Meet Our Team
Celebrating our thriving members, our vibrant communities, and our love for music
Jeremiah Cummings
Interim Artistic Director
Jeremiah Cummings is delighted to serve as the Interim Artistic Director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Music Degree, with a concentration in Vocal Performance. Since 2004, Jeremiah has served as Director of Music in Tennessee and Florida within the Metropolitan Community Church (a worldwide church started by and for the LGBTQ+ community). In 2015, the MCC denomination awarded him the “Bob Crocker Award for Excellence in Music Ministry”. He moved to St. Petersburg in 2018 to serve at King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church (Pinellas Park).
As a performer, he has sung in Ireland and England, and all over the United States, including a couple Christmas shows singing backup vocals for country queen Dolly Parton.
Jeremiah shares his passion for music with his husband, Ricardo, and enjoys seeing as much musical theatre as possible. During his free time, he enjoys cooking and playing board games with his friends. He is looking forward to working with GMCTB to continue making beautiful music that is “changing lives…one song at a time.”
Ricardo Pozenatto
Pianist
Ricardo Pozenatto is a Brazilian-born pianist, educator, and performer, thrilled to be joining the GMCTB for the 2025–2026 season. Originally from São Paulo, Ricardo’s musical journey has taken him across continents, blending a passion for performance with a deep commitment to teaching and community engagement.
He holds a Ph.D. in Music Education in Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University, and is dedicated to teaching piano to students of all ages and skill levels, nurturing not only technical development but also a lifelong appreciation for music. Currently, Ricardo serves as the choir pianist at King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church in Pinellas Park. As a performer, Ricardo has appeared in concert halls in São Paulo (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Tampa (USA), offering solo recitals and collaborating with vocal ensembles.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Ricardo finds joy in sharing his love of music with his husband, Jeremiah. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing video games, and immersing himself in the study of foreign languages—a personal passion that complements his global outlook on music and education.
Sam Brown
President
Sam is a native to Tampa Bay and a double Gator, receiving a Bachelors and Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida. After living in the Washington DC area Sam returned to Florida in 2020, where he works as a quality assurance and regulatory affairs project manager for medical device manufacturers in his hometown of Lutz.
Joining GMCTB in January '23 as a Bass 1, Sam served on the Board of Directors as Membership Director until transitioning into the role of President at the start of 2026.
Sam enjoys travel to the beach or abroad, cooking for friends and family, tabletop gaming, and spending time with his partner Josh.
Dan Lastorino
Vice President
Dan joined the chorus the fall of 2020, back when everything from auditions to concerts was 100% virtual. He has served on the board since the start of 2022. Having grown up with a love for choral music, he was grateful to find this community of peers whom he now considers family.
Originally from New York, Dan became a Tampa Bay area resident in 2014. Beyond the chorus, Dan graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2019 and currently works at Moffitt Cancer Center as a Research Coordinator. He also plans to pursue graduate studies in the near future.
Dan enjoys living with his partner, Jonathan, and their dogs, Freya and Milo.
Kent Nicholas
Kent was born and raised in Texas! He received a BBA in Accounting and Finance from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. A year after graduating college, Kent packed 2 suitcases and boarded a one-way flight to move and spend the next 15 years in NYC! Kent recently made the move to Tampa with his partner back in September ’21. Kent currently works for GroupM as a Senior Financial Analyst.
Kent joined the chorus in August ’23 as a Tenor 2 and has loved every minute of being part of this amazingly talented group!
Kent also sings in the Choir at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown Tampa. He is also an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha, a national music Fraternity. He also has played Linus Van Pelt in the musical “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”.
Treasurer
Cody Smith-Rollins
Cody joined the GMCTB in January 2025 and is part of our Tenor 1 section. He has passion for music and performing, largely driven by growing up singing in community choirs and talent shows in the Nashville, TN area.
While he initially aimed for a career in Music Education, he changed direction during his Sophomore year at Middle Tennessee State University and earned a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and Public Relations. He then went on to achieve a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Executive Leadership and Communication.
Professionally, Cody leads a global team as the senior leader of the Human Resources Shared Services organization at Quest Diagnostics. He lives in Tampa with his husband, Abe, and their three fur babies. He enjoys traveling, spending time at Disney World, and working on home improvement projects.
Communications Director
Ricky Ortiz
Ricky joined GMCTB in August 2024, bringing with him a lifelong passion for music and a strong enthusiasm for performance. Whether on stage or in the company of friends, music has always played a central role in his life, serving as a meaningful way to connect with others and inspire those around him.
A Florida native with Puerto Rican roots, Ricky works as an IT specialist at Hahn Loeser Law. He is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work and Human Services at Hillsborough College.
Programming Director
Vance White
Vance is honored to have become a recent addition to GMCTB, having joined in August 2022. Since January 2023 Vance has served as the chorus’ Development Director.
Vance has prior board experience with UNICEF and the Humane Society (both in Puerto Rico) as well as an English-speaking theatre group in Switzerland, in which he also participated as an actor and director. Vance was also the chairman of Democrats Abroad Switzerland, an international organization that helps expats vote.
Vance expresses his immense gratitude for the camaraderie of the GMCTB members and the wonderful support that we receive from the community, our audience, and our donors.
Originally from Colorado, Vance lived in Puerto Rico for 15 years and Switzerland for 16. He is proud of the encouragement and love that he receives from his French husband, Frederic and their 18 years together.
Development Director
Vic Omila
Vic has been the cantor at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church since 2002 and has performed with different choirs and theater groups in Tampa Bay. Originally from the Philippines, he also performed with the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus on two of their world tours across the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
He finally joined the chorus in the spring of 2023, singing in the Baritone section, after years of watching the group from the audience as a fan.
Vic has degrees in Information Technology and Computer Science. He currently works as a Software Engineer for Revenue Management Solutions, a global company that offers data-driven solutions for restaurants, and has been running his own web development business, Webiloo, since 2014.
