DIRECTOR – Bruce Yost

Bruce Yost has been teaching vocal music in Hillsborough County Schools for the past 33 years.  He is in his 27th year as the choral director at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, where he was selected Teacher of the Year in 2003.

Having taught at the middle, junior, and senior high levels, Mr. Yost has also served as music director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton, and as a conductor of the Gulf Coast Boychoir and the University of South Florida’s Women’s Chorale and Men’s Glee Club.  Mr. Yost holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Florida State University, where he was the recipient of the Robert Lawson Shaw Choral Conducting Scholarship.

He was awarded a Master of Arts in Music Education by the University of South Florida in 1994.  During his tenure at USF, Mr. Yost acted as Assistant to the Director of the International Society for Music Education 1994 World Conference and was recipient of the School of Music’s Nancy Mayo Award.  As an active member of the Music Educators National Conference, Florida Vocal Association, and American Choral Directors Association, Mr. Yost has served as FVA District Chairman, Florida ACDA Membership Chair and Repertoire and Standards Chair for High School Choirs, presenter at FMEA state conferences, and conductor of high school honor choirs in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

The choral program at Plant High School is the largest in the School District of Hillsborough County, currently serving more than 200 students.  Plant choirs consistently earn “Superior” ratings in sightsinging and performance at the District and State levels and have twice accepted invitations to perform for Florida ACDA events.

 ACCOMPANIST – Tara Swartzbaugh

Tara Richards Swartzbaugh is the accompanist for the H. B. Plant High School Choral Department.

She is also a Piano and Theory instructor at The University of Tampa, where she serves as Musical Director for the Department of Speech Theater and Dance, and is the new director of the Broadway-Pop group, Opus. She is the Director of Music and Chancel Choir Director at United Community Church, Sun City Center.

She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from The University of Tampa, and a Master of Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Texas Woman’s University. Mrs. Swartzbaugh is a member and Tampa Area Coordinator of the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Alpha Psi Omega, Tau Beta Sigma, American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association.