Staff

Accomplished musical artist, Dr. Brandon Loos has captured the attention of audiences throughout the United States and abroad with his musical mastery and finesse.

He has had the good fortune to travel extensively overseas as a musician performing in Spain, Ischia, Italy, Austria, and Argentina. Dr. Loos has shared the stage with world renowned artists including James Morrison, Jens Lindemann, Thomas Gansch, and Hans Gansch.

In addition to performing with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra as a core member and serving as Artistic Director and conductor for Volusia Community Arts, Brandon is equally committed to his profile as a teacher, working with students of all ages and abilities through his position at the College of Central Florida and an active private studio. He is thrilled to be working with Flagler Youth Orchestra.

Victor Luis Rivera was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1977.  In 1989, at the age of 12, Victor began to study violin under the tutelage of Deborah Dansby Wells as a member of the Deltona Middle School String Fever Program.  While continuing his studies with Mrs. Dansby until graduating Deltona High School in 1995, he participated as Concertmaster in the Volusia County’s "All-County" orchestra and won the Florida Future Music Educators Soloist Competition. In 1992, Victor became Concertmaster of "Ars de Chiesa Orchestra" and Concertmaster of the Stetson Youth Chamber Orchestra under the guidance of Routa Kroumovitch at Stetson University.  He also began to study violin privately with Dr. Alvaro Gomez and received a scholarship to study at Stetson University School of Music.

Victor Luis Rivera is a War Veteran who proudly served his country in the United States Army.  After joining in 1996, he received multiple awards and commendations for his actions in and out of combat.  In 2003, as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, he was a part of the liberation force which invaded Iraq. Mr. Rivera later retired from military service due to injuries received in combat.  Upon receiving his honorable discharge Victor resumed his studies under Dr. Gomez, and continued his education earning an Associates of Arts from Daytona State College, a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Rollins College with a focus in Violin Performance and Conducting, as well as a Masters of Arts in Teaching: Music Education.  While attending Rollins, he was the Student Conductor for the Rollins Orchestra, String Ensemble, and Concert Choir Under the tutelage of Dr. John V. Sinclair.

Victor has performed with many organizations in the Central Florida area, such as the Bach Festival Orchestra, Imperial Symphony Orchestra, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Daytona Beach Community Orchestra, and is the Concert Master of Sabbath Strings.

Victor is also a 5th Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Karate and enjoys teaching and studying martial arts and self-defense at Wes Crile in Deltona under 7th Degree Black Belt Michael Abrams.

Hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, cellist Gracie Lookadoo graduated in 2021 with a Bachelors in Music Technology from Stetson University. Their fifteen years of study have included two performances in Carnegie Hall, a performance tour of Italy and the Vatican, as well as several self produced albums under the monikers “August Moon” (in collaboration with composer Gracie Caggiano) and “Fallen From Grace” (a solo project).

Gracie’s ensemble endeavors over the years have included tours and performances with the Carolina Youth Symphony, the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Chamber and Symphonic Orchestras, Stetson University’s Chamber and Symphonic Orchestras, and the Delphi 421 Early Music Society.

Gracie specializes in extended techniques for cello, often incorporating electrical components and alternative playing styles into live and recorded works. They credit their creative inspiration to mentors Dr. Jamie Clark, David Bjella, Dr. Chaz Underriner, and Dr. Nathan Wolek, whose support and encouragement during their time at Stetson played a key role in their development as an independent artist.

During the day, Gracie is a competitive Ballroom and Latin dancer, teaching out of the Arthur Murray Studio in Ormond Beach. Their other passions include scuba diving, natural photography, travel, writing (music or otherwise), and creating with whatever they can get their hands on. If you ever wonder where Gracie is, the answer is “on the way to the next big adventure”.

Dr. Pamela Mireles is a Mexican-American violinist with different talents and strengths in her musical career. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance (2017) in the Escuela Superior de Música from the Fine Arts and Literature National Institute in Mexico City, and her masters in Violin Performance (2019) and her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Violin Performance with a cognate in Entrepreneurship (2022) from the University of Florida.

Since her studies in the hometown in Mexico, Dr. Mireles has performed as a soloist, joined jazz bands, folkloric music ensembles, new music projects, chamber music and orchestra performances, both in the classical and pop style.

Nowadays, Pamela spends her time freelancing in several orchestras around North Florida, teaching violin lessons (privately and in public education), teaching music appreciation online as an adjunct and translating in-person lessons and masterclasses from Spanish to English and vice versa.

Allison Burke began playing viola at nine years old and knew early on that her calling in life was to teach orchestra. She graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. During her time at George Mason, she was a member of the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, as well as small chamber ensembles. Allison earned her Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, while working full-time as a teacher.

In 2010, Allison began her career teaching elementary school orchestra. She spent 10 years in Virginia and New York directing elementary, middle, and high school orchestras. Her students have consistently received Superior ratings at state assessments and festivals. Over the years, in addition to the required concerts, her students have performed in All District, All County, and All State orchestras, talent shows, PTA meetings, recruitment assemblies, shopping malls, hospitals, and nursing homes. 

Allison became a stay-at-home mom in 2020, relocating to Palm Coast with her husband to raise their two children. She is thrilled to join the Flagler Youth Orchestra and share per passion for music with all young musicians in Flagler County!