President: Cheri Sleeper
Cheri A. Sleeper is the orchestra/band director at Strawberry Crest High School. She has increased her student numbers to three full ensembles, which include string and full orchestra. She was previously the orchestra and band director at King High School. At both positions, her ensembles received accolades for their musical excellence at the district and state levels. Under her musical leadership, she has inspired four future music educators, including the 2019 Florida Teacher of the Year, Dr. Dakeyan Graham. She has been an educator for 37 years in the state of Florida, teaching kindergarten through 12th grade.
President-Elect: Andrea Szarowicz
Andrea Szarowicz is the director of orchestras at Steinbrenner High School in Tampa, Florida, a position she's had since 2019. Prior to Steinbrenner, she taught at Gaither High School, Monroe Middle School, and many elementary schools as a floating Strings Specialist. She earned her Bachelors degree in music at the University of South Florida and a Masters in Music Education from Florida State University. She has been on the Executive Board of the Florida Orchestra Association since 2008, most recently as coordinator of the 11th & 12th grade All-State Symphonic Orchestra. She is an adjudicator for both FOA and FBA.
Past President: Laurie Bitters
Laurie is the director of orchestras at Winter Park High School. She oversees the orchestra program consisting of four orchestras, teaches AP Music Theory and IB Music, serves as the advisor for Tri-M Music Honor Society, mentors student interns and first-year teachers, and conducts the pit orchestra for musical productions. Under Laurie’s leadership, the orchestra program has grown from 75 to more than 200 students and has consistently received superior ratings at FOA district and state music performance assessments. Park Philharmonic, under Laurie’s direction, performed at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta and was named the first-ever Orlando Philharmonic High School Orchestra of Distinction.
Executive Director: Donald K. Langland
Don Langland received an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa. He earned a Master of Music from the University of South Dakota, and completed one year of post-graduate study at the University of Iowa in conducting. Mr. Langland has recently retired after teaching for over 30 years, most recently as the Director of Orchestras at Brandon High School. His teaching experiences include elementary, middle school, high school and college. He has taught band, chorus, orchestra, musical theater, and AP/IB music. His musical ensembles have received numerous awards at the local, state and national level, with performances in Europe as well as the States. Mr. Langland has served as an FBA and FOA District Chairman, the FOA 7/8 All-State Orchestra Chair, and is currently the Executive Director of the Florida Orchestra Association.
