Founder and President of the Civic Orchestra, Nadine Terk is a professional artist working primarily in oil paint and clay. She began playing violin after graduating college and saw the need for a community orchestra in Jacksonville, where she has lived with her husband Mitchell Terk since 1997.

Cindy’s passions have always been science and music. Having focused on science as her career, she wanted to ensure that retirement would be centered around music, and at 50 decided to take up the violin. She moved to Amelia Island in 2016, joined the orchestra in 2018 and plays in the second violin section. Cindy became a board member soon after and currently serves as vice president.

Jennifer has played cello with Civic Orchestra since its inaugural concert, and joined the board as treasurer and volunteer grant writer in 2019. Jennifer just celebrated her 10th work anniversary with Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, where she serves as Chief Development Officer.

Angela Bussone is the owner of Awaken Retreats and an attorney. She is also a violinist with the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville and has been a member of the board since 2021 and serves as Secretary.

Since her first exposure to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and classical music in the fifth grade, Alissa has worked for CSX, one of the largest railroads in the country, and Kemper Insurance where she currently leads a team focused on large project implementations for call centers and telephone applications. Alissa absolutely loves living in Jacksonville with her husband and their three year old son. “

Larry is a Philanthropist, Veteran, Community Advocate, Transformational Business Leader, and the owner of Triaxios, a Real Estate and Media company. Larry served two tours of duty in the United States Navy leading teams accountable for advanced computer, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and electronic systems. As a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Total Quality Management leader, Larry specializes in strategy, compliance, efficiency, and accuracy improvement initiatives and leads the orchestra board in setting our future strategic direction.

Charmaine is a member of Smith Husley and Busey Law Firm’s Board of Directors and is chair of the firm’s integrated Healthcare Practice Team. She is one of only 129 attorneys certified by The Florida Bar in healthcare law, and has maintained this certification since 2012. Charmaine represents health systems and hospitals, academic medical centers, clinically integrated networks, physician group practices, and other healthcare providers in complex transactions and regulatory matters.

She is a Jacksonville native with a deep commitment to serving her community, especially those organizations focusing on children’s welfare and the arts. Charmaine is married with two sons.

Carole Meyer has been on the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville’s board since its second year. Previously, her experience with non-profits was volunteering at Hubbard House and the United Way. Her professional career was spent in radio broadcasting and owning/managing a home health and staffing company. She currently has a private practice doing hands on healing, breath work, and sound healing with Tibetan bowls. She loves live music, yoga, food, baking, and time spent with family, friends, the grands, and her young pups.

Jeffrey Otey was born and raised in Oregon, Ohio and studied music at The University of Toledo. After moving and working around the North East after college, Jeffrey and his partner settled in Jacksonville, FL in 2004. When not practicing and performing with the orchestra, Jeffrey is a software testing and configuration analyst with a local financial services company. Jeffery is a founding member of the orchestra.

Molly Sweet has been playing clarinet for over twenty years. She received her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Florida State University. Following her formal education at Florida State, Molly has maintained an active presence in the Jacksonville music community, performing in various ensembles and teaching private music lessons. One of her most notable ensembles is the New Orleans style traditional jazz band, The Junco Royals, in which she plays clarinet, arranges music and sings. Outside of her musical endeavors, Molly works at Feeding Northeast Florida, the regional food bank.

Alison McCarty has been a horn player since 1996 and a member of the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville since 2016. In her day job she works for the Jacksonville Public Library organizing events for readers and writers. You can often find her curling up with a good book, enjoying the Florida sunshine, or on the best days, both at the same time.

Kara Hooker is a mom to her son Logan and her husband, Kyle Hooker, is a P-8 pilot in the Navy. She is currently stationed in DC working remotely for the COJ. Kara also is orchestra librarian/personnel manager and violinist in Capital City Symphony in DC as well as Loudoun Symphony Orchestra. Kara hopes the Navy will station her back in Jacksonville so she can rejoin the COJ soon!

Leah is former music student at the University of North Florida and Jacksonville native who has been playing music locally since the early 2000’s. When she’s not playing music you can find her growing flower in her small flower farm. She is a violist with the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville, a community member of the Jacksonville University Orchestra.

Email: publicrelations@civicorchestrajax.org

Courtney Diaz grew up in Belize, Central America and graduated from the University of North Florida in 2019 with a BM in Music Performance. She is an alumna of the Orchestra of the Americas (2013, 2014, and 2016) and has worked with the National Youth Orchestra of Belize and the Pallotti School of Music. An employee of the UNF School of Music, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband, learning how to garden, watching British period dramas and playing with her two cats.

Dr. Jerry Raymond Gugel

March 2, 1940 – October 6, 2023

It is with very sad hearts that we bring you the news that our dear friend Jerry passed away early in October. Jerry was very important in the early development of the orchestra and a passionate, dynamic personality on our board of directors and in the Jacksonville community. As a member of our board Jerry shared his insights and enthusiasm for our mission and offered many creative ideas.

Jerry was a musician in high school and in his university band and orchestra. Jerry had a passion for continued learning and held master’s degrees in educational reading, in arts and music, and a doctorate in educational leadership. In addition to the Civic Orchestra, Jerry served on three other boards including the Equality Florida Steering Committee. He loved working with children especially with art and music. As the principal of Stanton College Preparatory School he shook many hands after graduates walked across the stage to accept their diplomas.  

It has been our great honor to serve with him in through the Civic Orchestra and to know him as a friend and fellow music afficionado as well as an educator.  

He will be missed.