Board of Directors

Becky Guth

Becky began studying piano and flute in elementary school in Hilliard OH. By the time she reached 7th grade she wanted to quit. During the summer her band director taught her how to play a trombone, and she returned to 8th grade as a trombonist.

A retired clinical pharmacy instructor, she is a graduate of the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and met her husband-to-be in an OSU band. She played in the Columbus Women’s Symphony, Hilliard Community Band, Worthington Civic Band and Greater Columbus Concert Band. Currently, she serves as music librarian for Windjammers, Jazz Ambassadors, Suncoast, Hilliard, Manatee & Sarasota Concert Bands.

In 1998 while working as a night pharmacist at the OSU Medical Center, she had a pulmonary embolism. She was in the right place medically, but the doctors could not keep her lungs open. She used breathing techniques she learned from her music teachers to force air through the narrowed lung passages and was able to survive the episode. In her own words, “I was saved by the Bone.”

Matthew Barbaro

A native New Yorker, Matt started playing French horn in 6th grade and continued playing throughout middle and high schools, and college. He has a special relationship with his horn and credits it with saving his life. Drafted during the height of the Vietnam War at a time when American casualties were substantial, Matt was fortunate to have been stationed with the 282nd Army Band in Columbia, South Carolina for two years. While stationed there, he played for President Nixon, Bob Hope, and other dignitaries. For 30 years, Matt practiced law in the upstate Albany, New York region in private practice and as an Assistant Attorney General with the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

Now retired in Nokomis, Matt currently plays with the Suncoast Concert Band and occasionally with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble and the Sun Coast Wind Ensemble. Previously he played with the Venice Concert Band, First Brass, the Port Charlotte Concert Band, and the North Port Concert Band. In July 2021, he and fellow hornmate, Ginny Elkins, were wed.

Tom Bleakley

Tom started playing tuba in the fifth grade through his second year of college and returned to the instrument in 2002. One of the highlights of his life is the honor of playing in the Suncoast Band the past fourteen years. A snowbird, he plays tuba during the summer in the Charlevoix (Michigan) City Band, the Farmington Hills (Michigan) Concert Band, and the Venice Concert Band in season. He plays a regular gig each Christmas season with his trombone at a Salvation Army red kettle (fifteen years).

Tom has written and published five novels and two textbooks, with the most recent novel, Conundrum published in April 2022. His writing describes fictionalized accounts of interesting trials over his 49 years as a member of the Michigan Bar. His next novel, The Preacher, will be published in early 2023. He currently limits his legal practice to pro bono work involving educational issues in Michigan. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, will celebrate 62 years of marriage in December 2022. He also enjoys playing terrible golf.

Bob Geraci

Bob Geraci became a saxophone student at the age of twelve years, and a clarinet student one year later. During his years in high school he formed and led a dance band, and while in college he played not only in the college concert band but also in a “big band” until his graduation. What followed next was medical school, then the residency years, followed by his service in the Navy during the early years of the Vietnam War. Upon release from active duty, he and his family moved to Rochester, NY, where Bob was introduced to the New Horizons program sponsored by the Eastman School of Music. While there, he played clarinet not only with the New Horizons Clarinet Choir, but also with several community bands as well.

Upon his retirement from medical practice, he and his wife moved to Florida, where he has played with the Manatee Band, the North Port Symphony, and the Sarasota Concert Band. He has also been a substitute with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble. Currently, Bob is the newest member of the clarinet section of The Suncoast Concert Band.

Nancy Leipold

Nancy graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in nursing and later a Ph.D. in clinical nursing research. Retired from teaching at U of M, Nancy plays alpine horn in the group Alphorntraum, euphonium and alpine horn in Ein Prosit, a German band in Kalamazoo MI, and trombone in The Stardusters, a swing band in Clarkston, MI. Also in Michigan she plays French horn in the Waterford Concert Band, North Oakland Concert Band and the Lincolnshire Woodwind Quintet. In addition, Nancy plays banjo in the North Oakland Dixieland Band and the Banjoes of Michigan.

While in Florida, Nancy plays horn in the Venice Concert Band and the Suncoast Concert Band and in the SCF Bradenton Symphony. Playing her tenor banjo, Nancy is an enthusiastic member of the Gulf Coast Banjo Society that plays in Snook Haven Park in Venice every Thursday. Nancy says she is “very lucky to be playing in the Suncoast Concert Band with such wonderful people who are great musicians.”

Sherm Lyke

A career teacher and musician, Sherm taught instrumental music in the Grand Island Central School District in Western New York for 48 years – the first 33 as a full-time teacher, and the final 15 as a retired substitute in Instrumental Music.

As a student, Sherm has played in bands with Doc’ Severinsen, Urbie Green, George Roberts, and Roy Burns. However, his most influential experience came as a 17 year old student when he had the opportunity to “trade fours” with jazz legend Clark Terry, on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall (the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) in concert with his high school jazz ensemble.

As a performer, Sherm was a member of Locals 92 and 219 of the AF of M, playing commercially as both a classical and jazz musician. These included seasons of performance with the Buffalo Brass Quintet (founding member,) Orchard Park Symphony, Amherst Symphony, the Gus Broncato Orchestra, and the Alex Rene Big Swing Band. Sherm was a trumpeter at Buffalo’s Melody Fair during the 1970’s and early 80’s, performing for such varied artists as the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, and the Spinners. After retiring to Lakewood Ranch with his wife, Barbara, in 2021, Sherm has found a happy performance home with the Suncoast Concert Band and Jazz Ambassadors.

Diane Roytz

Diane began trumpet lessons at the end of third grade. Over the years, she studied trumpet with Harry Herforth and Bernard Adelstein. Diane attended Interlochen Center for the Arts and studied with Robert Nagel. Diane graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Music Education and taught grades 4-12 in Zanesville and Willoughby-Eastlake, Ohio. She changed her career plans to work in the corporate world and retired from the Lubrizol in 2006 as a logistics administrator.

Diane moved to Florida with her husband, Jim, a percussionist and former band director. She has enjoyed many ensembles in addition to Suncoast Concert Band, including Jazz Ambassadors, Suncoast Brass Quintet, North Port Symphony, Venice/Sarasota and Manatee Concert Bands, Windjammers, various big bands and church ensembles. Diane and Jim also enjoy golf, fishing, walking and playing cards.

Nancy Stoll

Nancy graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA with a BA in education. Returning to her home town, she began her career teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics in the same school she attended as a student. She lived in Westwood, MA her entire life prior to moving to Lakewood Ranch in 2002. As a foot note, she does want to say that she definitely does not have a Boston accent ~ everyone else has an accent. Nancy moved to Florida with her husband in 2002 after Bob retired from teaching.

Since her marriage (her first) in 1998, she and Bob have done extensive traveling which has truly been an education in itself. When Bob became involved with the Suncoast Concert Band, first joining the trombone section in 2005 and then being selected to be the music director upon Leo Laier’s retirement in 2010, she wanted to do her part (as a non-musician) to support her husband and the band in whatever way possible. She loves each and every band member and her relationship with so many of the attendees.

In her spare time, Nancy enjoys sewing (i.e. Bob’s vests), cross stitch projects, knitting and other crafts.

Dick Yow

Music: High School Trumpet, NC Governor’s School for Music, Student Conductor Senior Year. Played with Small Community Orchestras. Military: 7 years Navy Nuclear Sub Power Plant Operator. Education/profession: After Navy went to UNC undergraduate and Med School. Radiology training 4 years in Charleston SC. Retired 2016, moved to Venice and started playing trumpet again and joined VCB and SCB. Interests: Music (I’m tinkering with piano) Fishing, Swimming, Travel, Reading Non-Fiction (and book club). Taking online courses, etc. Single for many years.

Mark Eiser

I was born and raised in Schenectady, New York located in upstate New York’s Capital District. I attended South Colonie HS and was so fortunate to have Henry Carr as my Band Director. Following graduation from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, New York, I taught public school instrumental music in the Schenectady City Schools and in the Schalmont School District in Rotterdam; a suburb of Schenectady

Aside from taking my Schalmont HS band to competitions and festivals, I also conducted the Rotterdam Town Band for 16 years. Retiring from public school teaching in 2010, I went on to teach Brass Techniques at a local community college, taught ceremonial bugle to the 109th ANG Honor Guard in Scotia, NY and played Taps for veteran internments through the BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA organizationfor 37 years. My Schalmont Sabre Marching Band performed at the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA and several appearances at Disney World/Epcot Center. A memorable highlight was marching in the parade leading to the awards ceremony at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY on the night after the “Miracle on Ice”……what a Party!

Aside from taking my Schalmont HS band to competitions and festivals, I also conducted the Rotterdam Town Band for 16 years. Retiring from public school teaching in 2010, I went on to teach Brass Techniques at a local community college, taught ceremonial bugle to the 109th ANG Honor Guard in Scotia, NY and played Taps for veteran internments through the BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA organization.

As a performer, early in my career I contracted as a section trumpet in orchestras to backup headline performers at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center(SPAC)…..acts like composer Henry Mancini, comedian Bob Hope, Liberace, Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett come to mind. I even had the opportunity to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on 2 occasions in concerts calling for an expanded trumpet section. The majority of my playing however was in ethnic, club and event cover bands with some big band gigs thrown in. Most weekends were quite long and I would go back to my teaching job for a break. Hey, a gig is a gig.