Nicole M. Greggs (NBCT- Early/Middle Childhood Music; 2008 Broward County Arts Teacher of the Year; 2006 Finalist/Runner-Up, Broward County Teacher of the Year) received her formal musical training in voice and music education from the University of Miami (B. M. magna cum laude, 1991), the Mozarteum Orff Institute, Austria;  Jacksonville University (Orff Pedogogy Levels I and II), and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida (M.A. T., Voice Performance/ Choral Conducting/ Music Education, 1997). She has taught general music, Chorus, recorder, violin, keyboard, drumming, and Orff Ensemble at Plantation Park Elementary School in Broward County, FL since 1991, and has also served as Student Activities Chair; Student Council Advisor; Gifted Consultant; Safety, Writing, Technology, and Science committee member; Team Leader, and Reading Coach. Her groups have performed at the Florida Capitol Building in Tallahassee, Florida Marlins games, Islands of Adventure, Disney's Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, Music USA Festivals Orlando (4 Superior/1st Place Ratings), American Orff-Schulwerk Association National conventions, Florida Music Educators Association conferences, Florida Atlantic University, Broward County Convention Center, Sunrise Musical Theater, Barnes & Nobles bookstores, and multiple local retirement facilities. Mrs. Greggs has received several grants from various local, state, and county organizations, including American Express, Arts for a Complete Education, Broward Education Foundation, Teacher-Directed Improvement Fund, and others. For four years, Mrs. Greggs served as Director of Training Choirs for the Florida Singing Sons Boychoir in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Currently she teaches Classical, Jazz, & Broadway voice in her private studio. She is happily married and has two sons, ages 1 & 11, and  one daughter, age 7.

    Mrs. Greggs, fondly known as “Ms. Nicole” to MusicMakers! campers, grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, and attended Coral Springs Elementary, Coral Springs Middle, and Coral Springs High School. Knowing firsthand that prolonged study of the arts- especially music- increases student achievement in all areas (including FCAT and SAT scores), and has a host of other benefits for kids, Ms. Nicole founded MusicMakers! Summer Camp in 1998 to provide a fun and educationally sound learning opportunity with lifelong positive impact.  A current resident of Coral Springs, Miss Nicole is the chief camp instructor, as well as head administrator, webmaster, curriculum designer, costume seamstress, artist, and musical director. She is steadfastly and passionately committed to providing music education of the highest quality in all her teaching endeavors. MusicMakers! is her special way of giving back to her community. In 2010 MusicMakers! Summer Camp became part of MusicMakers!, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the furthering of music education in South Florida. Plans include the eventual construction of an interactive Music Education Museum.

    In May 2010, Mrs. Greggs was honored by Florida Atlantic University as an Outstanding Alumni Educator for her teaching in Broward County Public Schools and her vision in creating MusicMakers! Inc.  Mrs. Greggs was the 2008 Broward County Arts Teacher of the Year. Sponsored by the Broward Cultural Affairs Council, this prestigious award recognizes one outstanding public or private school arts educator each year for exceptional contributions to their field and for impact on students and the community. Click here for Mrs. Greggs' Acceptance remarks and Tribute video. 

Mrs. Greggs was also one of eight finalists for Broward County Teacher of the Year 2006.

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She has also been nominated twice for Disney's American Teachers Awards; and became a National Board Certified Teacher in Early/Middle Childhood Music in 2004. She was featured on the television show, "Broward School Beat", in April 2006.

    Active in state & local elementary music activities, Mrs. Greggs revised the Broward County Elementary General Music Curriculum to reflect the National Standards for music education passed by the U. S. Congress in 1995. In fall 2004, she developed an updated electronic curriculum planning tool for music educators that aids in meeting grade level expectations for music and in aligning  instructional focus with other subject areas. She is currently writing K-5 music lesson plans which will be accessed by Broward County teachers through BEEP. She is also the CAB moderator for the elementary general music conference board in the school board's Virtual University. She has presented multiple workshops to the Florida Music Educators Association; Suzuki Institute of South Florida; The South Florida Orff Chapter; University of Miami Music Education Forum, and Broward County music teachers and principals, including "Preparing for the Florida Music Assessment"; "Time-Saving Tricks and Movement: Meeting the Needs of the Lowest 25%... And EVERYONE ELSE"; "Implementing the ECPT (Electronic Curriculum Planning Tool"; "Developing Creativity Through Music:  Evolving From Musical Experience to Understanding and Innovation... Session I: Laying the Foundation Through Rhythm and Movement; Session II: Adding the Missing Layers: Melody and Harmony"; “Some of This, Some of That: Eleven Tricks from a Musical Hat” and "Some of This, Some of That: Eleven More Tricks from a Musical Hat”; “Literature to Lyrics: Composing Musicals Based on Children's Classics”; and “Circling the World: Ten International Folk Dances for Young Movers”. She has served as a consultant for redesigning college level music education programs to prepare new music teachers for the field, and she has acted as supervising teacher to music education interns from Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, and Nova University.  

        Mrs. Greggs is an active member of Music Educators National Conference, American Choral Directors Association, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association, South Florida Orff Chapter, Sigma Alpha Iota, Broward Music Educators Association, and Broward County Elementary Music Teachers Association.  Outside of school, she has served as church soloist at First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach, and Royal Palm Christian Church in Coral Springs.

  AND SHE LOVES CRAZY HATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Recorder and Musical Games...

    Donice Rufus teaches general music at Ramblewood Elementary School in Coral Springs.  She has served Broward County for 30 years in the field of music education. Now in her 12th season with MusicMakers!, Ms. Rufus is the Recorder & Musical Games instructor at the camp. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Bethune-Cookman College and her Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University.  A former college adjunct professor of music education for local universities, Ms. Rufus performs professionally around South Florida as a jazz flautist and writes children's music and commercial jingles.   She is the proud mother of one daughter, age 20, who is currently pursuing music education studies and is a member of STRIKE percussion ensemble, and one son, age 15.

String Orchestra & Musical Games... 

        MusicMakers! congratulates Adelin Alexanian on her graduation from Florida Atlantic University and wishes her well in her future teaching endeavors! We love you and we will miss you Ms. Adelin!  Thanks for 3 great summers!

         We are excited and proud to welcome recent Florida Atlantic University music education graduate Jennifer Lubarsky to the MusicMakers! family! Jennifer was born and raised on Long Island, New York where she started playing violin at the age of 6. Through years of practice and private lessons, she was accepted into All-County, Long Island String Festival, All-State and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. An intern of Mrs. Jeannie Halberg of Sawgrass Springs Middle School in Coral Springs, Ms. Lubarsky is a 2010 FAU graduate with her Bachelors degree in Music Education.

Keyboard & Musical Games...

     We are delighted to once again welcome Mr. Mark Henschel to the MusicMakers! family! Mr. Henschel is a 25-year veteran music teacher in Broward County. He is currently the music specialist at Pompano Beach Elementary School, where he teaches general music, chorus, and recorder club. Mr. Henschel earned his undergraduate degree at Wingate University while on a piano scholarship,  and holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Henschel has also served 20 years as director/organist/pianist at several churches in Dade and Broward Counties, and has taught private piano lessons for 29 years. He has directed the Broadway Shows, "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" and "Okalahoma". In 2008 Mr. Henschel became a National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music! Mr. Henschel is the proud father of one son and one daughter, ages 15 and 12, and enjoys the beach and traveling in his spare time. Contact him at pianoyesmh@bellsouth.net or visit his school website: www.browardschools.com. 

Volunteer Camp Counselors Wanted! 

We love our volunteer counselors!  Thank you to the following awesome, cool people who will assist in Summer 2010. If you'd like to add your name to this year's list, please download a volunteer counselor application, email Miss Nicole, and/or call (954) 868-5515 for more information. Applications are due by April 15, but if you're late there may still be openings. Service hours are awarded for your time. Thank you!

(Last update: June 21, 2010- call 954-868-5515 for availability!)