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 named Associate Director in 2024.
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, or DeeDee as she is better known, joined Spirit of the Gulf as a full-time director in March 2017, taking on co-directing responsibilities before becoming full-time director, and ultimately co-director with Karen Breidert. DeeDee served as Associate Director for eight years before that. She was also appointed to the Sweet Adelines International Music Faculty in April 2017.
DeeDee is the Baritone of the quartet Sirens! who are the current 3rd place Sweet Adelines International finalists. She was also the baritone of the quartet Bling! — 2015 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet.
DeeDee, who lives in Plantation, FL, is married to James Kastler, director of South Florida Jubilee Chorus, and has two boys. She is a music educator at Cooper City Elementary School in the Broward County School District.
Director
Deanna, or DeeDee as she is better known, joined Spirit of the Gulf as a full-time director in March 2017, taking on co-directing responsibilities before becoming full-time director, and ultimately co-director with Karen Breidert. DeeDee served as Associate Director for eight years before that. She was also appointed to the Sweet Adelines International Music Faculty in April 2017.
DeeDee is the Baritone of the quartet Sirens! who are the current 3rd place Sweet Adelines International finalists. She was also the baritone of the quartet Bling! — 2015 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet.
DeeDee, who lives in Plantation, FL, is married to James Kastler, director of South Florida Jubilee Chorus, and has two boys. She is a music educator at Cooper City Elementary School in the Broward County School District.
.jpg "International Chorus and Quartet Medalists")
