071819 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

12 x July 18 — 31, 2019 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
Erik added that Mr. G is, “a beautiful
human being, a champion communicator
and an epic teacher! It is
because of Mr. Keith Galasso’s leadership
that I have been changed for
the better.”
Surprise!
The love and support Mr. G has
given to his students throughout the
years was more than evident during
his surprise retirement party. Mr. G’s
sons, Jason and Stephen, said
they wanted to take him to dinner,
and a week before, Fonsi had told
him that he and The Big Guys were
taking him out to dinner, as well. As
Mr. G walked into the M Lounge, he
was shocked by the reception of his
friends and associates. About 120
people, who had come from around
the nation, surprised Mr. G to wish
him well on his retirement. His sons
and The Big Guys spent more than a
year organizing the event.
“I’ve never been that surprised
in my life. I walked in, [heard the
Approximately 120 people attend a surprise retirement
party for Dr. Phillips High School performing arts magnet
coordinator Keith “Mr. G” Galasso (far left), pictured with his
former students, The Big Guys (clockwise from right) — Erik
Garbus, Joey Fatone, Joel Herman and Luis Fonsi — who
also attended and helped to plan the event.
cheering, and] thought it was for
Fonsi or something. I saw my wife
and people I went to high school
with and was completely blown
away. Walking into that was like,
are you kidding me?
Everybody lied really
well. I had no clue!”
M Lounge features
a showroom filled
with classic cars, and
Mr. G took his first
ride in a Rolls-Royce.
“I didn’t get to look
at the cars,” he said.
“I’m going to go
back and check out
the cars.”
Turning the Page
Now that he’s officially
retired, Mr.
G plans to spend
more time with his
grandchildren — his
newest one is due in
September — and
spend more time taking
better care of
himself physically. What he won’t be
doing, however, is giving up music.
“I’ll probably start practicing my
horn a little more,” he said. “I do
some judging and educating [for
Florida Band Master and Florida
Vocal Associates], which I’m sure I’ll
keep doing.”
When asked what he will miss the
most, Mr. G said, “Working with the
kids and the camaraderie I have with
my associates I teach with. I’m really
lucky, working with some really talented
kids and professionals. I’ll miss
the kids. I think that has a lot to do
with the subject that I teach. You get
to know the kids, and you spend a lot
of time with them out of the classroom
and get to know them as people as
well as students. I enjoy seeing my
students do well and go on and be
successful at whatever they choose
to do."
He added jokingly, “I won’t miss
getting up at 5 a.m. in the morning.”
When it comes to choosing what
to spend your life doing, Mr. G has
it right.
“It went by really fast,” he said.
“I consider myself fortunate, because
I’m doing something that I
love. And when you’re doing something
that you’re passionate about,
it doesn’t feel like work.” ª
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