Boca Raton is proud once again to be the official magazine sponsor for the 2011 Festival of the Arts BOCA, which launches Friday night in typically inspirational style with the Future Stars Performing Arts Competition at Count de Hoernle Amphitheater in Mizner Park.
Expect more than 30 standout performances from up-and-coming vocal and dance artists representing middle schools and high schools throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties. Performances will range from solo and group vocals to dance presentations. The event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Boca Raton, begins at 7 p.m. All proceeds support the Rotary Club’s “Changing Lives and Building Futures” scholarship programs for local high school students.
The rest of this first weekend of events at Festival of the Arts includes much-anticipated literary and musical presentations. On Saturday, Kate Walbert, author of A Short History of Women, will speak at 4 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center in Mizner Park, followed that evening (7:30 p.m.) by the Canadian Brass in concert at the amphitheater. Kevin Bleyer, winner of Emmy Awards for his writing on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and co-author with Stewart ofEarth: The Book, kicks off Sunday’s festivities with a presentation at the Cultural Center at 4 p.m., followed Sunday night at 7:30 by the incomparable Milos Karadaglic on guitar. For the complete Festival schedule, visitfestivaloftheartsboca.org.
As for Friday night’s Future Stars competition, here are some of the local standouts expected to take the stage:
MIDDLE SCHOOL VOCAL
Danielle Francois, Bak Middle School of the Arts
Emma McAvoy, Bak MSOA
Elizabeth Schwartz, Falcon Cove Middle School
Lizzie Sider, Pinecrest School
Vanessa E. Simpson, Home Schooled
Maggie Wilkinson, A.D. Henderson Middle School
HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL
Erin Boyle, Boca High School
Christina Caperna, Coram Deo Academy
Kendra Fulmer, Saint Andrews School
Nicole Granet, Spanish River High School
Sara Grant, Broward Virtual School
McKenzie O’Connor, Dreyfoos High School of the Arts
Rachel Pecaro, Spanish River High School
Georgia Sackler, Dreyfoos HSOA
Megan Saslow, Boca Christian
Jake Sherbondy, Home Schooled
Marquis Sklenar, Stoneman Douglas High School
Madison Spear, West Boca High School
Lila Stallone, Spanish River High School
VOCAL GROUPS
Spanish River Splash, Spanish River High School
DANCE SOLOISTS
Ali Castro, Dreyfoos HSOA
Rachel Donev, Dreyfoos HSOA
Lital Gelman, Cypress Bay High School
Tara Langdon, Dreyfoos HSOA
Vicki Marinucci, Dreyfoos HSOA
Brooke Naylor, Dreyfoos HSOA
Sarah Ponczek, Stoneman Douglas High School
