Nicole Carter

Photo courtesy of Southern Delaware Chorale

Caliana Velasquez

Photo courtesy of Southern Delaware Chorale

Gabriel Young

Photo courtesy of Southern Delaware Chorale

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REHOBOTH BEACH — Southern Delaware Chorale announces three recipients of its Lee Mitchell Scholarship for the 2024-25 season.

Nicole Carter is a senior at Indian River High School where she participates in its Selected A Capella Choir and musical theater. She has been selected for Sussex County Honors Choir and All-State Chorus every year since seventh grade. Upon graduation, Ms. Carter plans to attend college to obtain a degree in Music Therapy.

She said, “No matter what I do in the future, I will always keep music in my life, both instrumentally and vocally.”

In addition to singing, Ms. Carter plays multiple instruments, her primary instrument for concert band is the Euphonium. This fall, she’ll step on the field as one of two drum majors leading Indian River High School’s Marching Band.

Caliana Velasquez, a senior at Sussex Technical High School, has been singing since she was 5 years old. She is currently a member of Sussex Tech’s choir and has participated in musical theater. Ms. Velasquez has been named to Sussex County Honors Choir and All-State Chorus several times.

Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in music education.

Ms. Velasquez said, “Whether teaching or performing, I’d like to keep music a key part of my life.”

Gabriel Young, is a senior at Indian River High School, is active with the school’s choir as well as its A Capella choir. He has been continuously involved in choral music every year since middle school. In addition to choral endeavors, Mr. Young has been a part of a handful of musicals throughout high school, including “Mamma Mia,” produced by the Indian River High School Drama Club and two community theater productions, “Seussical” and “Into the Woods,” through his involvement with Possum Point Jr. Players.

In addition to his other hobbies, Mr. Young enjoys writing.

He said, “I just really love creating stories for other people to enjoy, which is part of why I love singing so much. It's just a different form of storytelling.”

Along with funding for each to receive private lessons to further their vocal skill, recipients perform as a member of the Chorale during weekly rehearsals and concert performances, employing the skills learned through lessons the scholarship provides.

For at least one performance, each scholar performs a solo.

Hannah Wolk, the Lee Mitchell Scholar in 2018, said, “Joining the Southern Delaware Chorale and being a Lee Mitchell Scholar was a pivotal moment in my musical development. The experience challenged me to hone my vocal technique, embrace intricate harmonies, and work closely with others to create a unified sound”.

The Lee Mitchell Scholarship was established in 1999 through an endowment from the family of pianist and composer, Lee Mitchell, in his memory. It aims to encourage talented high school singers to participate in community choral singing.

The Chorale commissioned an oratorio by Mr. Mitchell, leading to “Delaware (A Secular Oratorio),” which premiered April 14, 1996, at Sussex Central Senior High School followed by repeat performances throughout the state.

Applications for the next round will be accepted starting in March 2025. For more information, visit southerndelawarechorale.org.

Southern Delaware Chorale is a non-profit community choir organization whose mission is to provide a vehicle through which local singers can come together to sharpen their musical skills and share the love of choral music.

Now entering its 39th year, the Chorale aims to provide well-performed choral music to various venues in Southern Delaware and to embrace and practice diversity and inclusion as a group committed to sharing musical artistry within all communities. Three concerts are presented each year.

The Chorale will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in December 2025 and is already making plans for a celebratory performance of Handel's Messiah, which was sung at the group’s inaugural concert.

This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.