Meet the Instructors of the Lake Wales Arts Council
Rich Buncamper - Visual Arts Instructor
Rich received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Howard University in 1972. He immediately enrolled in graduate school at Alfred University and received his Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 1974. For 33 years he was a Professor of Fine Art at the Kean College of New Jersey where he instructed the undergraduate and graduate level students in Ceramics and Computer Graphics. He has conducted workshops in Mississippi and has been an Artist in Residence at the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts in Maine. He has exhibited his work nationally, including the State University of New York, the Indianapolis Art Center, Baltimore Clayworks, The Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, CA and the Afro-American Cultural Center in Charlotte, NC.
Victoria Friel - Visual Arts Instructor
Originally from the great state of Iowa, she took her first painting class at the age of 11 and hasn’t stopped creating art since. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in art and art history from University of South Florida where she also worked at the Contemporary Art Museum. She is a Florida Certified Art Teacher K-12 and has been teaching art for 8 years, currently teaching elementary art and private lessons in Lakeland. She loves all types of art but painting is her passion. Her art has been displayed locally through the Art Crawl organization.
During art camp students will be learning about clay, pottery and 3D sculpture. Students will practice clay techniques and skills, learn about different types of clay and the process of using clay.
Gary and Ann Gramlich - Visual and Performing Arts Instructors
Gary and Ann have been involved in children’s ministry for over 45 years, traveling worldwide, sharing their unique blend of comedy, puppetry, music, and teaching in Conventions, Seminars, Churches, Universities, Crusades, VBS programs, Camps and Schools. They have written nine “How-To” creative arts books, kid’s church curriculum, and recorded two original soundtracks. Their passion is KIDS and training leadership teams who work with them using “out of the box” creative ministry ideas. They are requested speakers, consultants and mentors to churches and pastors of all denominations around the world. They cannot wait to use their many “characters” to help teach the arts to the kids of Polk County and surrounding areas this summer! It’s time to get creative!
Shawn Holiday - Theater and Weaving Arts Instructor
Shawn is a teacher, writer and performer. He has produced well over 500 hundred murder mysteries throughout Florida, performed in dozens of theatrical productions and written several plays, comedy shows and television productions. Since 1999, he has taught acting classes for youth and produced children's plays. He created Mr. Holiday's Camp of High Drama and Over Acting in 2005. Since 2009, Holiday has coordinated activities for youth in foster care, including acting, art, music, sports, camping, crafts, cooking, gardening and nature walks. He has been a resident of Fort Myers since 1975 and recently moved to the Sebring area after Hurricane Ian.
Jodi Miller - Camp Director and Visual Arts Instructor
Jodi’s love for the performing arts started at Mrs. Debbie’s Dance Studio at the age of 3 in a small town in Indiana. After moving to Florida, she continued studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Lyrical attending Indian River School for Visual and Performing Arts as well as cheering for Vero Beach All-Stars in Vero Beach, FL. After graduating Jodi went to Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. on a dance scholarship. Jodi trained with Modern Dance Masters Demetrius and Kathleen Klein. While at university, she was able to have performance opportunities at the prestigious Kravis Center and study in workshops with Broadway choreographers for shows such as Chicago, Wicked, and Chorus Line as well as perform in Ballets such as The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and Coppelia.
In 2005, Jodi transferred to Warner University, graduating in 2008 with a BA in Biblical Studies and Christian Education. After intense studies in her undergrad, Jodi was accepted into an Interdisciplinary Arts Master’s Program at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida focusing on curriculum development within education infusing arts into core curriculum.
Since graduating, Jodi has shared her love for the arts and education by teaching in both middle and high school’s drama departments, coaching national champion dance and all-star cheerleading teams, as well as choreograph for local schools and community theater. Miller currently teaches the fourth grade at Winter Haven Christian School. She is eager to share her love and passion for the arts with our incredible instructors as together they inspire young artists to grow in creativity!
Maribeth Mundell - Theater and Musical Arts Instructor
With a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the arts, Maribeth has played a vital role in nurturing and inspiring budding talents in our area. She teaches our Ukulele, Voice, and Singing for Musical Theater classes, and also brings her expertise to Sandy’s MusicGirls as a percussion, voice, and ukulele instructor. Maribeth has been a valuable member of our Summer Arts Camp team at the Lake Wales Arts Council.
Maribeth’s journey in music began at the age of 17 when she took the stage as a pre-show performer at the Coachlight Dinner Theater in East Windsor, CT. Her versatile voice has graced a wide range of genres from Opera and Broadway to rock, country, jazz, and standards. Her impressive credits include performing in the concert version of Philip Springer’s musical at Merkin Hall, solo performances with the New York Women’s Choir, and participation in the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir and the New York Symphony choir. Maribeth has also shone in one-woman shows featuring the music of Rosemary Clooney, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter, and was a featured soprano soloist in a Gershwin tribute at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Her roles in Stephen Dickman’s “The Violin Maker” and as a member of The Sopranos duo further underscore her diverse talents.
Maribeth holds a B.A. in music from Sarah Lawrence College, with additional studies at NYU. Her dedication to music education is evident in her role as a music teacher at Lena Vista Elementary School in Auburndale, where she oversees general music, world percussion, chorus, musical theater, and ukulele programs.
She recently played Sister Mary Robert Anne in "Nunsense" at the Lakeland Community Theater and self published 2 Fantasy / Sci Fi novels, “Then and There” and “The Path”, both available on Amazon via e book or softcover!
David Williams - Theater and Media Arts Instructor
David was born in Tampa, FL and raised in Lake Wales. Throughout middle school, his world opened into the Arts by creating a series which in turn led him to pursue film in high school. He wanted to see the works he created to come off the notebook pages and onto the silver screen. After graduating high school he was in several plays at Lake Wales Little Theater before going to the University of South Florida. In his junior year of college, he created a photography business with his roommate that captures graduate portraits and photoshoots across the Tampa Bay Area. As we traverse through the camp, the first week will be about photography and capturing images through their eyes. The following weeks will be focused on honing the students’ talents in post-production. How to edit videos together, add music, and create fun trailers for everyone to enjoy. Excelsior!
Tommie Wofford - Theater and Performing Arts Instructor
Tommie is a writer, composer, actor, and producer from the Central Florida area. He produced numerous concerts, readings, and full-length productions of his show, "Malcolm X The Musical", at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre Company, Dr. Phillips Center For the Performing Arts, and more. His work was originally showcased in New York City at Feinstein's 54 Below for the Black Writer's Showcase. He is a recipient of the University of the Arts full tuition presidential scholarship for a BFA in Playwriting, Directing, and Production. He has interviews and feature appearances with shows such as The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Drama Mamas Podcast, Stage Theatre Podcast, Arts Life, and more!