Create and star in your own show!

This summer, the Patel Conservatory has created a one-of-a-kind experience and an incredible opportunity for young actors, singers and musicians.

Our music, theater and dance departments will collaborate to bring you an original musical production!

Students who enroll in our youth theater intensive will write their own musical, LOL: The Musical, under the guidance of guest director Rob Nash, a professional writer, actor and comedian.


Music students who enroll in the Summer Pit Orchestra will then write the accompanying score.

“The kids will have the ideas and the staff will guide them in writing what they want,” explained Gregory Ruffer, music chair for the Patel Conservatory.

This is a new experience at the Patel Conservatory that integrates our music, theater and dance departments. With our unique position of having all three disciplines under one roof, taught by professional working artists, students can learn from one another and gain a new understanding and respect for each craft.

Ruffer points out what a rare opportunity this will be for musicians, “For many kids, this will be the only time they’ll ever get the chance to write the accompanying score to a show. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Likewise, theater students will have the exceptional experience of writing their own material, having live accompaniment and working with a dance instructor from the Patel Conservatory dance department to choreograph the show.


“This is an invaluable opportunity for students to create a unique piece of musical theater from start to finish, as a team,” said Wendy Leigh, Straz Center vice president of education. “They will work together through the writing, set design, performance and all aspects of theater.” 

Students will learn about and participate in the process of bringing ideas on paper to a fully realized production. They’ll get an understanding of how to brainstorm ideas; turn them into plot, dialogue and songs; collaborate with other artists; work with musicians to bring their concepts to life and even stage and choreograph the show!

“It’s the ultimate creative experience,” said Ruffer.

The culmination of both classes will be the production of LOL: the Musical, July 14 and 15, 2011. (For tickets, call 813-222-STAR (7827).)

If you’d like to be a part of this amazing opportunity, the summer theater intensive is open to students in grades nine through adult and runs June 20 - July 15, 2011. The Summer Pit Orchestra experience is open to grades seven through college and runs from June 27 - July 15, 2011.

For registration information, call 813-222-1002.

Patel Conservatory veterans share the craziness of being a mom!

Check out last year’s Tampa’s Got Talent winner Jayne Trinette, as well as former Patel Conservatory instructor Angela Bond, this week in Motherhood the Musical.

Jayne Trinette, Angela Bond, Juliana Black & Becca McCoy
2011 (c) Rob/Harris

Join these Patel Conservatory veterans in the funny yet poignant four woman musical about the ups and downs of being a mom. They’ll share the laughing and crying, craziness and calm, smiles and tears … and all before breakfast.

Jayne Trinette is a Broadway veteran (Disney’s The Lion King; Caroline Or Change) and longtime student at the Patel Conservatory. A professional singer and actor, she continues to hone her talent through classes (such as the Jazz Voice Ensemble) at the Conservatory, and last year won the voice scholarship at the Tampa’s Got Talent competition. Recently, she performed her production of My Tribute to Lena Horne for the Jazz at the Straz series.

Angela Bond moved to Tampa Bay in 1999 after two decades in NYC. She has performed on Broadway, in Europe and throughout the country. Locally, she has performed with American Stage, Stageworks, Show Palace and the Golden Apple. Awarded best actress two years in a row by the Sarasota Herald Tribune, she formerly taught musical theater at the Patel Conservatory.

Grab your friends, mom or sisters and head to the Straz for a Mommy playdate. And what mom doesn't love to save? Save $5 on your tickets with the promo code MOMS (limit 6, subject to availability).

Motherhood the Musical plays through July 10, 2011 at Straz Center in the Jaeb Theater.

Get ready for the 3rd annual Tampa's Got Talent!

So you think you can dance?

How about sing, act or play an instrument? If the answer is yes to any of these, we want to hear from you!

The Patel Conservatory's third annual Tampa's Got Talent competition will be Sunday, July 10, 2011. You'll have the chance to show off your talent and possibly win one of four scholarships for classes in voice, dance, theater or music.

Last year's dance scholarship recipient Johnny Maio had started his training years ago in Irish step. With the dance scholarship, he was able to study, and fall in love with, ballet, tap, modern and jazz.

“This past year has transformed him as a dancer,” said Linda Maio, Johnny’s mother.  “It’s taught him the fundamentals of dance and opened up a world for him.”


"I expected ballet would be easy, but as I got to know the style of dancing more and more, it showed me how that’s a base for any other style of dancing," said Johnny.


"This year has helped me be so much more flexible," he continued. "I didn’t realize how much you use your back and stomach muscles...it's very hard, and very cool."

Prior to last year, Johnny had suffered a couple of stress fractures in his hip from his years of Irish step.

At the Patel Conservatory, “he’s become an educated dancer. He now knows what’s good for his body, what’s bad for his body, how to stretch and warm up...it’s been very therapeutic for him,” said Linda. “Without this year, I don’t know if he would’ve kept dancing.”

In addition to the training he received, he also had many performance opportunities throughout the year, including in The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream showcase. He still performs and teaches Irish step, but he’s developed a love for all types of dance and will continue his training at the Patel Conservatory. He’ll participate in our summer dance intensive and classes in the fall.


"I'd like to continue to perform throughout Tampa, and hopefully farther with my new talent," said Johnny.

It could happen for you, too!

The Tampa's Got Talent competition is free and open to anyone in the Tampa Bay area in grades 2 through adult. Competitors will perform a prepared two-minute performance piece in front of a panel of judges in one or more of the following categories: voice, dance, theater and/or musical instrument.

Full scholarships for fall classes at the Patel Conservatory will be awarded to the top  competitors in each category. 

The Patel Conservatory offers classes for children and adults in all skill levels in dance, music and theater. Classes include our youth theater camps and classes, private instrument lessons, voice lessons, on-camera acting, musical cabaret and many types of dance.


For more information, or to register to compete in Tampa's Got Talent, please call 813-222-6453.

Improve your performance skills with our summer Vocal Arts Academy

Do you love to sing and perform in front of an audience?

Are you ready to take your love of performing to the next level?

The Patel Conservatory proudly launches our summer Vocal Arts Academy!

Spend two weeks studying voice with outstanding teachers and performers in choirs, musical theater, show choir and solo literature. Learn to improve your voice while performing with our professional faculty.

Our two week vocal arts academy is for grades 5 through college, and will help prepare you for performance in choirs, musical theater and auditions.

This summer voice intensive takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, from  July 25 - Aug. 5, 2011.

Get on board for a summer of fun! For questions, call 813-222-1002.

Rock School auditions May 21 and May 24

Don't forget, our next Rock School session at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa starts the first week of June. If you've ever thought about playing drums, guitar, bass guitar or keyboards in a rock band, you're invited to our upcoming auditions.


Placement auditions for the summer program will be Sat., May 21, 2011 at 1 p.m. and Tues., May 24, 2011 at 6 p.m.

The auditions help instructors place students in a band according to their playing level. All levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced!

At the end of the class, you’ll be rocking out in concert!

RSVP for auditions by calling 222-1002.

Musicians, here's your chance to get feedback from professionals

Attention musicians, our Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO) auditions will be a great chance for you to get feedback on your skills from renowned musicians.

Any music student interested in performing with an orchestra is encouraged to attend placement auditions to learn more about our program, and have the opportunity to get valuable comments from talented, professional musicians.


"This is a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to be heard by working professionals who have ties to major colleges and conservatories, something that could have a huge impact  on the child's future," said Gregory Ruffer, PCYO artistic director.

Our youth orchestra features the Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, String Sinfonia, Concert Strings, two string quartets and an extensive Chamber Music program. 

Through PCYO, you learn to apply your skills from private lessons or school music programs and gain orchestral ensemble experience. PCYO has performed twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at other prestigious institutions such as the New World Symphony in Miami.

Auditions will be May 21, 23 and 24, 2011. Guest adjudicators, along with Ruffer, will offer constructive feedback on your performance.

Please RSVP for your audition time by calling 813-222-1002.

Sat., May 21, 2011

1 to 3 p.m.

Guest adjudicators Joseph Mechavich and David A. Hanson.

Mechavich is principal conductor and music director for Kentucky Opera, and recently presided over performances at the Washington National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, New York City Opera and the Aspen Music Festival.

He has also performed with The Florida Orchestra, The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Symphony and Hartford Symphony, among others.

Hanson has a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, and was the director of the orchestra program for the Findlay Ohio City Schools and taught music for 35 years. He has played with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Lima Symphony and the Findlay String Quartet. 

Mon., May 23, 2011 and Tues., May 24, 2011

5 to 8 p.m.

Guest adjudicators Dr. Virginia Allen and David A. Hanson.

A faculty member at The Curtis Institute of Music and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Allen is also Artistic Director of the Conducting Workshop for Music Educators at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she previously served as associate dean for administration, taught conducting, co-founded and conducted The Juilliard Trombone Choir and served as executive director of the Starling-De-Lay Symposium on Violin Studies. 

Spotlight on Nelson Torres

Today’s spotlight is on former Blake High School teacher Nelson Torres. 

Torres will be presented with the Broadway League’s Apple Award today at the Straz Center’s board meeting, and recognized at the Spotlight Awards this Wednesday, for his dedication to the partnership between Blake and the Patel Conservatory.

As part of last year's Broadway Education Project, Torres worked with Megan Byrne, Patel Conservatory production coordinator, to conduct a scenic design workshop for theater students at Blake. During the course of the workshop, students studied In the Heights, and attended a performance of the show at the Straz. They also designed sets based on their own neighborhoods.

During the course of the workshop, Torres saw the opportunity for growth in the partnership between Blake and the Patel Conservatory, seeing the potential for Blake student involvement in the technical aspects of Patel Conservatory Youth Theater productions.

Torres was an essential part of the team for last year’s PCYT production of Fame - the Musical, guiding his students through building the set for the show. Students got the opportunity to learn about and participate in the process of set design, taking ideas on paper to a fully realized production in Ferguson Hall.

Since working with Torres and his technical theater students, the Patel Conservatory has since developed credited internship opportunities for Blake students in the areas of administration, technical theater and production for the Patel Cconservatory Youth Theater program.

By integrating theatrical projects and performances in his curriculum, Torres was able to give his students real life experience and open their minds to the possibilities in the arts. 

Help us celebrate educators like Torres, and all our community partners, at the Spotlight Awards this Wednesday, when we recognize their contributions in bringing the arts to students throughout the Tampa Bay area.