The Girl Choir of South Florida

Wallis Peterson

Artistic Director

Wallis Peterson has been the Artistic Director of the Girl Choir since founding it in 2005. In addition to her responsibility of oversight of all artistic activities, she directs the Concert Choir and Primes 2.

Mrs. Peterson been an active as a choral director, music educator, and clinician in South Florida since 1990. She arrived in Broward County after graduating with honors from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.

Mrs. Peterson began her career as the choral director for South Broward High School, where she built a program that included award-winning mixed, men’s and women’s ensembles. She also served as the music director for the children and youth choirs at First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Lauderdale, preparing young singers for a variety of performances and festivals locally and throughout the state of Florida.

Mrs. Peterson also served as the director of the Training Choir for the Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir from 1998 through 2006. In this capacity, she worked with eighty to one-hundred 3rd and 4th grade boys each year, preparing them for a minimum of three concerts throughout the season.

Mrs. Peterson is currently the music specialist for The Blake School in Plantation, FL. She directs three choirs at the school, with members ranging in age from seven to fourteen. She also provides general music instruction to all pre-K through 8th graders, and the entire student body participates in a minimum of two major concerts each year. Her students regularly participate in All-County, All-State, and ACDA honor choirs.

Mrs. Peterson is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, and the American Choral Directors Association. She is a former member of Nova Singers and other South Florida community choirs. Her two boys are currently members of the Singing Sons.

Gretchen Fasulo

Associate Director

Gretchen Fasulo has been the Associate Director of the Girl Choir since its creation in 2005. She directs the Primes 1 choir and assists the Artistic Director.

Mrs. Fasulo attended Stetson University, where she graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Since that time, she has taught music in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. She is the 2006 Broward County Arts Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Fasulo served as the Music Specialist at Sawgrass Elementary from 1999 to 2007. In addition to providing general music instruction to all K-5 students, she directed an award-winning choir and percussion ensemble. Her students participated regularly in the All-County and All-State Honor Choirs and performed in both local and state-wide music festivals.

Mrs. Fasulo has also served as the Assistant Music Director at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale since 2001, where she directs three choirs. In that capacity, she is responsible for preparing each ensemble for frequent performances during church services. Her choirs also participate in two major productions each year.

Mrs. Fasulo is currently teaching music in the Lower School of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. 

Mrs. Fasulo is a member of Music Educators National Conference, Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, and the American Choral Directors Association. She is Past-President and current Secretary of the Broward County Elementary Music Teachers Association and is the coordinator for the Broward Elementary All-County Honor Choir.

Susan Dodd

Accompanist

Susan Dodd has served as the Accompanist for all groups in the Girl Choir since it was founded in 2005.

Ms. Dodd earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Piano Performance with honors from Florida Atlantic University and her Master's Degree in Accompanying from the University of Akron, Ohio.

Ms. Dodd is a member of the piano faculty at Broward Community College as well as the staff accompanist. She accompanies for the BCC Seahawk Singers and the Broward Choral Society. In 2004, Ms. Dodd was chosen as Adjunct Professor of the Year.

Ms. Dodd has performed for many schools and churches, including Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church where she accompanied many musical productions as well as toured and recorded with the Kings Choir.

She is presently Assistant Organist at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale. She also maintains a private piano studio. She has toured throughout the United States and Europe and for many years accompanied Forrest J. Willingham's The Songs of Broadway Company throughout the South Florida hotel and condominium circuit.

Ms. Dodd is the Scholarship Chairman of the Morning Musicale of Fort Lauderdale and is a member of the Broward County Music Teachers Assocation, the Florida State Music Teachers Association, the Music Teachers National Assocation, and the American Guild of Organists. She is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Lucia Deus

Choreographer

Lucia Deus served as the Choreographer for the Girl Choir since 2006.

Mrs. Deus has pursued an active theatre career as an actor, dancer, director, choreographer, puppeteer, and educator in South Florida for many years.  Mrs. Deus holds a Bachelor of fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance with a Minor in Dance from the University of Miami, and a Master in Theatre Directing from Roosevelt University, College of the Performing Arts.
 
Her regional performing credits include, Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Robin in Godspell, Emma/Poly in Funny Girl, Tia in Breathing Under Water, and Susan in the Sheep Dog Who Danced Ballet.  She was a member of both the New View Dance Company and the Iotaro Dance Company.  She served as choreographer for numerous Kirk Singers productions at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale as well as choreographer for Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir.
 
Mrs. Deus is currently teaching Drama and Dance at Charles W. Flanagan High School.