Our Co-Directors
Gina Baker
Director
Gina has been around barbershop her whole life, but officially joined Sweet Adelines in 1993. She has been a member of Sound of Sunshine Chorus, and was also a member Toast Of Tampa Show Chorus for 21 years, growing through performance, dancing on the Front Row, Music Staff, Management Team, and became a Certified Director. She was named Associate Director of TOT in 2015, and was awarded Sweet Adeline of the Year in 2017. Gina found her home in Spirit of the Gulf Chorus in 2022 and was named Associate Director in 2024. In 2025, Gina joined Deanna Kastler as Co-Director of Spirit of the Gulf.
Gina was also the Lead in Jackpot! Quartet, earning 3 consecutive international silver medals before retiring in 2009. She then went on to sing Lead in Touché, 2013 SAI Quartet Champions, & Viva! 2020 SAI Quartet Champions. Currently, she is the Tenor of the 3rd place SAI Medalist quartet, Sirens!
She enjoys serving and teaching on the Region 9 Education Steering Committee and Education Faculty coaching choruses and quartets around the region and beyond. She is the Region 9 YWIH Coordinator and is a Youth Camp Clinician. Gina is also in the International Judging Program and is an Approved Candidate Judge in the Sound Category.
Gina recently retired from a nursing career to pursue more barbershop! She and her husband, Jeff live in San Antonio, FL with their daughter, Lisa, and adorable long-haired chihuahua, Bella.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Gina was also the Lead in Jackpot! Quartet, earning 3 consecutive international silver medals before retiring in 2009. She then went on to sing Lead in Touché, 2013 SAI Quartet Champions, & Viva! 2020 SAI Quartet Champions. Currently, she is the Tenor of the 3rd place SAI Medalist quartet, Sirens!
She enjoys serving and teaching on the Region 9 Education Steering Committee and Education Faculty coaching choruses and quartets around the region and beyond. She is the Region 9 YWIH Coordinator and is a Youth Camp Clinician. Gina is also in the International Judging Program and is an Approved Candidate Judge in the Sound Category.
Gina recently retired from a nursing career to pursue more barbershop! She and her husband, Jeff live in San Antonio, FL with their daughter, Lisa, and adorable long-haired chihuahua, Bella.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Deanna "DeeDee" Kastler
Director
Deanna (DeeDee) began her Sweet Adelines journey with the Gainesville Chorus and spent several years with them as a chorus and quartet member. She joined Spirit of the Gulf in 2004 and served as the Associate Director from 2009 to 2017. She then became a full-time director and, ultimately, co-director with Karen Breidert. In addition, Dee Dee was appointed to the Sweet Adelines International Music Faculty in April 2017. Currently, she enjoys coaching choruses and quartets in Region 9 and throughout the US.
Deanna was the baritone of the 2015 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet, Bling! Today, she is the baritone of Sirens!, which is currently the third-place Sweet Adelines International finalist.
DeeDee lives in Plantation, FL, and is married to James Kastler, director of the South Florida Jubilee Chorus. They have two boys, a dog, and two cats. DeeDee is a music teacher at Cooper City Elementary School in the Broward County School District.
Director
Deanna (DeeDee) began her Sweet Adelines journey with the Gainesville Chorus and spent several years with them as a chorus and quartet member. She joined Spirit of the Gulf in 2004 and served as the Associate Director from 2009 to 2017. She then became a full-time director and, ultimately, co-director with Karen Breidert. In addition, Dee Dee was appointed to the Sweet Adelines International Music Faculty in April 2017. Currently, she enjoys coaching choruses and quartets in Region 9 and throughout the US.
Deanna was the baritone of the 2015 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet, Bling! Today, she is the baritone of Sirens!, which is currently the third-place Sweet Adelines International finalist.
DeeDee lives in Plantation, FL, and is married to James Kastler, director of the South Florida Jubilee Chorus. They have two boys, a dog, and two cats. DeeDee is a music teacher at Cooper City Elementary School in the Broward County School District.
.jpg "International Chorus and Quartet Medalists")
