Southeast High School students busy preparing for two concerts in 10 days

Vin Mannix
Vin Mannix

Southeast High will be putting on not one but two concerts within the next 10 days.

The first is a Prism Concert, “ADVENTURE,” Thursday 6:30 p.m. in the Ed Nock Auditorium. The second is the 11th annual Chorus Spring Fling Concert and awards ceremony Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m., also in Ed Nock Auditorium.

Thursday’s Prism Concert includes the Noles’ marching band, concert bands, jazz bands, small ensembles, soloists and dance-color guard performances.

According to Band Director Andrea Vella, this will be the last performance of Southeast’s 2023 show, “Almost There!” Based on Disney's "Princess and the Frog," it will feature drum major Justice Williams (alto saxophone soloist), Faith Williams, Justice's sister, as Princess Tiana, Olivia Szymanski (second alto saxophone soloist) and Rebekah Harold with a ballet solo as Evangeline.

Doors open 5:30 p.m. and there’ll be a taco bar, too. Admission is $5. Children under 5 are free.

The Spring Fling “is not a traditional chorus concert, but more of a ‘show choir’ concert with solos, duets and trios,” said Director of Choirs ​Michelle Norman-Webb. “Students literally run the show … working backstage props, microphones and so forth.”

Among the performers will be Chorus President Jada Price, David Gallon, Kathly Jacques and Zakilya Hope, who were all selected to the National Youth Chorus at Carnegie Hall, along with Klaudia Gonzalez Arias, Kaya Anthony, Jasmine Coronado, Fedjina Florestal, Joanna Maldonado-Garcia, Jarlene Martinez Padilla, Viviana Huapilla-Pena, Chorus Vice President Elchael Prezeau and Vincent Sykeny.

Behind them will be stage managers Bernadine Occenac and Jada Vega assisted by Mellise Bush, Zachary Johnson and Destiny Rodriguez.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

· That’s 30 years of wedded bliss for Melissa and Chris Koehlinger.

· Good luck to these Lakewood Ranch High seniors on their college journeys: Lucas Anthony, lacrosse, Embry-Riddle University; Brinley Beorlegui, soccer, Florida Southern College; Robert Lloyd Jones, soccer, Lewis University (Illinois); Brooke Laschke and Rylee O'Shea, soccer, New College; and Noah Rueping, soccer, Ave Maria University.

· And good luck to Southeast’s Marquis Carter, a Seminole wideout who will join the Statesmen of William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

· Manatee High’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni Banquet is May 9 at the Seafood Shack in Cortez. For reservations – required by Tuesday – visit manateehighalumni.com/outstanding-alumni-award

· A fond farewell to Deacon Bill Ladroga, who’s served St. Martha’s parish 27 years and has been an ordained deacon 46 years.

· A bow to J.C. McKitterick,retiring after more than a decade as a respected board member, umpire and mentor with Miss Manatee Softball.

· Props to Camden Pope, Manatee Youth Volunteer of the Year with Meals on Wheels Plus.

· And a salute to Manatee County Sheriff’s Captain Andy Ramdath, a recent graduate from the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Commanders Academy.

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Southeast High student performers prep for 2 concerts, awards ceremony