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CFMA Local 389Central FL Musicians' Association
CFMA Local 389Central FL Musicians' Association
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Central Florida Musicians' Association The Board of Directors in Front of Building

From The Team At CFMA

From The Team At CFMA


Central FL Musicians Association

CFMA Local 389 - History

Musicians Working For Musicians

Wondering what the next step in your career should be? We are happy to share our years of experience on formulating a plan that fits your needs and dreams.

Are you new in town and need to know who to connect with? We network through membership meetings, a contractor list, weekly updates of current events and networking opportunities, social media and a quarterly newsletter, among other things.



Would you like coaching on how to audition for Walt Disney World? We hold up to three auditions per year for our members to audition for the company and we would love to help you prepare.

Are you owed money from a contractor or organization for whom you have worked? We have recovered tens of thousands of dollars for our members over the years.

Wondering what the next step in your career should be? We are happy to share our years of experience on formulating a plan that fits your needs and dreams.

Are you new in town and need to know who to connect with? We network through membership meetings, a contractor list, weekly updates of current events and networking opportunities, social media and a quarterly newsletter, among other things.



Would you like coaching on how to audition for Walt Disney World? We hold up to three auditions per year for our members to audition for the company and we would love to help you prepare.

Are you owed money from a contractor or organization for whom you have worked? We have recovered tens of thousands of dollars for our members over the years.

Central FL Musicians Association

Board of Directors

Mike Avila

President

Mike spent the bulk of his playing career as part of two brass quintets. He performed 16 years at Walt Disney World in the Maple Leaf Brass, followed by 14 years with Sovereign Brass. He has been president of CFMA since March 1999. Areas of expertise: Collective Bargaining/Contract Negotiation, Mediation, Audition Coaching, Career Counseling and more.

Deborah Dansby Wells

Vice President

Deborah, is principal viola of the Mantovani Orchestra, touring Internationally and domestically. Often in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, she divides her time between the educational and performance worlds. As a player, Ms. Dansby Wells is equally at home on the classical and popular stages where she may be found as a soloist or principal player. Her primary studies were done at the University of Michigan with extensive post-graduate work at the Manhattan School in New York, and at a number of universities in Florida.

Sam Zambito

Treasurer/Recording Secretary

Sam Zambito, originally from Canandaigua, NY, has lived and worked in central Florida since 1974. After undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music, Sam has played trumpet in various groups in the Central Florida area eventually becoming a bandleader at Walt Disney World for more than 20 years. During his time at Disney, Sam became one of the earliest players of the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI) which led to many opportunities. A long association with the Japanese company Akai led to performances throughout the USA, Canada and Europe at trade shows, educational conferences and college clinics. Sam has been Secretary/Treasurer of Local 389 since January 2003 and a member of the American Federation of Musicians since 1972.

Nancy Crockford

Executive Board

Nancy Crockford, a native of Orlando, Florida, joined Local 389 when she was 16. She has worked with symphonies, chamber ensembles, operas, ballets, musicals & tours in venues throughout the Southeast & New York. Ms. Crockford attended Stetson University, University of Central Florida & spent summers at Eastman School of Music for private violin lessons. During her six-year tenure with The Florida Orchestra, Nancy was the Violin Section Grievance Representative & helped spearhead the formation of the Florida Orchestra Musicians’ Association. She was elected Treasurer and Historian, was on the Bylaw Committee & chaired the Benefit Concert Committee.

Jeff Thomas

Executive Board

Having been trained as a classical and jazz musician, Jeff has had a varied career in both the commercial music industry and on the concert stage. He is Principal Trombone with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Festival Orchestra. Jeff has studied with some of the most respected teachers in the country, and he has paid that experience forward through inspiring countless numbers of students and professional performers through teaching and mentoring. All of this (and much more) allows Jeff to reach out and serve the interests of our musicians on a variety of levels. Jeff shares a blended family of six children with his wife and best friend, Kathy Thomas.

Barry Smith

Executive Board

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Barry received his Bachelor of Music Degree from North Texas State University. Since 1982, Barry has been based in the Orlando area as a free-lance musician and performing for Walt Disney World in production shows, conventions, casuals and backing artists in clubs such as the Village Lounge and Pleasure Island Jazz Company. Barry has performed on festivals, tours, and in concerts and clubs with artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Woody Herman, Ira Sullivan, Marian McPartland, Rob McConnell, Bobby Shew, and Debbie Boone. A variety of his recording work includes live television series such as the New Original Amateur Hour and with popular groups such as Mannheim Steamroller. Barry is on faculty at Valencia College, Daytona State College, and has served on faculty at other colleges including Florida State University as Assistant Professor of Music. He has served as an Executive Board member for 20 years.

Brian Smithers

Executive Board

Brian Smithers has been active in the Central Florida music scene for more than 30 years, playing woodwinds at Walt Disney World, in Broadway shows, on the orchestral stage, and in nearly every venue in the area. He has served the CFMA as board member, Vice President, shop steward, and co-chair of the WDW negotiating committee. He is a founding member of the Hippocrene Saxophone Quartet. Brian is currently Program Director of Audio Production at Full Sail University. He has also taught Music Technology at Stetson University. Brian studied saxophone at Ithaca College and the University of Central Florida.

Kathy Thomas

Executive Board

Kathy studied French horn at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and Northern Illinois University. She has played with the Wheaton Summer Symphony, Champaign/Urbana Symphony, Symfonia Da Camera, Danville Symphony, and Hinsdale Symphony, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Bach Festival Orchestra, West Coast Symphony, Sovereign Brass Quintet and The Florida Orchestra. Since moving to Florida in 1993, Kathy has steadily worked for the Walt Disney World company. In 2004, she won the third horn position with the Orlando Philharmonic. In 2012 Kathy was appointed the position of adjunct professor of French Horn at Stetson University. Mrs. Thomas manages a private teaching studio, and has an extensive recording studio career, including “Movie Songs” and “Broadway” under the Warner Brothers label.

Testimonials

George Grosman

One of the first things I did when I moved to Orlando in 2011 was to contact Local 389 and join the Union. Ever since then, the CFMA staff has been enormously helpful in advancing my music career in Central Florida: from notifying me about auditions and events, to networking with other musicians and making excellent rehearsal space available, the Union and my Local have been invaluable. I continue to be a proud member and would recommend it to any active musician in the Orlando area!

Barrington Raymond

I have been a member since 2002 and have been very satisfied with my Union. They were there for me with assistance toward replacing my roof during the last hurricane. Because of the high deductible I had to pay a large amount to replace my roof.

Carol J. Stein

Being in the AFM is essential for a professional musician. The AFM helps protect you and helps provide quality and safe performances! It enables you to continue your love of performing while providing you with resources and knowledge of “The Biz!” The pension plan is an awesome benefit which most musicians are grateful for to help with future financial security. The camaraderie of fellow professionals is priceless.

Jeremie Michael

The Union is crucial and directly relevant to my success as a working professional musician. The people of Local 389 are genuine and helpful. They are knowledgeable advocates who will talk you through what you need for continued success and security in the industry.

Larry McRae

The Musician’s union has been instrumental in recent years to me and my family. When we first relocated to this area, things did not go as we thought they would. When we needed a little help to get by, to my surprise the musician’s union was the only organization in Orlando that could and did actually help.

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