Full-Time Faculty
Jon Bassett, PhD
Music Department Chair
Director of Chorus, Strings, Friends
bassettj@floridacollege.edu
Tim Moore, MM
Voice / Musical Theater
Director of Musical Theater Ensemble and Chamber Singers
mooret@floridacollege.edu
Brian Rainwater, MM
Director of Bands
Director of Wind and Jazz Ensembles, Pep Band
rainwaterb@floridacollege.edu
Jessica Moore, MM
Music Education
Director of Chamber Ensemble (Instrumental)
moorejessica@floridacollege.edu
Molly Taylor, MM, MT-BC
History / Music & Health
Director of Accents and Unplugged
taylorm@floridacollege.edu
Adjunct Faculty and Staff
Jennifer Bassett, MM
Voice, Piano, Strings
bassettjennifer@floridacollege.edu
Robert Carmichael, MM
Trumpet
Robert Carmichael is a professional trumpet player who plays a variety of genres including jazz, classical, modern, pop, funk, and many others. Robert is also an educator, teaching private lessons and leading clinics at schools in the Tampa Bay area. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Appalachian State University in North Carolina and a master’s degree in performance from the University of South Florida.
rcarm98@gmail.com
Douglas Butler, BA
Saxophone, Music Department Secretary
Douglas Butler earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Florida College and has stayed in Tampa to pursue a career as a freelance musician. Primarily a jazz saxophonist, Douglas has performed with several Tampa-area superstars; he also has performance experience across several genres and instruments (other woodwinds and bass guitar). He is an in-demand educator, maintaining a full schedule of private students and leading clinics in middle and high schools. Douglas serves as the part-time secretary for the Music Department at Florida College.
douglasbutler251@gmail.com
musicsecretary@floridacollege.edu
Kyle Cherwinski, DMA
Percussion
Dr. Kyle Cherwinski is an active performer and percussion instructor. He has directed percussion ensemble performances with the Louisiana Youth Orchestra, the University of Northern Colorado, and Berkeley Preparatory School. As a performer, Kyle can regularly be seen playing with the Florida Wind Band in Tampa, the Tampa Bay Brass Band, and with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra of Punta Gorda.
kyle.cherwinski@gmail.com
Paul Gavin, MM
Drums
Paul Gavin is a drummer, teacher, composer, and arranger in Tampa, Florida. Since graduating from the University of South Florida in 2015, Paul has made his living exclusively as a freelance musician. He maintains an active schedule by playing all kinds of music all around the state of Florida, teaching privately and in schools, writing music for school programs, and writing and performing his own original music.
paulegavin@gmail.com
Simon Lasky, MM
Jazz Piano
British jazz pianist/composer, Simon Lasky, has received major awards for his music in the U.S. and the U.K., and his 3 albums as a leader showcase dozens of compositions for jazz ensembles. Since his relocation to Tampa in 2018, Simon has been in demand as a soloist, lecturer, clinician, and sideman, performing with leading jazz artists from the U.S. and European jazz scenes. He is currently an adjunct music professor at the University of South Florida, Hillsborough College, and Florida College.
simonlasky@googlemail.com
Mandy Swaim, DMA
Flute
Dr. Mandy Swaim is an avid performer and flute teacher currently residing in Tampa, Florida. She is the instructor of flute at the University of Tampa, Hillsborough College, Florida College, and Warner University and is a highly sought-after middle and high school flute clinician in the Tampa Bay area. Dr. Swaim completed a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Carolina Greensboro where her studies focused on flute performance with an emphasis in early flute pedagogy.
music.mandym@gmail.com