Young artist winners named at gala

COURTESY PHOTO Sabrina Gruber of Riverdale High School, Overall Event Winner The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre hosted the Young Artists Awards Gala on Sunday March 2, featuring 22 student performances. More than $20,000 in savings bonds and other prizes were awarded.

The Young Artists Awards program is a not for profit, performing arts audition, performance, education and scholarship program for local students ages 8-21.

Sabrina Gruber, a Riverdale High School senior, was named the Overall Event Winner for her performance of Chopin's Scherzo No. 3 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 39. A silent auction featuring the artwork of pediatric oncology patients was also held, benefiting the Children's Hospital.

More information is available at www. youngartistsawards.org. DANCE Ages 8-14 Ariel Reichenbach, Oasis Charter Middle School, Age Category Winner Sierra Espie, Homeschooled Ages 15-21 Bianca Russell, Lehigh Senior High School, Age Category Winner Taylor Ryan, South Fort Myers High School, COURTESY PHOTO Allison Rakowski of Bishop Verot High School competing in Classical Voice Overall Category Winner DRAMA Ages 13-16 Erica Natal, North Fort Myers High School Grace Lewis, Bishop Verot High School, Age Category Winner Ages 17-21 Chanda Barnes, Cypress Lake High School, Age Category Winner Dana Angeloro, FGCU, Overall Category Winner CONTEMPORARY VOICE/ MUSICAL THEATRE Ages 8-12 Taylor Nemetz, Trafalgar Middle School, Age Category Winner Halie Boling, Cypress Lake Middle School Ages 13-16 Grace Lewis, Bishop Verot High School Jaclyn Neidenthal, St. Andrew Catholic School, Age Category Winner, Overall Category Winner Ages 17-21 Katherine Abbott, FGCU Carla Martinez, Edison College, Age Category Winner CLASSICAL VOICE Ages 13-16 Allison Rakowski, Bishop Verot High School, Age Category Winner Isabella LeVan, Gulf Middle School COURTESY PHOTO Category Winners Jaclyn Neidenthal (Contemporary Voice), Brittany Mills (Classical Voice), Sabrina Gruber (Instrumental Music), Chanda Barnes (Drama), and Bianca Russell (Dance) with Steve Personette of EMBARQ, the event's title sponsor Ages 17-21 Brittany Mills, North Fort Myers High School, Age Category Winner, Overall Category Winner Dana Angeloro, FGCU INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Ages 13-16 Caroline Barclift, Fort Myers High School, Age Category Winner Madeleine Traverse, St. Francis Xavier Ages 17-21 Stephen Apple, Venice High School Sabrina Gruber, Riverdale High School, Age Category Winner, Overall Category Winner, Overall Event Winner

COURTESY PHOTO Brittany Mills of North Fort Myers High School performing in Classical Voice