North Fort Myers High School String Quartet to play with the pros
When the touring show Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on Monday, March 23, the North Fort Myers High School String Quartet will join the professional musicians on stage to lend some local talent to this homage to the British Invasion. The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance.
The string quartet will perform six songs with the bands, “Eleanor Rigby,” “A Day in the Life,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Hey Jude,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Ruby Tuesday.” The producers of Beatles vs. Stones approached North Fort Myers High School Orchestra Director Carlos Mendez, looking for a quartet that could hold its own with a rock band in front of an audience.
“Our orchestra students are thrilled to take the stage and represent North Fort Myers High School Center for Arts and Media and our School District,” said North Fort Myers High School Orchestra Director Carlos Mendez. “This performance highlights their remarkable talent, celebrates the value of music education, and reflects the strong support our community provides for the arts. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with these dedicated, hard-working students, and I know they will make everyone proud!”
The members of the North Fort Myers High School Quartet are:
Justin Wang, 17, began playing violin 10 years ago. He has performed with the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony and competed in MPAs, receiving superior honors as a solo competitor and straight superiors as an ensemble.
Ethan Nguyen, 17, has been playing violin since fifth grade, with professional lessons starting in sixth grade. As part of the North Fort Myers High School Orchestra, Ethan competed in MPA and received superiors in his solo performances for the last three years, and last year, achieved straight superiors in ensemble.
Camila Mejia-Reynoso, 17, has been playing viola for seven years, and can also play piano. She comes from a family of musicians, with both of her brothers playing trumpet.
Sandro Morales, 17, has been playing cello for five years, and also plays violin. Sandro also plays with the MOSAIC Youth Philharmonic, a part of the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony. Sandro enjoys performing music, playing in Wicked Walk in Fort Myers, as well as all-county competitions, and MPAs for the last three years. In his MPA competitions, he’s received straight superiors every year.
Tickets to Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown are $58.92 – $92.87 and may be purchased at the Theatre Box Office, by phone at 239-481-4849, or online at www.bbmannpah.com. The Fort Myers show is part of a 125-city tour of the U.S., Mexico, and Canada and has been touring since 2011.