Music Faculty and Staff Biographies

Valencia Community College is proud to have nationally recognized music faculty, all of whom are committed to providing the best guidance and education possible to its students.

Dr. Troy Gifford

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Troy Gifford currently serves as the Music Program Director at Valencia Community College.  He holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Guitar Performance and Composition from Florida Atlantic University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Miami.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including first place in the 1999 Guitar Foundation of America Composition Competition, the 2002 University of Miami Concerto Composition Competition, and the E.B. Griswold Award for Achievement in the Performing Arts.  His music has been performed worldwide and is published by Doberman-Yppan and Mel Bay Publications.  Before coming to Valencia, Dr. Gifford taught at the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, and Palm Beach Community College.

Alan Gerber, Baritone

Born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, lyric baritone Alan Gerber studied choral conducting and voice with Jane Sheppard and Joy Vandever at West Chester University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in music education and a Master's degree in voice performance.  Mr. Gerber has performed as vocal soloist with several groups, including Pennsylvania Pro Musica and Sarum Singers of Philadelphia, Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, Musica Sacra and Amor Artis of New York City, Chorale Delaware of Wilmington, and Music Orlando, Orlando XIII, and The University of Central Florida Chorus and Orchestra. Mr. Gerber has been a frequent soloist in the Central Florida area in oratorio works such as Handel’s Messiah. Mr. Gerber's operatic credits include El Remondado in Carmen and Peppe in I Pagliacci with the Berks Grand Opera of Reading, Pa, and Lucano and Liberto in The Coronation of Poppea with the Orlando Opera Company. He has also appeared with the Orlando Opera Chorus in the productions of Rigoletto, La Traviata, Romeo et Juliette, Aida and Il Barbiere di Siviglia.  Mr. Gerber is the vocal/choral director at Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida, where he conducts the Valencia Singers, the Contemporary Ensemble and the Early Music Ensemble. He co-founded and directed Bella Baroque, a local ensemble that performed Baroque vocal works and dances in authentic costumes. Mr. Gerber is also a pianist and violinist. Mr. Gerber is active in The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and is a former president of the Central Florida Chapter of this organization.  His students are frequently winners in the NATS auditions.

TOPDon Schmaus

Don Schmaus graduated from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, where he received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees. He was a George Eastman Scholar and received a Performer's Certificate in Trumpet under Dr. Howard Hanson. He played trumpet on many of the famed recordings of the Eastman Wind Ensemble on the Mercury Label with Dr. Frederick Fennell conducting. He was a member of the Rochester Chamber Orchestra and played eight seasons with the Syracuse Symphony and an on-call player with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the former Florida Symphony. He also performed with the Walt Disney "World" Band for six years as a regular sub. He has taught all levels from grade school through college and was band director at Syracuse University, the Liverpool Public Schools, in New York, the Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida and the Lyman High School in Longwood, Florida, where he was awarded "Teacher of the Year" in 1994-95. He was inducted into the "Lyman Hall of Fame." He was the director of the Orlando Concert Band, a semi-professional organization for six years and retired several years ago. He retired from the Seminole County Public Schools in 1999, and is presently an adjunct professor as director of several instrumental ensembles at Valencia Community College, East Campus, Orlando. Several of his former students are performing in leading symphony orchestras and many graduated from prominent American music schools. Mr. Schmaus is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, Friend of Sigma Alpha Iota and is currently a member of the College Band Director's National Association and a life member of the Florida Bandmaster's Association.

Carla DelVillaggio, Soprano

Soprano Carla DelVillaggio (www.carladelvillaggio.com) has been critically acclaimed for her superb interpretations of leading roles in operas such as Les Contes de Hoffmann, The Student Prince, La Boheme, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, and La Cenerentola, among others.  Ms. DelVillaggio grew up in the Orlando area and received her early training at the University of Central Florida.  She made her operatic debut while still in undergraduate school in an Orlando Opera Company production of The Merry Widow opposite Roberta Peters.  She went on to receive her Masters of Music degree with an Opera Specialization from SUNY-Binghamton, (NY).  Ms. DelVillaggio has appeared with the Baltimore Opera Company, Annapolis Opera Company, Opera Camerata of Washington, Summer Opera Theatre Company (D.C.) Tri-Cities Opera Company, Orlando Opera and the International Opera Workshop, among others.  Additionally, she has sung the soprano roles in such oratorio works as: Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Laudate Dominum, and Mass in c Minor, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Dvorak’s Te Deum.  In 2001, she had the honor of singing at a joint event for Czech, Slovak and American dignitaries, including the head of the Czech Senate and Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State.  The following summer she made her European debut, in the Czech Republic, singing the title role in La Traviata.  She was the soprano soloist for the Messiah Choral Society’s performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Bob Carr Auditorium. Currently, she is an adjunct professor of voice on the faculties of both Valencia Community College (Valencia Faculty Webpage) and Rollins College. Ms. DelVillaggio teaches private voice instruction as well as Music Appreciation, Performance Lab and Voice Class.  She developed the first-ever Opera-Theatre Workshop at Valencia.  In addition to her responsibilities at Valencia, Ms DelVillaggio also enjoys singing jazz, and performs regularly as a Barbra Streisand impersonator.

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Michael Foster, Baritone

Michael Foster, originally from the small town of Scottsmoor, FL has been performing in the Central Florida area since his late teens.  He holds a bachelors degree in music from Liberty University, where he studied with Regional NATS president Dr. Wayne Kompelien.  While in his undergrad, Michael performed in many musical theater productions and won crtical acclaim in roles such as Tony in "West Side Story," Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls" and the Baker in "Into the Woods."  His portrayal of Kodaly in "She Loves Me" garnered him the "best supporting actor" nod among Virginia State Colleges for 1997.  Michael received his Masters in Vocal Performance from Florida State University where he studied with famed soprano and recording artist, Janice Harsanyi.  Michael appeared in several opera and oratorio productions at FSU and was a Tallahassee Music Guild Scholarship Recipient for two years.   Since graduating, Michael took several years to work as a youth pastor in central Florida but is now back performing again.  Most recently, Michael was on staff as a vocalist with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the HolyLand Experience in Orlando where he was featured soloist on cast recordings and television productions. Michael has directed, choreographed or produced several shows including "Sondheim's Company," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "Bye, Bye Birdie," as well as a couple of productions for WDW resorts.  His greatest effort as a producer has been "RockFEST," an annual three day music festival in east central Florida which features national and local recording artists.

Fang Brill, Violinist

PHOTO COMING SOON

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of Kansas, and the Nanking College of Fine Arts, Ms. Brill has won numerous concerto competitions, including the Ohio Light Opera Concerto Competition in 1990, and has performed as a soloist with the Nanking Philharmonic Orchestra in Nanking, China, as well as the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra in Wooster, OH.  She has studied violin with Eric Rosenblith, Ben Sayevich, and Xue Sheng, as well as master classes in violin and chamber music with Claude Frank, Robert Vernon, Michelle Auclaire, Eugene Lehner, Colin Carr, Michael Haber, and Christopher Wellington.  Born in Nanking, China, Ms. Brill holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the Nanking College of Fine Arts, where after graduation, she joined the faculty of the College; later, she was accepted as a graduate student, with full scholarship, at the University of Kansas, where she received her Master of Music degree in violin performance.  At the University of Kansas, she also won the prestigious Katherine Nelson Award for outstanding performer.  Following her graduation from the University of Kansas, Ms. Brill went on to earn a Graduate Diploma in violin performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston.  While at the Conservatory, she performed with the New England Conservatory Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas at Carnegie Hall.  Ms. Brill enjoys teaching both in colleges and privately.  Currently, she is Adjunct Professor of Violin at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, where she also has been directing the string ensemble of the college.  She joined the faculty of VCC in the fall of 2004.  Besides teaching, Ms. Brill has been very active in performing with professional orchestras, such as the New World Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.  Presently, she is a member of the Bach Festival Orchestra, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in Orlando, Florida; she also performs with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Melboune, Florida.   

Gail Robertson, Trombone, Tuba and Euphonium

Originally from Pompano Beach, Florida, Gail Robertson began her music studies at the University of Central Florida.  She was then awarded a full-scholarship as graduate assistant to Harvey G. Phillips at Indiana University and completed her Masters Degree in Euphonium performance and earned a Performer's Certificate.  Ms. Robertson then began the DMA in euphonium performance at the University of Maryland with Dr. Brian L. Bowman.  Two months later, she was relocated back to Orlando to become one of the founding members of Walt Disney World's “Tubafours,” a professional tuba and euphonium quartet. She later became the leader and chief arranger for the group and produced a CD called “Tubas Under the Boardwalk.”  Robertson is currently Instructor of Euphonium and Tuba at the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College.  She has taught on the faculties of The University of Florida, Bethune-Cookman College, and Seminole Community College.  As an artist-performer at these colleges, Gail has hosted many guest artists including; Brian Bowman, Steven Mead, Marty Erickson, John Mueller, Dave Zerkel, Robert and David Childs, John Griffiths, Neal Corwell, Jay Hunsberger, Earle Louder, Laura Lineberger, Kevin Stees, Dan Sipes, and many others. Additionally, she has served as an adjudicator for national and international music competitions including the Leonard Falcone Tuba and Euphonium Competition, International Tuba and Euphonium Conference Solo Artist Competition, and the Florida Bandmasters Association (District and State).  Robertson is currently the President of the International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC) and on the IWBC’s board of directors. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) and as the “Euphonium and Membership Coordinator,” and as the President and Vice President of the Brass Band of Central Florida. In 2006, Gail was one of the Conference hosts at the International Women’s Brass Conference held at Illinois State University.   An in demand free-lance artist, Gail tours the U.S. and Japan with Keith Brion’s “New Sousa Band” as soloist and Stage Manager, is a member of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Florida Wind Band, SYMPHONIA, Euphoniums Unlimited, the Athena Brass Band, the Brass Band of Central Florida, and has toured with the Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band and the River City Brass Band.  She has also been featured soloist, along with Laura Lineberger, with the Brass Band of Columbus. Robertson has appeared frequently as a soloist and clinician for the U.S. Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference (ITEC), and the International Women’s Brass Conference.  This past December, Gail was a clinician for the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago where she also received Tau Beta Sigma’s highest honor, the “Outstanding Service to Music Award.”  Other soloist and clinician appearances include the 2007 SERTEC hosted by Jay Hunsberger, the Georgia Honors Low Brass Conference, the Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands, the Howard Hovey Tuba Day, the International Euphonium Institute, the Great American Brass Band Festival, and the “Harvey Phillips Big Brass Bash” in Seattle, Washington. Gail is also a member of “Euphoniums Unlimited” and “Symphonia,” two of America’s premier Tuba/Euphonium Ensembles.  In 2005, Tennessee Tech University invited Gail to be a featured artist and she wrote custom arrangements for the famous Tennessee Tech Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble.  Last summer, Gail performed with "Euphoniums Unlimited" in Denver, Colorado at the ITEC and with the Monarch Brass at the International Trumpet Guild Conference. In the Jazz Genre, Gail has played with Lionel Hampton, Andréa Rowlison, Wycliffe Gordon, Della Reese, Marty Erickson, and DIVA.  She has also performed with the Florida West Coast Symphony, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and other Florida orchestras.  In January 2007, Gail played tuba for “Annie” and euphonium with the Key West Symphony Orchestra. She can also be heard on recordings with the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Brass Band of Central Florida, the University of Florida Wind Symphony and the Walt Disney World Company.  As a composer, Gail was commissioned to compose “Psychedelic Dances” for the Tuba-Euphonium Quartet of the USAF Reserve and was commissioned to compose “A Euphers Dream,” for the 2006 International Women’s Brass Conference.  Several of Gail’s tuba and euphonium ensemble arrangements and compositions are published by Euphonium.com and the Tuba and Euphonium Press.  She has also arranged for The University of Florida Gator Marching Band and Valdosta State University Blazin' Brigade and other Florida high schools.  She is also the founder and coordinator of the Orlando TUBAMANIA and the co-coordinator of the Orlando TUBACHRISTMAS.  As a Sonaré Winds and Schreiber-Keilwerth York Artist, Gail's euphonium of choice is the York Eminence YO-EU4052 with a Warburton/Gail Robertson mouthpiece.

Our Faculty In Performance!