CELLO

JULIE BRUSEHABER is originally from western New York and has been living in the Fort Myers area for almost five years and has been playing in the Gulf Coast Symphony for the past two years. She began playing the cello in the 4th grade, took private lessons through the Eastman School of Music and played in both community and youth orchestras during high school. Julie received her degree in Food & Nutrition (her other passion)
from Florida State University and is currently employed as a registered dietitian for the Florida Department of Health in Port Charlotte.

DIANE COFFMAN, Principal, is a well-versed cellist in many genres of music. For over 20 years, she worked with the major musical entities in the San Francisco Bay area and was a member of the Aspen Festival Orchestra. Diane’s biggest passions are performing all styles of chamber music and playing for services at the Community Free Synagogue with Rabbi Bruce Diamond. Diane finished her Master’s Degree in Music Performance at San Francisco State University under the tutelage of Lazlo Varga, who is the former Principal Cellist with the New York Philharmonic. While earning her Bachelor’s Degree at Bowling Green State University, Diane was a student of Peter Howard, now the current Principal Cellist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. In high school, Diane was accepted as a student of Fritz Magg, honored faculty member at Indiana University. All of her undergraduate and graduate college education, Diane was the recipient of full scholarships and was chosen to receive the Orion Award for Exceptional Musical and Academic Achievements. Diane has been soloist with the Artea Chamber Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller and has been involved in film music recordings for Industrial Light and Magic Productions at Skywalker Ranch in Mendocino, California and for Walt Disney Productions musical score “Never Cry Wolf”. She would like to add that one of her many brushes with fame include riding the elevator with Leontyne Price.

ELEANOR FELICE received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in Music Education and her Masters from Cortland College. She taught vocal and instrumental music in the West Genesee School District, Camillus, N.Y. for 36 years until she retired in 1999. She is a member of the New York State Music Teachers Association, the American String Teachers Association, Sigma Alpha Iota Alumnae Association, Syracuse Parks and Recreation Orchestra, Rosewood Sting Quartet. Eleanor’s husband Andrew is a retired teacher. She has two children: Mia, who is assistant principal of the Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School, and Andrew, who is a contractor in VT. She is a proud grandmother to Ventre and Vanessa Woolery and Amy Felice.

TRISH FRENCH-LAWRENCE was raised in Sturgis, Michigan. However, she has lived mainly in Florida since 1971. She received her MSW from WMU in Kalamazoo, MI. and DMD from Univ. of Louisville in Kentucky. Trish has two wonderful children, Sarah and David, who both attend FSU in Tallahassee, FL. She has been practicing general dentistry in Naples since 1987.

AMY PADILLA has returned to playing the Cello after a nineteen-year hiatus. She is an accomplished jeweler and goldsmith specializing in handcrafted designs that have been featured in a number of south Florida publications and galleries. Currently she helps manage her husband’s video production company and his commercial construction firm. She performs these jobs while raising two children and conducting delicious culinary experiments for her family. Amy joined the Gulf Coast Symphony in 2007.