Arts Alive showcases Manatee County student talent while supporting the arts

By Liz Ramos
| 11:00 a.m. April 6, 2024

Braden River High School sophomore Alexa Helton performs as part of a quartet. She looks forward to seeing her skills as a clarinet player grow as she continues in high school.

East County
Schools

Jared Mohr, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, was nervous before taking the stage at Arts Alive.

He only has been playing piano since he started taking a keyboard class at Lakewood Ranch High two years ago. The Manatee Arts Education Council's fifth annual Arts Alive Celebration April 5 at State College of Florida was his first public performance.

Mohr, who performed Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Für Elise," said he was honored his fine arts teacher, Rebekah Lester, selected him to be among the student performers at the celebration of the arts.

Arts Alive was an opportunity for student artwork and performances to shine.

Lakewood Ranch High School junior Tatem McCluggage displayed her oil painting as part of the silent auction.

She started experimenting with oil painting this school year. She said having her painting in the silent auction motivates her to continue with her art and to try various mediums.

Braden River High School seniors Nick Teta and Nyah Platt, junior Matthew Bowers and sophomore Alexa Helton performed as a clarinet quartet.

They have enjoyed working together, often joking around while rehearsing.

Platt said Prelude and Scherzo is a fun piece to perform because just as the "audience thinks it is getting one thing, we immediately start doing something else," keeping everyone on their toes.

Mary Glass, the president of the Manatee Education Foundation, welcomes people to the fifth annual Arts Alive Celebration.

Braden River Elementary School's Alessandro Hernandez and Palma Sola Elementary School's Nora Green perform the National Anthem.

Carla Nierman, the executive director of ArtCenter Manatee, accepts the Herbie Rose Arts Innovation Award from Jeramiah Bowman, the chairperson of the Manatee Arts Education Council.

Samantha Cummins accepts the Vernon DeSear Arts Champion Award from Vernon DeSear.

Lakewood Ranch High School senior Jared Mohr plays piano at Arts Alive. It was his first public performance after starting to learn how to play piano two years ago.

Dan Denton accepts the Manatee Arts Education Council Distinguished Arts Alumni Award from Dudley Leigh.

Jeramiah Bowman, the chairperson of Manatee Arts Education Council, shows the audience Manatee High School's Israel Samedi's work for the live auction. It was sold for $400.

Linda Boone presents the Linda Boone Dance Education Award to Craig Thomas, who accepted the award on behalf of his wife, Ellen Meade. Meade died in August 2023.

Karen Corbin, the executive director of Realize Bradenton, accepts the Dr. Larry Thompson Arts Education Advancement Award from Chelsea Garner-Ferris with Ringling College of Art and Design on behalf of Johnette Isham. Isham died in July 2023.

Una Jones, who founded Manatee School for the Arts, accepts the Barbara Turner Grace Visual Art Education Award from Steven Marshall, who is the principal of Manatee School for the Arts.

Braden River High School's Sophi Branscromb has her piece "Slipping Through" on display for the silent auction. The work was inspired by an art class project to draw and express a fear.

Braden River High School's Barbara Baeza's work "Only Here" is a part of the silent auction. It is inspired by the people in society who speak up for what they believe.

Lakewood Ranch High School junior Tatem McCluggage says she started oil painting this school year and is amazed her work was selected to be a part of the silent auction at Arts Alive.

Jeramiah Bowman, the chairperson of the Manatee Arts Education Council, welcomes Jason Wysong, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, to Arts Alive, which showcases students' artwork and performances as well as honors community members in the arts.

Braden River High School sophomore Alexa Helton, seniors Nyah Platt and Nick Teta and junior Matthew Bowers come together as a clarinet quartet. Platt says it's fun working with the members of the quartet.

Braden River High School seniors Nick Teta and Nyah Platt, junior Matthew Bowers and sophomore Alexa Helton perform as a clarinet quartet at Arts Alive.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.