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Nicholas C. Efstathiou, Director of Bands
Nicholas C. Efstathiou is Director of Bands at Bay High School, Panama City, Florida. A native of Panama City and Alumni (1998) of Bay High, he has been serving as Director of the award winning Million Dollar Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Rhythm Rocker Jazz Ensemble since the fall of 2006. Nicholas earned his Master's Degree from Troy University, where he studied instrumental music arranging with Ralph Ford, conducting with Dr. Mark Walker, and served on the board of Southeastern United States High School and Middle School Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. Earning a Bachelor's Degree from Troy University, Nicholas studied private tuba with Bob Mitchell and band techniques with Robert W. Smith. Throughout the southeast he has served as a tuba/brass clinician and had his arrangements for band performed by the Troy Band program as well as numerous high school programs. Nicholas' professional memberships include National Band Association, Music Educator National Conference, Florida Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, FarmHouse Fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, among others. He was selected Bay High's Teacher of the Year for the 2009-2010 school year, and elected to Bay District School's Top Five Teacher of the Year.
Kelly S. Efstathiou, Auxiliary Director / Majorette Instructor
A native of Hazlehurst, GA and Alumni (2003) of Jeff Davis High School, she is currently the marketing director / designer for Vascular Associates, LLC. Kelly earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Technology and Industry as well as a music industry contract from Troy University. While pursuing her degree, she was a Sound of the South majorette for 4 years, serving as captain her last year. Kelly also served one year as a Troy University Basketball Dancer, as well as a Trojan Softball Player. She also played flute in the symphony band for 4 years. Kelly has judged numerous high school auxiliary auditions throughout the Southeast, as well as choreographed for a number of high school majorette, colorguard and dance lines. She has choreographed the baton work and the halftime production number every year for the Bay High School Million Dollar Band. Additionally, Kelly has also produced show designs / concepts, staging, choreography, costume designs, hair / makeup, and music production for Bay Breeze Winterguard since 2008.
Johnathan Soyka , Color Guard / Winterguard Instructor
Jonathan Soyka graduated from Bay High School in 1997 and is an alumnus of the “Million Dollar” band. During his freshman year, he traveled with the band to New York City and had the fantastic opportunity to play the french horn at Carnegie Hall. During his junior year, he was vice-president of Etude, mellophone section leader and marched with the indoor drumline. During his senior year, he was president of Etude, mellophone section leader and marched in the show “Rituals of Blue” with Bay Breeze winterguard. After graduation, he briefly attended the University of Minnesota. He completed cosmetology school in 2000 and has been a licensed Cosmetologist for the past 8-1/2 years. His profession has taken him to many localities including, Birmingham, AL., Reno, NV., and Tampa, FL. He is now enrolled full time at Gulf Coast Community College. After graduation, he plans to attend Troy University or the University of Florida, with the challenging goal of becoming a band director. Jonathan has choreographed the guard work for the Million Dollar Band halftime shows since 2007, and has produced flag / floor designs, staging, choreography, costume designs, and hair / makeup every year for Bay Breeze Winterguard since 2008.
Christopher Dean – Million Dollar Choreographer, Dance Director, Bay Breeze Winterguard Staff
Christopher Dean graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Biology for Pre-Dental Studies/Dance Choreography and Performance. He was a three time scholarship student at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Summer Program and a scholarship student at the Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive. Christopher’s performance credits (New York and Regional) include: numerous Nutcrackers; Raymonda; Paquita; Les Sylphides; Beauty and the Beast; West Side Story; Grease!; The Music Man; Carousel (featuring Shirley Jones); Broadway Bares 15, 16, and 17. Norwegian DAWN, JEWEL, and PEARL; NCL Cruise Lines Dancer, Singer, and Choreographer; and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes.
Christopher won a national award for choreography which was performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and has been a guest artist, teacher, and choreographer at numerous studios in the Southeast US. Christopher is signed with Extra Models in NYC and has appeared in New York’s Fashion Week’s Heatherette and Marc Jacobs shows, OK! Magazine, and the CNBC Cruise Ship Documentary “Cruise Inc: Big Money on the High Seas”. Christopher was a featured extra in Gavin DeGraw’s music video “Follow Through” and will appear in “The Extra Man” starring Katie
Holmes due for release in 2010. Christopher choreographed and directed the 2010 Miss USA Alabama and Miss Teen USA Alabama Pageants and is a faculty member at Panama City Dance Academy. He is thrilled to be returning to SEADAC, his home away from home.
