Instructors

 Paul Eddison Lewis has composed a variety of works ranging from electronic music to pieces for large ensemble. In 2014, Lewis' work The Ninth Gate was honored with the BMI Student Composer Award. Lewis’ involvement in electro-acoustic music has resulted in works for fixed media and works for live instrument and electronics. In 2019, Lewis’ work was commissioned from the Tampa City Ballet in the production of “7th Avenue in Ybor,” which has been featured on Good Day Tampa Bay, Bay News 9, Ybor MainStage Theater and the Palladium.
      Paul holds a BM in composition from the University of South Florida studying under Baljinder Sekhon and Paul Reller. He has also participated in masterclasses with composers including Stuart Saunders Smith, Hilary Tann, David Lipton, Robert Morris, Michael Schelle and Yotam Haber. He was selected as the featured student composer in the USF student showcase concert for the NASM committees visit to USF. In addition to his compositional achievements, Lewis is also an active music performer with experience playing contrabass with the USF Symphony Orchestra under the direction of William Wiedrich, Mostly Pops Orchestra under the direction of Robert Romanski, and playing cello for the Dade City symphony.
      In 2019, Paul was selected to be the conductor for the USF Health Orchestra and is currently performing under his direction. Lewis also teaches many aspiring musicians who have achieved honors and awards such as All State Honors, Superior ratings from Solo Ensemble, District Winner in the National Piano Auditions, and First chair seating for All County.

 Charlotte Lewis is a classically trained violinist with a passion for performing, currently residing in Pasco County, Florida.Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the University of South Florida. She has performed with the USF Symphony Orchestra, the USF Honors Orchestra, the South Shore Symphony Orchestra, and the Dade City Symphony; she has attended music festivals such as Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and CODA Mountain Academy and has participated in workshops with The Florida Orchestra and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She has been featured as a soloist with the Dade City Symphony, the Thursday Musicale, and the USF New Music festival.
      Charlotte is an active performer of contemporary music and has premiered many new works for both chamber ensemble and solo violin in the Tampa Bay area; she enjoys working with living composers to help bring their work to life onstage and in the recording studio.In addition to classical and contemporary music, Charlotte loves to connect with her Appalachian heritage through fiddle and folk music.

 After getting her degree in vocal music from the University of Tampa, Mindy Prendes 
discovered a love for teaching. Following in the footsteps of her mother and sister, she  became a teacher in 2002. She has taught elementary music in Pasco County for over 20 years. She currently teaches at Seven Oaks Elementary where she was named teacher of the year in 2014. 
 
      As a classically trained mezzo-soprano, Mindy has sung in many concerts, musicals, weddings, and various public events. She has performed with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and the professional chorus, The Richard Zielinski Singers. Her repertoire consists of many operatic pieces in languages such as Latin, Italian, and German. 

      Mindy believes that good voices aren’t just gifted to those that are lucky enough to be born with them. With the right teacher, she believes anyone can grow their voice into something beautiful. 

Ralph Sailer was trained in High School by Anthony Marchion (trumpet player for the Philadelphia Orchestra) and  performed in the all-city Orchestra and the all-city Concert Band. He performed in Temple University marching band until he joined the Army as a trumpet player. He performed with many Army Bands during his twenty years in the military, performing in Concert and other ensembles in places like Japan, Germany and Norway. Upon retiring, he has performed with many groups, and currently performs with the Dade City Symphony and the South Shore Orchestra.

Debra has been playing the pipes for 5 years. She has been studying under Naomi Brandt from Orlando who is a competition piper. Debra has attended The American Academy of Piping and Drumming lead by world renowned piper and co-founder Sandy Jones. At American Academy she studied under competitive pipers such as Nick Hudson, John Shell, and Ed Krintz. Debra currently plays for funerals, celebrations of life, and other commitments. She also plays the Scottish small pipes for situations that require such an instrument. 

     Debra has been a percussionist for 40 years; she has studied under Gerald Michaelson, James Hall, and David CoAsh of the Florida Orchestra. She has performed in the Army Band system for 20 years, stationed at Ft. Jackson SC, Berlin Germany, Ft. Stewart GA, Seoul Korea, and retired at Ft. Sill OK. She has performed for the president on several occasions. She performed for the fall of the Berlin Wall when East and West Germany were reunited. Once retired, she and her husband Ralph moved to Dade City, FL. Once there she performed with the Imperial Symphony and the Mostly Pops Orchestra. She now performs with the South Shore Symphony and the Dade City Symphony. She also performs in several ensembles at St. Leo University and various groups throughout the area as a freelance artist.