Fall 2025 Applied Music Faculty Recital

Dr. Jim Smisek earned his A.A. Degree at Seminole Community College under Dr. Bill Hinkle in 1986 and in 1989, earned his B.A. Degree on Music Education at the University of Florida, studying with Dr. David Waybright and Gary Langford. While in college, Smisek performed with several ensembles that included the Mike Roylance Brass uintet, area church orchestras & praise bands, Suncoast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps and performed regularly in the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a trumpet player during the Gulf War. In 1999, Smisek earned his Masters Degree in Music Ed. at Rollings College, where he studied with Dr. John Sinclair and Chuck Archard. Smisek returned to Florida in 1992 to start teaching high school band and finished 12 years of teaching before moving to North Carolina to attain his doctorate degree. In 2006, Smisek earned the Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Instrumental Conducting where he studied with Dr. John R. Locke. Dr. Smisek then went to Samford University in Birmingham for eight years as the Direct of Bands and conducted the Alabama Youth Symphony (Music Director 2011-2013). He is currently Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of Bands at SSC where he also teaches Jazz & Blues History, Music Appreciation, Theory I & IV, Symphonic/Community Band, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo.

Dianna Campbell has served as Seminole State College’s Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music since 2004. In 2023, Professor Campbell achieved the colleges highest ranking of Distinguished Professor. In 2021, Dianna was awarded the Community Partners Endowed Teaching Chair for Seminole State College. Most recently, she was honored with the Janet Balanoff Catalyst Award for Excellence in Equity and Diversity. Dianna is a two-time recipient of the Seminole State Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Award and NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dianna is active on the college’s Curriculum Committee, serving for many years as Chairperson. During her tenure, she has been a part of Leadership Academy, Advanced Leadership Academy, and served as advisor to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the String Club, Chamber Orchestra and Gospel Choir. Distinguished Professor Campbell is an active leader in her professional organizations. She has served as the State of Florida, Southern Division and National Chairperson for Two-Year College Choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2018, Mrs. Campbell was honored to conduct Vivaldi’s GLORIA at Carnegie Hall, for the National Two-Year College Festival Choir. Last year, her choir went international, performing at the Vienna Advent Sings Festival. Currently, Professor Campbell is the Music Representative for the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) and has served the Orchestra Coordinator for their annual Symposium. She previously served as District Chair for Florida Vocal Association (FVA), is an FVA certified judge, a regular guest clinician and adjudicator with Heritage Worldstrides and Music in the Parks, and a certified Master Teacher. Before coming to SSC, Dianna was the Choir Director at Lyman High School, 1989-2004, and was Director of Music at Central Christian Church, 1992-2001. Professor Campbell holds a Bachelor of Music Education, University of Florida (magna cum laude) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting, University of South Florida (highest honors). She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Honorary Music Fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.

Emma Koi is a flutist, collaborator, and educator based in Central Florida. She performs regularly with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, and Brevard Symphony. She previously held the position of Principal Flute with Festival City Symphony (Milwaukee, WI) and Third Flute/Piccolo with Florida Grand Opera, and is an alumna of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she worked with Yo-Yo Ma on community engagement initiatives.

Emma is Adjunct Professor of Flute at Seminole State College, and has previously taught at Carroll University, Mount Mary University, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She takes a holistic approach to her teaching, helping students cultivate technical mastery while honoring their overall wellbeing as musicians and profressionals. Her students have earned top prizes in competitions with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Flute Festival, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Music Association, and former students have gone on to pursue music degrees at Lawrence University, Boston Conservatory, Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Univerity of Wisconsin-Madison, among others. Emma holds a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University, and Bachelor’s degrees in music and dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her teachers include Alberto Almarza, Jeanne Batresser, and Caen Thomason-Redus.

Mr. David Whitehead began his studies in Vocal Performance at Stetson University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree with highest honors. He completed his studies in Boston, MA at the New England Conservatory of Music, earning his Master of Music degree with academic honors. Mr. Whitehead has studied with Mollie Rich and Susan Clicker, and has worked with such vocal coaches as Carolyn Hage, Hörst Gunter, Pierre Valet and Kayo Iwama. In the operatic repertoire, he has performed such roles as Basilio in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Nerone in Monteverdi’s The Cornation of Poppea. As a concert soloist, Mr. Whitehead has performed the tenor solos in Mozart’s Regina Coeli, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, and Handel’s Messiah, and has sung in such venues as Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Symphony Hall. He is delighted to be in his twenty-first year as adjunct professor of voice with Seminole State College.

Harrison Light holds a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from UCF, and is currently pursuing his Masters at Washington State University. He is fluent in classical, jazz, and many other contemporary styles. A native Floridian, Harrison was born in Miami, grew up in Sarasota, and lived in Orlando for over 30 years. He has performed and taught for over two decades and been a cast member at Disney for over 15 years. This is his fourth year as Staff Accompanist at Seminole State College and his first semester teaching Class Piano.

John Almeida’s career of trumpet instruction in state of Florida spans forty-seven years. During this time-period he has taught hundreds of private students from 6th grade through 12th grade. His academic applied trumpet teaching experience covers all Bachelor and Masters music degrees in colleges and universities throughout Florida. He currently serves as the adjunct Applied Trumpet Instructor at Seminole State College on the Lake Mary/Sanford campus.

He has presented a multitude of trumpet clinics and masterclasses across the United States, including a presentation at the 2010 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic entitled “Sound Ideas on Playing the Trumpet”. In addition, Mr. Almeida was one of two participants selected to perform in Adolph Herseth’s Masterclass at the 2002 DePaul University Trumpet Symposium in Chicago, IL

He remains active as an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association at District and State MPA events. Mr. Almeida has been a guest artist/clinician in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, New York City, Illinois, and Florida.

Additionally, John Almeida is a Yamaha Performing Artist. Mr. Almeida’s principal teachers include William Adam, Indiana Univeristy, Thomas Wholwender, 2nd Trumpet, The Cleveland Orchestra, Marvin C. Perry, Prinicipal Trumpet, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Joe F. Phelps, Appalacian State University.

Miranda Graham is a graduate of Stetson University (BMOF) and the University of Houston (MM). Miranda teaches music theory, music appreciation, and voice at Valencia College and Seminole State College, and serves as soprano section leader at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Recent highlights include singing the soprano solo in Mozart’s Missa Brevis in C and performing as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus.

Pat Gallo is a freelance bassist and educator. He has been based in the Orlando area since 1990, and attended Seminole State College about that time. He received his undergraduate degree from Rollins College in 2007 and a graduate degree in 2010 from UCF. He has been teaching intermittently at Seminole and Daytona State Colleges since then. Pat is an active bass player in the Central Florida area.

Ewa Mekwinski graduated from the State School of Music I & II in Czestochowa, Poland with degrees in both Piano Performance and Eurhythmics. She also attended the Academy of Music in Lodz, Poland with majors in Piano Performance and Theory/Composition. Upon immigrating to the United States, she completed her studies at Stetson University, with a degree in Piano Performance. Ewa is not only an accomplished musician, but has also coauthored a book, “The Art of Movement”, which introduces the Dalcroze method, and incorporating movement into the Music Education classroom. Ewa is an active pianists in the Central Florida area, and has been a staff accompanist at Seminole State College for several years.

Deanna L. Giron is a Central Florida-based performer, voice instructor, and creative entrepreneur known for her reimagined interpretations of pop, jazz, Broadway, classical, and standards. With a heart for connecting through music, Deanna brings warmth, clarity, and sophistication to every stage she graces.

Her recent roles include the bold Mama McCourt in The Ballad of Baby Doe, spirited Isbel in The Pirates of Penzance, and the devoted Ayah in The Secret Garden. Whether performing solo or with an ensemble, Deanna blends emotion, technique, and storytelling to create meaningful musical moments.

In addition to performing, she teaches voice at Seminole State College and K-2 general music to young learners. She is passionate about empowering artists to embrace emerging technologies - including AI - to support their creative goals. A portion of her business profits support the Coalition for the Homeless.