For Immediate Release
Contact:
Julie Vianale, event co-chair, immediate past president The Rotary Club of Boca Raton
561-945-5548
Fifteen Broward and Palm Beach County students and student dance groups won “Future Stars” youth performing arts competition before 700 in Boca
Boca Raton FL: As one winner confirmed backstage, the talent was exceptional at Tuesday night’s 19th annual Rotary Club of Boca Raton’s “Future Stars” youth performing arts competition.
More than 700 supporters, including families and friends of the performers in 29 acts, applauded their favorites in Mizner Park Amphitheater on March 7 as part of Festival of the Arts BOCA.
After hugs from the seven other vocalists in her category, high school vocal winner Morgan Brooke Wilder of Coral Springs said she didn’t know how the judges chose among such outstanding singers. Wilder and other winners and runners up were awarded medals and awards onstage at the show’s conclusion.
Here’s the winners and runners up with their hometowns:
High School Vocal Solo
First Place – Morgan Brooke Wilder, Coral Springs
Second Place – Marni Gass, Boca Raton
Third Place – Julia Falcao, Boca Raton
High School Dance Solo
First Place – Natalia Moody, Lake Worth
Second Place – Gabrielle Kiminyo, Lake Worth
Third Place – Ayanna Melvin, West Palm Beach
Middle School Vocal Solo
First Place – Alexandria Iglesias, Parkland
Second Place – Lily Bradford, Coral Springs
Third Place – Bella Nazzaro, Lake Worth
Middle School Dance Solo
First Place – Jolie Lavaux, Boca Raton
Second Place -Sasha Altschul, Delray Beach
Third Place – Alyssa Duesler, Boca Raton
Group Dance
First Place – That’s Dancing – Honey Dripper, Lake Worth
Second Place – Precision Youth Ensemble – Sax, Royal Palm Beach
Third Place – Oxbridge Academy – Bad Girls, West Palm Beach
Director’s Choice
Neenah Harripersaud, Middle School Vocal, Wellington – The finale was a performance by Hip Hop Kidz Dance Crews, with their mission statement “No Drugs, No Violence, Just Dance” for the last 27 years. Academies in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties offer classes for kids ages 5 to teenage and scholarships.
“Future Stars” judges this year were:
· Ann Anello, a professor of Musical Theatre at Florida International University and chairwoman of FIU’s School of Music Advisory Board. As the child performer Ann [Anne] Marie from the 1960s through 1976, Anello had many chart singles.
· Danielle Jolie Dale-Hancock, director of Lynn University’s Dance Department, has over 40 years of experience as a professional performer, choreographer, director and producer.
· Elise Feldman is founder and president of the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater (“AXCBT”) and the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy (“APAA”) in Deal Park, N.J.
· Olivia Hollaus is founder and creative Director of Protect My Shoes, known for its patented line of shoe stuffers and other shoe care essentials. She is Style contributor for Boca Magazine.
· Joanna Marie Kaye is executive director of Festival of the Arts BOCA. She served as radio manager and managing director for WXEL in West Palm Beach.
· Dr. Stacie Lee Rossow has served as the associate director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Florida Atlantic University since 2002, and is associate chair of the department.
The Rotary Club of Boca Raton organizes the show, hosted by the city of Boca Raton. Masters of ceremony were Rotary members Dr. Dennis Frisch and Monica Speer. Julie Vianale, Bill Riddick, Chris Maners and Bob Buruchian were co-chairs.
Many “Future Stars” alumni have gone on to college-level study at prestigious music and dance programs and professional careers in the performing arts. Tatiana Nunez, a 2019 “Future Stars” winner, was just featured in the New York Times.
“Future Stars” began 19 years ago when Rotary member Rick Taylor’s daughter was a budding high school vocalist. Taylor believed that talented young people deserved more and better opportunities to showcase their talents.
The mission of Rotary’s “Future Stars Performing Arts Competition” is to inspire young performers by featuring talented high school and middle school performers in a “rock star” quality production. By all accounts, Tuesday’s show hit the mark.
