Muse Circle: Bios

MUSE CIRCLE LEADERS

Thomas "Mr. V." Vinton

Thomas "Mr. V." Vinton began playing and writing songs as a child and shares his love of learning music with kids of all ages today. He began private lessons at age 5 and started his first band at age 12. A performing songwriter with the soul fusion group, InTown Band, Thomas balances personal creative expression with educational outreach. Working as a media producer throughout the nineties in Austin, TX, he voiced and scored music to educational programs for Holt, Rinehart and Winston and produced numerous soundtracks for nationally aired TV commercials. His kid-friendly CD, "My Name Is Nommi Girinkinin," and accompanying liveshows were a hit with Austin families during the early 2000s. Moving to Atlanta in 2004, he began offering after-school music lessons and other workshops in schools, churches and community centers. Known to his students as "Mr. V.," he served as music teacher at Atlanta New Century School for three years, where he frequently produced live shows. Thomas Vinton received his BA from Davidson College and MFA from The University of Miami. He is a devoted husband and father of two school-aged children.

Flo Olivier-Vinton

Flore “Flo” Olivier-Vinton, a native of Brittany, France, began teaching French immersion through music, movement and other activities during the mid 90s in Austin, Texas. She has the natural ability to transpose the life experiences of her childhood into fun, exciting activities with children of all ages. Whether using a floor puzzle to teach farm animal names or leading a circle dance while singing songs from the French-speaking world, Flo’s effervescent enthusiasm ripples through any class she leads. Her dance schooling began in classical ballet and has continued with training in Middle-Eastern, African, and Caribbean dance, as well as aerial fabrics and Gabrielle Roth’s Five Rhythms. Often partnering with her children, she promotes intergenerational exchange with every step she takes. Flo studied fine art photography in Miami and has an impressive portfolio of images that reflect her life work. Her partnership in French immersion with her husband Mr. V. began in 2007 at the Concordia Language Villages, Bemidji, Minnesota, and fortunately continues today in the Muse Circle.