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Meet Us
Michael Greenberg, Owner, Disc Jockey, Sound & Lighting Specialist
mike@naturecoastdj.com
Michael
has more than 11 years professional disc jockey experience, where he
specializes in weddings. Michael started in the DJ business in
Baltimore in 1990. He worked as a DJ, Office Manager and Sound
Technician for Absolute Sounds, Inc. and Advanced Entertainment, Inc.
In 1992, Michael launched his first business, MARAGE entertainment.
Michael performed at weddings, proms, corporate events, birthday
parties, etc. For several years, Michael was one of the disc jockeys for
the United States Naval Academy Officer's Club. Michael has also
worked in Sound Production with Advanced Productions.
In 1999, Michael sold MARAGE entertainment and moved to Florida. He is now married with two children. In 2008, Michael started Nature Coast Professional Disc Jockeys. His vision is to be able to provide quality entertainment at affordable prices. In 2009, Michael hired Darnell Gadson and launched Nature Coast Professional Disc Jockey's Live Music division. The pairing of live music and disc jockeys have made Nature Coast Professional Disc Jockeys one of the area's most dynamic entertainment companies. Since then, we have brought on some of Florida's most talented musicians, vocalists and disc jockeys. In 2010, Michael saw the need to expand the business and started Tampa Orlando Photo Booth -- offering the best all-inclusive photo booth packages! In 2011, Michael has launched his latest venture, Join Together Forever. Join Together Forever is an officiant/minister company marrying couples in the greater Tampa and Orlando markets. In 2011, Michael was very proud to have Nature Coast Professional Disc Jockeys awarded WeddingWire's Bride's Choice Award 2011. Michael looks forward to working with you!
Darnell Gadson, Cellist, Pianist & Director of Live Music
darnell@naturecoastdj.com
Born and raised in the Tampa area, Darnell began playing cello in
seventh grade. After years of playing in volunteer and community
ensembles and orchestras, he returned to college at the age of 29 to
work on a music performance degree. While attending Hillsborough
Community College and the University of South Florida, he had the
privilege of studying solo and ensemble works under a number of local
professionals.
Darnell’s hobbies include playing piano, reading, and, of course,
listening to music. His favorite composers are Tchaikovsky,
Khachaturian, Debussy, and Ravel. When not listening to classical
music, he is often found listening to Tori Amos or pop music from the
1980s, or watching episodes of Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis.
Elena Van Bruggen, Vocalist
Elena completed voice studies at Western Kentucky University and
Western Michigan University. She was a member of elite choirs at both
schools, and toured the upper midwest extensively. She has performed
with the Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Symphony
Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, the Hope College
Symphony Orchestra, and the Calvin College Community Choir. In
addition, she has performed in several musical productions at Holland
Civic Theatre, including "Fiddler On The Roof", "Nunsense" and "The
World Goes 'Round". She has also served as musical director at HCT for
productions of "Once Upon A Mattress" and "Honk!".
Elena has been
teaching piano and voice privately for over 10 years, and has served as
director and music instructor at All Nations Arts Academy, an inner
city arts school in Tampa, FL. Elena has been a part of church choirs
and worship teams, and has played and conducted bell choirs. She has
been performing at weddings and other functions for over 15 years.
Elena
hails from West Michigan originally, being born in Kalamazoo and raised
in the small town of Hamilton. She met her husband while performing in
a community theater production of "Fiddler On The Roof". They moved to
Florida in 2005 to take a position as creative arts directors for an
inner city church in Tampa. In addition to home-schooling their son,
Trystan and enduring the presence of their cat, Grayson, Elena works
full-time at Barnes & Noble in Brandon, FL. She also serves as the Children's Director at
River of Life Christian Center's South Campus.
April Yates, Vocalist, Pianist & Song Writer
April is a graduate of Youth With A Mission Boston. Her
study was Creative Arts in Worship. She toured
Europe for 2 months, performing music for productions and churches in Northern
Ireland, Scotland and England. Her passions are writing music, singing,
photography, art, and making others laugh. Her love for the piano started as a little girl growing up in church. A
friend of the family paid for her to get lessons by the most reputable professional
in her area. From there, it launched into playing at nursing homes, writing
songs for ceremonies and actively being involved in her worship team at church.
After playing and singing for over 10 years, she enjoys teaching younger
children piano and the joy of learning music. April grew up in New
Jersey, but has been in Florida for 13 years. Brooksville is where she calls
home. “It’s a small town with a big heart.” She has a great family who inspire
her every day. They’ve always supported her decisions and encourage her to
follow her heart. She desires to continue her schooling in music and would love
to one day record songs of her own.
Maria Valentine, Harpist & Pianist
Maria Valentine, harpist and pianist, offers professional personal service for all your special events.
She started playing piano and singing at 18 months of age, and has studied with many master teachers, learning to play and enjoy a variety of instruments since then. In recent years, the harp has become a favorite, both in terms of elegance and in the soothing way it seems to touch the heart. Healing music is also a specialty, as in hospital, hospice or private settings. She teaches innovative classes, workshops and lessons on both harp and piano.
Maria has a music degree from the University of Georgia, and a lifetime of musical experience throughout the USA and abroad, performing, teaching, recording, composing, band and choral directing, and in music therapy. Recently moved to Florida, Maria comes from 23 years as a professional musician on the island of Maui, Hawaii. She was musical director of and recorded with the popular Maui eclectic music group Tropical Harps (tropicalharps.com). Her harp music is also featured on the CD "In My Heart" by Hoku award winner Uluwehi Guerrero. She co-founded and was first president of Maui Folk Harpers, a chapter of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen.
Maria plays for weddings, churches, hotels, restaurants, art galleries, hospitals and hospices, charity events, and private and public functions such as parties, dinners, banquets, and sales promotional shows.
She has a large and varied repertoire, from Classics to Standards, Celtic, Hawaiian, Christian, Jewish, Children's music and more!
As an Interfaith minister, Maria officiates for weddings and other ceremonies, personally creating your special event to your preferences, from traditional to original, religious or non-religious. She performs weddings, vow renewals, commitments, baptisms and blessings of all kinds.
"My purpose is to serve you through music with beauty, elegance, and personal care."
Christine MacPhail, Harpist
Christine saw an antique harp in a
museum when she was 6 years old. It was love at first sight and she has
been playing the harp ever since. Christine has performed at weddings,
special occasions, and corporate events throughout Central Florida for
over
25 years. She was the harpist in the Atlantis dining room at the
Renaissance Orlando Resort from 1987 until it closed in 2005, and she
currently
performs regularly for tea in the Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton
Grande Lakes
Orlando. Christine has a varied repertoire, including classical,
contemporary, and Celtic music. Her favorites are the easy listening
love
songs of the 1970s!
Katherine Y., Violinist & Cellist
Katherine is currently a music teacher, director for a
Youth Quartet, and the assistant conductor for a Youth
Orchestra. In the past Katherine had played cello with a Symphony for
two seasons. Katherine was a member of a Youth Orchestra for four
seasons, sitting as vice principal cellist for her last season. Katherine is a versatile musician
and she has been trained to adapt to different playing conditions. Katherine is currently pursing her undergraduate degree. Krystyn King, Cellist
Krystyn started playing music in the fifth grade when she learned to play the violin. In the sixth grade, she started learning cello and has been enamored with it ever since. Sitting as principal cellist at her high school and playing in a quintet on the side, she naturally decided to major in Music Education at the University of South Florida in 2007. Through private lessons, the USF orchestra, and a cello octet, Krystyn grew her technique and her passion. She has since changed her major to Accounting, but still loves to play as a hobby. She is currently a cellist with the South Shore Symphony Orchestra.
Mike "DJ Blvd", Associate Disc Jockey
Chad Pardue, Disc Jockey
Midj Cleto, Disc Jockey
Elisabeth Lim, Violist & Joseph Kim, Guitarist
Growing up in the Rocky Mountain state
of Colorado, Elisabeth Lim began playing the viola at age 10. She has
played with the renowned Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra and then
throughout college with the Colorado State University Symphony Orchestra,
where she also managed to study viola while majoring in microbiology.
Currently, Elisabeth is attending the University of South
Florida, where she is working towards a master’s degree in Public
Health. In her spare time she plays classical and original music as a
duet with guitarist Joseph Kim.
Joseph Kim is a composer and performer originally from
Portland, Oregon. He began his musical experience by playing piano at
age 6 and singing in choirs. Then moved to the saxophone in grade school
and picked up the tuba in junior high school. In college he majored in
music composition at the University of Oregon where he continued to play
as well.
After college, Joseph
learned the guitar and has played in various ensembles in Portland and
Denver. His main style of playing is a music called gypsy jazz, which is
based mainly on the music of Django Rheinhardt. Django was a French
gypsy guitarist who was influenced by American jazz in the 1930s and
40s. Recently, Joseph has begun playing more classical and original
music as a duet with Elisabeth Lim.
Jocelyn Bell, Cellist
Jessica Youngblood, Violinist
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About us
