A Colorado native, Bridget Gorder is a published researcher, active performer, music educator, choral conductor, and arts administrator located in the Florida panhandle. She graduated from the Florida State University College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education (BME), along with the completion of a specialized study in voice performance and with honors in the major. She recently presented her research, “Teaching Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Musicians: A Guide for Secondary Choral Music Educators”, at the University of California Los Angeles and has won several awards, including the Torchbearer 100 (2023), Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year (2024), Florida State University's highest graduation honor “Garnet and Gold Scholar” (2024), and the Summa Cum Laude graduation distinction.

As a performing artist, Bridget has received first prize in notable music competitions such as the King’s Peak International Music Competition (2024) and the Charleston International Music Competition (2024), performed two recitals while pursuing her undergraduate degree, under the direction of her applied voice professor, Dr. Jeffrey Springer (2023 and 2024), and has professionally recorded an album, an EP, and two singles with her a cappella group, the AcaBelles (2021, 2023, and 2024). She has also been a member of featured choral ensembles at large-scale music conferences across the country, including the National Collegiate Choral Organization (2023), the Florida Music Education Association (2024), and the American Choral Directors Association (National, 2024).

For over a decade, Bridget has been deeply involved in performing arts not-for-profit organizations, serving in various roles as a member, volunteer, and staff, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship at Northeastern University as a Creative Leader Fellow. As a diverse professional in the field, she brings a wealth of experience as a music educator, performer, conductor, researcher, and administrator, and uses her array of skills to bring a unique perspective to the workplace. Bridget has gained hands-on experience through internships with both Sinfonia Gulf Coast and the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, where she has since returned as a staff member, and numerous organizations in the Denver and Tallahassee metro areas and the Panhandle. Passionate about the innovative and forward-thinking nature of non-profit arts, she is a strong advocate for a growth mindset, continuously seeking new ways to elevate and expand the impact of arts organizations and their communities. Bridget currently lives in Pensacola, Florida, with her fiancé, Dylan, and their golden retriever, Sorina.