A Joyful Story...
In 1998, at a special place for children & adults with disabilities, Mattie Mingst & Stacey Lorea created the original Expressive Arts &
Bee Bop Buddies programs. Today we continue to "Bee Joyful" with Joyful Creative Arts & Bee Bop Buddies Children's Programs by bringing joy to create arts for all ages & abilities.
Mattie Mingst Co-Founder Music Therapist & Teacher
Mattie is a Music Therapist & Teacher with over 25 years of experience working with children and adults with disabilities to enhance lives through the arts. She has been an Expressive Arts Director for over 20 years & is presently a Special Education Teacher for music & performing arts for a local public school. Mattie is a professional musician as a vocalist, pianist, & guitarist. She performs in a local band that raises funds for causes she is passionate about. Mattie received her Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy from Temple University & completed her clinical internship in Melbourne, Australia.
Mattie has been featured in Amazing Stories with the Tampa Bay Times, showcased in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, & appeared in the TV shows South Florida Today & Good Day Tampa Bay. She has cultivated award winning visual arts exhibitions across the state of Florida, directed original musical productions, developed early learning arts programs, & produced grants awarded to artists with disabilities. She has been nominated for the Lighting Community Hero Award, served on the Diversity Council for American Stage & has developed partnerships with foundations and non-profit organizations to provide music & arts programs for underserved populations.
Mattie is mom of two boys with her husband in the Tampa Bay Area. In 2010 her son was diagnosed with PPD-NOS on the autism spectrum disorder. Over the years she struggled to find outlets & services that focused on meeting his sensory & behavioral needs discovering expressive arts to be his connection to the world. Mattie offers Music Therapy, Expressive Arts, & Adaptive Lessons for all ages and abilities. She also provides workshops, trainings, and professional consulting services for creating arts and music programs in Special Education, Early Childhood Centers, Adult Day Centers, & Senior Services.
Stacey Lorea, Co-Founder & Teaching Artist
Stacey began her music and creative career in Bs. As., Argentina. She studied Theater with an International Drama Company & at the National School of Dramatic Arts, Argentina. She became a professional performer with a focus on Musical Theater. In the year 1996, she moved to Florida where she soon began to use her passion by teaching drama to young children. Stacey began her career in South Florida for the Expressive Arts Department by providing art, music & performance to adults and children with Developmental Disabilities.
To add to her multifaceted range of talents, she the co- founded Creative Studio Five, a Graphic Design Marketing Studio and the owner of YC Steakhouse, an Authentic Argentine On-Site Grill Catering concept in Florida that she runs with her long-time loving husband & mom of Maggie & Leo.For many years Bee Bop Buddies has been providing energizing musical classes, shows and presentations around Florida. Stacey is the Co-creator of Pooki Dot’s New Friends, a musical Sing- A- Long Book, & composer for many original children’s songs and musical director.
Stacey led group mommy & me live musical sessions in the South Florida Region providing entertainment for Special Events. She also participated in early childhood seminars training educators & parents on using music as a powerful tool for education & communication at home and in the classroom.
