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.

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 enjoys 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.

Mark Eiser

I was born and raised in Schenectady, NY, and attended South Colonie Schools near Albany. I had the privilege of learning from Mr. Henry Carr, my band director, who greatly influenced my career. I went on to study at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and taught instrumental music in public schools for 37 years. A highlight of my career was having my band selected to march at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, just after the Miracle on Ice—what an unforgettable experience!

In retirement, I reorganized and conducted the Rotterdam Town Band for 16 years. I also taught Brass Techniques at a local community college and served as a ceremonial bugler with Bugles Across America, performing Taps at Veteran internments.

As a performer, I was contracted as a section player with orchestras that backed up many leading entertainers of the day at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga, NY.  I also had the good fortune to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on two occasions. The main body of my performance career was performing with big band jazz ensembles, club, ethnic and event bands.

Ginny Elkins Barbaro

Ginny was raised in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York. While in high school, she took private French horn lessons with James Parks from the Denver Symphony. She performed with the Huntington Symphony and the elite Long Island Youth Symphony among other musical ensembles. In 1997, she toured with the Long Island Youth Symphony and performed in numerous foreign countries. She attended Maryville College in Tennessee where she earned her BA degree in Education. During her thirty-six year teaching career, Ginny taught special education in junior and senior high schools in Washington State. She earned her tri-Masters’ degree in Special Education while raising five children and teaching in the Sarasota and Charlotte school system.

Currently, Ginny performs in the Suncoast Concert Band and, in the summer, with the Sun Coast Wind Ensemble. She also performs with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble as needed. She previously performed under the direction of her father, Bill Millner, in the Venice Concert Band where she met her husband, fellow horn player, Matthew. Ginny has also performed with First Brass and the North Port Concert Band. She is retired and resides in Nokomis.