Linda Collins, Director of Youth Music Ministry

Linda grew up in the world of church music – her mother was the church organist. She began singing in the youth choir at the age of four and started piano lessons at the age of seven. The study of cello followed at the age of 12. Linda was performing with the Fort Myers Symphony by the age of 17 and won a music scholarship to Stetson University. She earned a Bachelors of Music Education degree at Florida State University, studying both piano and cello and performing in the FSU Symphony.

While living in Ireland for a period of 10 years, Linda began the study of traditional Irish singing and both sang and accompanied on guitar at choral competitions. Back in Florida, she learned to play the mountain dulcimer and formed several folk and Irish bands, including The DoneyGals, Meíreacá and Toss the Feathers, and performed at the Florida Folk Festival, the Barberville Folk Festival, the Monticello Opera House, venues such as Shenanigans and in various churches and benefit events.

Linda won state championships in dulcimer and old-time singing at the Florida State Old-Time Music Championships. She has taught at various dulcimer retreats and music camps. Linda now devotes her time to teaching music at her studio, Cabin Hill Music. She arranges music, uses notation software and will soon publish her first dulcimer instruction book. In recent years, Linda was “reunited” with both the cello and piano and continues her own study of music. Working with the Youth Music Program and Youth Choir at Unity Eastside brings her joyfully back full circle to her musical origins.