Announcing the Spotlight Awards nominees for Music

The Patel Conservatory’s Spotlight Awards celebrates the spirit of learning by recognizing students who go above and beyond in their commitment to the performing arts.

Spotlight finalists are nominated by their instructors for their passion, dedication and positive attitude. Award winners will be announced at the Spotlight Awards on Thurs., May 23, 2013. The evening includes the awards show at 6:30 p.m. followed by a dinner and dancing 8 p.m.

The following students were nominated for Outstanding Student Achievement in the area of Music:

Francisco Flores

Francisco Flores, 18, of Tampa, has played the upright bass and bass guitar since elementary school. He has enjoyed playing in the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra, Jazz Quartet, Rock Band and Pit Orchestra for the musical Normal. After taking a conductor course at the Conservatory, he was the only student to conduct a piece at Williams Middle School orchestra's spring concert. Frankie is also captain of his crew team. He’ll graduate from Robinson High School’s International Baccalaureate program and attend the Coast Guard Academy in the fall.

Cole Taylor

Cole Taylor, 14, of Land O’ Lakes, is a self taught musician. He began playing the saxophone three years ago and came to the Patel Conservatory looking for further instruction. He takes private saxophone lessons and is a member of the Jazz Quartet.

Abigale Pfingsten

Abigale Pfingsten, 14, of Lutz, has been taking piano lessons for seven years. She has represented the Patel Conservatory at the National Federation of Music Clubs in the Florida Chapter Convention for the past four years. She was awarded First Place at the Asheville Piano Forum in 2009. She enjoys performing at nursing homes in the Tampa Bay area every year accompanied by her brothers.

Parker Wilkson

Parker J. Wilkson, 15, of Lutz, has been playing piano since the age of three. As an accompanist, he performed in Jobsite Theater’s Gorey Stories, MAD Theatre’s Nunsense; SLHS’s Grease and Westside Story; and Patel Conservatory’s Normal, the Musical. Parker plays piano for the Conservatory’s Jazz Quartet; he plays guitar and keyboards and sings with Rock School; and trains in the private vocal arts program.  Parker performs with indie rock band Nfin8, which opened at the Gasparilla Music Festival this year.

Gabriela Barnés

Gabriela Barnés, 17, moved to MacDill Air Force Base two years ago. A senior at Robinson High School, she has been performing in choirs since she was nine years old.  She was recently in the Conservtory’s The Good Doctor, and will attend University of Tampa as a musical theater major in the fall.

Jacob Fleming

Jacob Fleming, 13, of Tampa. Jacob began writing songs and playing guitar when he was 7. He attended the Patel Conservatory's arts sampler summer camp after first grade, and today he is a three-year Rock School veteran and a member of the Junior Ensemble choir. Jacob was honored to join the children's chorus in Opera Tampa's La Boheme, and looks forward to many more years of exceptional instruction and experience at the Patel Conservatory.

Lucas Coura

Lucas Coura, 19, of Riverview, has been performing since he was young. He studies dance and music at the Patel Conservatory. In the Conservatory’s theater productions, he performed as Fred in Kiss Me, Kate and the Writer in The Good Doctor. He also participated in Opera Tampa's productions as a member of the Opera Tampa Chorus.