South Florida Pride Youth Band’s 14th Season Concert Shines with Talent and Generosity

Presented by FLoatarama, Event Awards $46,000 in Student Scholarships

Bruce A. Kraemer, Ashley Torres, Kaiselys Chevalier and Ayelen Ordenes (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

The South Florida Pride Youth Band delivered a show-stopping performance at its 14th annual concert, presented by FLoatarama, at The Parker on Sunday, February 23. The highly anticipated event showcased the dedication and talent of young musicians while awarding an impressive $46,000 in scholarships to support the next generation of artists.

David Burba, Aquil Dawson and Larry Small (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of scholarships to 25 outstanding South Florida high school band students, each receiving $1,500. Additionally, South Broward High School was recognized with a $1,000 award for recruiting the most students. The top honor of the night went to Brody Santos, a sophomore at North Broward Preparatory School, who was awarded the prestigious $7,500 FLoatarama Youth Pride Band Scholarship. Santos will also be featured as a soloist during the South Florida Pride Concert Band’s upcoming performance on May 10.

Pedro Ross, Ryan Andre and Sofia Bitela (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

Performing alongside members of the South Florida Pride Concert Band, 80 students from public and private high schools across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties took the stage under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Cheldon Williams, Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at West Virginia University. The evening marked a culmination of weeks of dedicated rehearsals, resulting in a spectacular one-night-only showcase of musical excellence.

Dr. Adam DeRosa, president, South Florida Pride Concert Band and Zackery Chambers, South Florida Youth Pride Band scholarship recipient (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

A Legacy of Inclusion and Mentorship

“For nearly four decades, our band has been a proud pillar of South Florida’s arts community, providing a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ youth,” said Dr. Adam DeRosa, board chair of the South Florida Pride Concert Band. “We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and sponsors, whose support allows us to nurture these talented students through financial assistance and musical mentorship.”

Chris Ambs, Mariah Hilson, South Florida Youth Pride Band scholarship recipient and Scott Clearwater (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

Now in its 38th season, the South Florida Pride Concert Band holds the distinction of being Florida’s longest-running LGBTQ+ arts and cultural organization.

Dan Bassett, artistic director, South Florida Pride Concert Band (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

FLoatarama’s Commitment to LGBTQ+ Youth

“The FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund is dedicated to supporting organizations like the South Florida Pride Youth Band that provide essential resources for the one-in-five youth in Broward County who identify as LGBTQ+,” said Scott Schramm and Roderick MacKenzie, co-founders of FLoatarama. “It is incredibly rewarding to help these young musicians pursue their passions and education through scholarships.”

Tyler Strode South Florida Youth Pride Band scholarship (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

Since its inception in 2012, the South Florida Pride Youth Band has awarded a remarkable $266,000 in scholarships, reinforcing its mission to uplift and inspire young musicians.

Scott Schramm and Roderick MacKenzie presenting the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund $7,500 scholarship to Brody Santos (center) (Courtesy of Brett Hufziger Photography)

“The need to invest in youth arts programs has never been greater,” said Dan Bassett, artistic director of the South Florida Pride Concert Band. “We’re honored to provide these students with the invaluable experience of rehearsing and performing alongside professional musicians, many of whom are alumni of our band.”