The South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Club is a non-profit organization (501 c3) whose purpose is to promote folk and acoustic music and to provide a community for people who share a love for it. We promote and help sponsor events in the tri-county area. See our events page for calendars and details.
I have been a Board member of Broward Folk for over twenty years and am currently Vice-President. Other positions that I have held include Parliamentarian, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Open Mike/Concert Coordinator, Children’s Stage Manager, Chair of Performer Selection Committee, and a Preliminary Judge of the Singer-Songwriter Competition for the South Florida Folk Festival. I have been the Singer-Songwriter coordinator for many years.
I have been an active member of the Broward Folk Club since 2000. I have been the Secretary the BFC since 2021. I have also taken on the role of webmaster and media specialist for the club. I have been the co-director of the SFFAMF from 2023-2025 and am co-musical director this year. I am also a musician and have taught ukulele and guitar to students in elementary and middle school. I am very passionate about the promotion of local music events, especially working with young people to grow our community and expand our outreach with schools, colleges, and community organizations.
I became Vice President of the Dade County Folk Club in November of 2022 and have served until our clubs merged, when I then became a board member for our new club. I host events and play mostly in North Miami at the Luna Star Cafe. I’m also a singer/songwriter working on my fourth album of original music. My last record, ‘We the People’ went to number 11 on the Folk-DJ list chart. I am happy to be on board and look forward to contributing to the Folk and Americana music scene here in SoFla.
I am a semi-retired nationally board-certified licensed massage therapist. I spent several decades in New York earning a living as an editor at the New York Times, a bicycle touring company owner/operator, a middle-school science teacher, and a stay-at-home dad. After moving to Florida in 2001, I attended the Acupuncture & Massage College in Miami, where I attained my “license to touch.” In my “spare time,” I enjoy painting, singing, bicycling, reading, spending time in nature, and listening to music – mostly classical and folk. I’m an active member (and current board member) of the Broward Folk Club, as well as a member of the City of Sunrise Leisure Services Advisory Board. Bottom line: I love music – It’s the key to my soul.
If you met me when I first joined Broward Folk Club, you may know me as Penny. Today I go by my middle name, Jo. I’ve been a BFC member for a long time – I don’t remember when I joined. Always on the side lines, I reasoned it might be time for me to step up and join our governing board.
Musically, I sing, play ukulele pretty well, guitar badly, and I’ve written a few decent songs. I currently teach ukulele to senior adults at John Knox Village. I am a huge fan of live music and you’ll find me at every sort of music event – rock and roll, sofar concerts, Broadway musicals, opera, and local open mics.
My vision and hope for our club is to continue to grow our membership, and to make our annual festival a must-attend event for the whole community.
I spent 18 years in Nashville working in the music industry. During that time I worked with a wide variety of artists including Rascal Flatts, Bryan Adams, Loretta Lynn, Del McCoury Band and Brad Paisley. I also spent 3 years as a Staff Songwriter for the “Songs of Love Foundation’, andhave released 6 albums as a Singer/Songwriter. In 2011 I founded The Song Team, www.thesongteam.com. Their programs combine songwriting and professional development. In this capacity, I lead interactive team-building programs for groups of 8 to 1800.. teaching corporations how to better tell their stories and collaborate through songwriting. In 2018, I led a TEDx Songwriting Program.
Currently, I am the executive director at Temple Beth El in Hollywood and have been leading non-profits in the sectors of Mental Health, Animal Welfare and Faith-based for the past decade. I am a musician and founding member of JewGrass Revival, the Folk-Rock Worship band at Temple Beth El. I began working with the S. Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Club after the 23’ festival, and I host the “Songs in the Chapel” series at TBE of Hollywood (in conjunction with the SFFAMC). I am excited to work collaboratively and build our audience and outreach.
I am a 24 year-old Hollywood native who has dedicated my life to music. Whether it’s performing as an independent artist, working as a musical mentor in after-school programs with non-profit Guitars Over Guns, or organizing shows as lead curator for Sofar Sounds Fort Lauderdale, I know my way around engaging with the local music scene. I play around town regularly and am involved with many local organizations. I am looking forward to bringing in a diverse, well-rounded membership/audiences to SFFAMC & their events.
Surviving the 9/11 World Trade Center attack and overcoming throat cancer have profoundly shaped my journey, as did the time I spent in the monastery of Shamballa, which deepened my commitment to music as a path to peace and resilience. Throughout my decades-long career, I’ve had the honor of performing at venues worldwide, including the Central Park Bandshell in NYC, The United Nations, The BlueBird Café in Nashville, The Bitter End in NYC, San Quentin Prison, and the Parliament of the World’s Religions. My concerts are a blend of American roots music—rock, blues, folk, spirituals, and a touch of jazz. I aim to create positive, contemporary music that serves as a powerful antidote to the turmoil of our times.
One of my most cherished quotes came after an afternoon of serenading Pete Seeger. He said, “Cecilia, the world needs to hear your music. Now more than ever.”
