Mason was born in Daytona Beach, Florida and raised in Citrus County, Florida.  She studied voice and piano and sang in choirs from a young age.  Stacy went on to receive a bachelor's degree in music education from Florida State University, where she specialized in voice and choral music.  She taught elementary music in the Marion County School District for one year.  She is currently employed as the Music Associate and CCA Director/Administrator at Gulf to Lake Church, where she teaches and directs children's and adult choirs and sings and plays keyboard for the praise team.  

Jim Wade

Percussion

Jim Wade has lived in Citrus County since 1992. He has over 20 years experience playing drums. Some of his professional accomplishments are as follows:

Drum instructor, various talent/variety shows broadcast over the radio, parades, rodeos, private parties, weddings, limited studio work and various different bands including county, rock , big band, Hawaiian and most notable progressive Christian music at Gulf to Lake Church in Crystal River.

Debbie Ward

Dance, Interpretive Signing

Mrs. Ward was born into an entertainment family in Ohio. Both her grandparents and parents traveled all over the world as acrobatic/adagio/ballroom dance teams. Debbie also traveled with her parents, appearing with many big name stars, including Bob Hope. Together her grandparents and parents founded the Stanford-Foster Academy of Dance and Acrobatic, teaching tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatic and ballroom dance.  Debbie studied dance there for over 20 years.  She also became an assistant instructor at the age of 12.

Debbie also excelled in competitive rebound gymnastics in the sport of trampoline, tumbling, synchronized trampoline, double mini-tramp and sports acrobatic where she won many state, regional and national medals and ribbons.

For many years she was a performer, choreographer and a back stage coordinator for recitals, shows at nursing homes, hospitals, and home day celebrations. Debbie was also one of six young ladies who danced semi professionally performing numbers from Chorus Line, 42^nd Street, etc.

Debbie currently choreographs, directs and performs in interpretive dance ministries for Gulf to Lake Church in Crystal River, Florida. She is continuing her education through the Ad Deum dance intensive summer conference in 2009.  She continues to express her love for the Lord through her God-given talents as a successful wife, mother, entrepreneur, dancer and teacher.

Debbie gives all praises, glory & honor to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

2 Cor. 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.