MEET THE CAMP DIRECTOR

 

Gloria Vagi has been a band director in Broward County for 39 years. During her seven (7) years at Perry Middle School, the band program grew from 70 students to over 300. After teaching at Pioneer Middle School in Cooper City for 30 years, the band program maintained a high enrollment of over 300 students.

 

Under Mrs. Vagi’s direction, the Pioneer Middle School Symphonic, Concert, and Jazz bands consistently earned Superior ratings at all Florida Bandmaster’s Association MPA’s. Mrs. Vagi has received numerous accolades and awards throughout her career, including being selected as “Teacher of the Year” at Pioneer Middle School in 1983 and 2002. She received the Presidential Citation from the Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Richmond. She is listed in “Who’s Who Among American Women”, "Who’s Who Among American Teachers", received the FBA 5-year Superior Award multiple times, and the FMEA Middle School Music Enrollment Award. In 2006 she was selected by the American Business Women’s Association as “Educator of the Year” in Broward County. In 2009 she was honored by the city of Cooper City for her many contributions to music education, community involvement, and sharing her love of music with the children in the community. In 2011, she was honored by being selected to be the FMEA All-State Middle School Honors Band conductor. Mrs. Vagi has been the supervising teacher for many band interns and continues to serve as a mentor to new teachers in Broward County. Many of her former students have gone on to become professional musicians, composers, music educators and curriculum specialists. Mrs. Vagi loves teaching her students to have a passion for music and always wants them to strive to be the “best they can be”.