Gary L. Piazza
Gary L. Piazza
FHEAN Executive Director
Associate Division Chair for the Fine and Performing Arts
Florida Southern College
Dr. Piazza is the Associate Division Chair for the Fine and Performing Arts at
Florida Southern College, and is the interim Music Department Chair at FSC.
Upon completion of his doctorate, Gary Piazza served as Dean of Florida
School of the Arts from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Dr. Piazza taught applied
classical guitar at Wingate University, Jacksonville University, and has chaired
the Music Department at St. Augustine High School. In that capacity, Dr.
Piazza founded one of the nation's first virtuoso high school classical guitar
ensembles in the late 80's and early 90's. Piazza also held one of the coveted
Visiting Performing Artist positions (non-teaching) for the state of North
Carolina as vocalist, classical guitarist, and lutenist.
As the Executive Director of FHEAN, Dr. Piazza is very active in Florida Arts
Education Advocacy. In that role, Piazza works closely with the Florida Cultural
Arts Alliance, Florida Alliance for Arts Education/ACE, Florida Music Education
Association/FMENC, and the Florida Department of Education Arts Division.
Piazza currently serves as Executive Director of FHEAN, replacing the founder
and pioneering Executive Director, John A. O’Connor in 2005. In that position,
Dr. Piazza has worked vigorously to develop and maintain a level of visibility
and credibility with key legislators to influence policy matters regarding the
arts in Florida K-20.
In addition to Dr. Piazza’s administrative roles, he enjoys an active musical life
as a conductor, composer, arranger, transcriber, vocalist (lyric baritone),
classical guitarist, Renaissance lutenist, and a Delta Slide Blues guitarist.
Piazza maintains an avid interest in digital technologies and the application
thereof to the visual and performing arts. He is very active in original digital
composition, recording, mixing, and editing using Abelton, ProTools/Digi Design
002, Acid, Sonar, and Finale platforms.
Dr. Piazza also holds the following distinctions: author of the first Conductor’s
Performance Guide to the Stuart Masque; former Visiting Artist for the State of
North Carolina; a 1981 US Patent recipient for the first compact travel practice
classical guitar (4,364,298); National Association of Teachers of Singing finalist
at the 5 state Upper Division College Men competition at the University of
Illinois; protégé and private student of Philips recording artist/guitarist Pepe
Romero; Piazza was also recognized in 1981 (Atlanta) by legendary country
music guitar legend Chet Atkins; opened for the Godfather of Soul...James
Brown (Atlanta); guest symphony soloist with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra;
doctoral choral conducting study with Rodney Eichenberger and Andre Thomas;
world premiere of the virtuoso guitar/vocal work entitled Charm Me Asleep,
written for Piazza by Daniel Pinkham; live music/photo collaboration world
premier with iconic photographer Jack Michell (of John Lennon and Yko fame);
and most recently was recognized by his local Rotary Chapter as a Paul Harris
Fellow.
He earned his B.S. in Music Education with an emphasis in vocal performance
at Eastern Illinois University and concurrent classical guitar study at the
University of Illinois; M.M. in Music Education, voice/classical guitar at Florida
State University; and a Ph.D. in Music Education/Choral Conducting at Florida
State University.
FHEAN Executive Director
Associate Division Chair for the Fine and Performing Arts
Florida Southern College
Dr. Piazza is the Associate Division Chair for the Fine and Performing Arts at
Florida Southern College, and is the interim Music Department Chair at FSC.
Upon completion of his doctorate, Gary Piazza served as Dean of Florida
School of the Arts from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Dr. Piazza taught applied
classical guitar at Wingate University, Jacksonville University, and has chaired
the Music Department at St. Augustine High School. In that capacity, Dr.
Piazza founded one of the nation's first virtuoso high school classical guitar
ensembles in the late 80's and early 90's. Piazza also held one of the coveted
Visiting Performing Artist positions (non-teaching) for the state of North
Carolina as vocalist, classical guitarist, and lutenist.
As the Executive Director of FHEAN, Dr. Piazza is very active in Florida Arts
Education Advocacy. In that role, Piazza works closely with the Florida Cultural
Arts Alliance, Florida Alliance for Arts Education/ACE, Florida Music Education
Association/FMENC, and the Florida Department of Education Arts Division.
Piazza currently serves as Executive Director of FHEAN, replacing the founder
and pioneering Executive Director, John A. O’Connor in 2005. In that position,
Dr. Piazza has worked vigorously to develop and maintain a level of visibility
and credibility with key legislators to influence policy matters regarding the
arts in Florida K-20.
In addition to Dr. Piazza’s administrative roles, he enjoys an active musical life
as a conductor, composer, arranger, transcriber, vocalist (lyric baritone),
classical guitarist, Renaissance lutenist, and a Delta Slide Blues guitarist.
Piazza maintains an avid interest in digital technologies and the application
thereof to the visual and performing arts. He is very active in original digital
composition, recording, mixing, and editing using Abelton, ProTools/Digi Design
002, Acid, Sonar, and Finale platforms.
Dr. Piazza also holds the following distinctions: author of the first Conductor’s
Performance Guide to the Stuart Masque; former Visiting Artist for the State of
North Carolina; a 1981 US Patent recipient for the first compact travel practice
classical guitar (4,364,298); National Association of Teachers of Singing finalist
at the 5 state Upper Division College Men competition at the University of
Illinois; protégé and private student of Philips recording artist/guitarist Pepe
Romero; Piazza was also recognized in 1981 (Atlanta) by legendary country
music guitar legend Chet Atkins; opened for the Godfather of Soul...James
Brown (Atlanta); guest symphony soloist with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra;
doctoral choral conducting study with Rodney Eichenberger and Andre Thomas;
world premiere of the virtuoso guitar/vocal work entitled Charm Me Asleep,
written for Piazza by Daniel Pinkham; live music/photo collaboration world
premier with iconic photographer Jack Michell (of John Lennon and Yko fame);
and most recently was recognized by his local Rotary Chapter as a Paul Harris
Fellow.
He earned his B.S. in Music Education with an emphasis in vocal performance
at Eastern Illinois University and concurrent classical guitar study at the
University of Illinois; M.M. in Music Education, voice/classical guitar at Florida
State University; and a Ph.D. in Music Education/Choral Conducting at Florida
State University.
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