Author: Celeste McLaughlin

Medi-Weightloss Of Lutz Works On Results That Stick

Medi-Weightloss Clinics are all about results.

Shannon Terkoski says she came to the Lutz Medi-Weightloss weighing 250 pounds on Jan. 16, 2018.

She now weighs 143.2 pounds, having lost 106.8 pounds.

“Week-to-week, they were encouraging but also made real suggestions on what I could do to improve things,” Terkoski says. “Like, the way I go grocery shopping and not just pushing their own products, even though I still take some of their proprietary products. I stopped going on a weekly basis, but I continue to maintain what they have shown and taught me about making better lifestyle choices.”

Shannon still pops in to buy Medi-Weightloss supplements.

“I tried every diet and miracle pill under the sun and lost a few pounds,” says Ryan Cuddy. “This all changed at Medi-Weightloss. I have lost over 50 pounds and the weight is staying off. The staff and doctor are very knowledgeable and know what works. I would recommend Medi Weightloss to anyone who is looking to lose weight and to get a better, healthier life!”

Jodi Sullivan is another satisfied Medi-Weightloss client.

“I was ready to lose weight and found Medi-Weightloss,” she says. “After having a much-needed hard discussion with Dr. (Andrew) Weitzman, at Medi, it was like a switch in my brain was flipped and I was motivated to do it!”

Jodi Sullivan says that Dr. Andrew Weitzman at the Medi-Weightloss of Lutz helped her to “flip the switch” when it came to finally doing the right things to lose weight.

These are just a few comments from patients at the Lutz Medi-Weightloss Clinic.

According to a survey done by Statista, the top three New Year’s resolutions for Americans in 2020 were: diet or eat healthier, exercise more, and lose weight.

An earlier survey, conducted in Dec. of 2018, said that just 16 percent of respondents stuck to some of their 2018 resolutions, while 13 percent said they kept none of them. While those three resolutions are obviously intertwined, in order to make lasting changes to one’s health via weight loss and diet, one must adopt lifestyle changes.

Those changes can be easier to make and keep when you have the help of professionals.

And, since 2006, Medi-Weightloss of Lutz, one of more than 100 locations nationwide, has helped clients make lifestyle changes that stick.

To date, Medi-Weightloss of Lutz owner Gerri Willett says the office located on S.R. 54 (two miles west of S.R. 56) has, to date, helped patients lose 118,877 pounds.

Know Your Phases

The professionals at Medi-Weightloss focus on three phases.

The first is the acute phase, also known as the weight loss phase.

The initial visit is a 60-90 minute consultation. Professionals will take weight measurements, do blood work, take an electrocardiogram (EKG), present informational handouts that go into a binder and start a detailed journal where the client will log their eating, drinking and sleeping data.

During the acute phase, clients come in once a week until they hit their target weight. Medi-Weightloss has many ways to help during this difficult phase. You’ll get two injections, one called a Methionine Inositol Choline or MIC Combo injection that puts B12 vitamins and amino acids right into your bloodstream. The lipotropic substances help with fat metabolism, liver function and fat excretion.

“The MIC injections are good for everyone and we never charge for them if you’re on the program,” Willett says. “While you’re on the program, you can come in twice a week and get the MIC Combo for free.”

Ryan Cuddy says he has lost over 50 pounds since joining Medi-Weightloss of Lutz.

The second shot is a Vitamin B6 and B1 injection that helps reduce water retention and helps keep your energy up while battling food cravings. In the first phase, clients also will have help with vitamin supplements, a good multivitamin, as well as calcium and Omega 3 supplements. You’ll also receive a food scale to help with portion control and ketone sticks to detect your level of ketosis.

“Ketosis is a state where your body burns fat faster,” Willett said. “The ketone stick will reveal what level of ketosis you are in. Some don’t get there but it’s okay if they just get close.”

Once you reach your target weight, you’ll move on to Phase 2: the maintenance phase. Clients meet with Andrew Weitzman, M.D., who is Board-certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Weitzman’s goal is always for you to be able to get off any medications you may be taking.

“One of my favorite things is getting someone off of blood pressure medications,” Dr. Weitzman says. “You lose 20 pounds and all of a sudden, your blood pressure goes down.”

Phase 3 is the wellness phase. During this phase, clients need only come in once a month.

And, it’s always okay to come back later. Medi-Weightloss has clients return after completing the program, sometimes 10 years later, sometimes to share their success, sometimes because they are in need of additional help.

“They can always come back,” Willett says. “If it’s 10 years or 13 years later, I want them to be able to come back in. We want success for our patients. They shouldn’t feel guilty about coming back in. Losing weight is a lifestyle change. If it was easy or just a pill you could take, no one would be overweight.”

A Staff That’s There for You

Some clients are so happy with their results, they join the Medi-Weightloss team, like Erin Jones.

“I lost 25 pounds in the first month-and-a-half and ended up losing 50 pounds overall,” Erin says. “I liked the program.”

Jones, who affectionately goes by “The” Erin Jones in the office, lost her husband in 2010 and then, “I ate for a year,” she says.

She started coming to Medi-Weightloss in late 2011. By April of 2012, not only had she met her goals but she took a job interview at the clinic after her weight loss appointment. She started off working 10 to 12 hours per week and is now a full-time medical assistant and the office manager at Medi-Weightloss of Lutz.

“Patients can take comfort in knowing that we’ve been down their road before and that we can truly say we know what they’re going through,” Jones says.

Medical assistant Patty Pinson has been with Medi-Weightloss for a decade and is a retired Registered Nurse (RN).

“This is a good place to work,” Pinson says. “Everyone gets along, we get to know the patients and it makes us feel good when we’re able to help them — it’s a win-win all the way around.”

Medical assistant Angela Wild is the newest member of the staff, but she comes to Medi-Weightloss with 14 years of experience in the radiology field. “This is definitely a happier field than radiology,” Wild said. “People come here because they want to be here and I don’t dread coming to work. I really enjoy it.”

Dr. Weitzman is a Board-certified Medical Doctor who earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel, and completed his residency in Long Island, NY. He operated a primary care practice in New York for three years and ran one out of Manatee County prior to coming on board at Medi-Weightloss more than three years ago.

“There aren’t as many dissimilarities as you’d think (between primary care and weight loss clinics),” Dr. Weitzman says. “The main difference is with primary care, you’re already treating a patient’s disease. Here, we’re working strictly with prevention.”

He stresses the three legs to the weight-loss process: diet, exercise and appetite suppression.

“The diet we choose for you is sensible,” Weitzman said. “It’s not some newfangled diet. It should be possible for you to eat this way for the rest of your life.”

Dr. Weitzman and the staff at Medi-Weightloss also will help develop an exercise program that fits your capabilities, and he has a lot of experience prescribing appetite suppressants.

“You must do all three in order to succeed,” Weitzman said. “Journaling helps a lot with diet. We also have supplements to help you.”

In the office and also in the startup bag clients receive is a menu of different supplements. From flavored powders for shakes, to snacks and vitamins, you’ll have all the tools for success at your fingertips.

While not at the Lutz location, Medi-Weightloss also employs a full-time Registered Dietitian who works at the corporate office in Tampa.

Jeff Cervero is available for consultations and has added valuable information to the company website, like recipes, exercise tips and other information. Cervero even went through popular restaurants’ menus in the area and came up with a list of options that fit with the Medi-Weightloss program.

“We have no competition that does all of the things we do and we do them very well,” Willett says.

From the research and development coming out of the corporate office, to the experienced and well-trained staff, to the emerging technology in the field like a step counter called the Fit-Stik and the Ree Vue Metabolic Testing, all of the tools you need to finally reach your weight loss goals this year are available at Medi-Weightloss of Lutz.

New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents are invited to stop in at the Medi-Weightloss Clinic located at 24420 S.R. 54 in Lutz.

The office is open five days a week: 6:30 a.m.-noon on Monday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday; 1 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday; and 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m on Friday. For more information, call (813) 909-1700, visit MediWeightloss.com/locations/lutz/ or see the ad in our latest issue.

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Wesley Chapel’s Learning Experience Is Open Off S.R. 54!

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel director Karen Mullen (left) and area manager Jennifer Tibbetts share a table in the center’s Make Believe Blvd. (Photos: Charmaine George)

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel, located near the front of the Lexington Oaks community off S.R. 54, just opened in August, but is already a busy, bustling learning center filled with happy children.

“We are quickly growing,” says Kristen Nyilas, the operating manager who oversees both the Wesley Chapel franchise and a Brandon location. “As of right now, though, we are still accepting new students at every age group.”

The center offers both full-time care for ages newborn to five years old and also VPK-only classes. VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is three hours a day for students who will enter kindergarten the following year and it is offered at no cost to parents. Instead, the cost is paid by the state of Florida. Some part-time care is offered, such as three days a week or mornings only, based on availability.

Nyilas says The Learning Experience Wesley Chapel provides a foundation that gives students a jump start in elementary school.

The school’s director, Karen Mullen, adds, “When they come to The Learning Experience, they graduate with skills that set them apart from their kindergarten peers.”

School History & Programming

The Learning Experience was founded by Michael and Linda Weissman in 1980 with a single location in Boca Raton, and was built on teaching through cognitive, physical and social principles; summarized in the school’s motto, “Learn, Play and Grow.”

When it comes to early childhood education, all of The Learning Experience centers use the proprietary Learning Experience Academic Program (L.E.A.P.) that Kristen says was written by educators who specialize in early childhood education. It guarantees that children will graduate with “exceptional core academic skills.”

The curriculum was written around what the school’s founders believe are the six stages of development — Infant (6 weeks to 1 year old), Toddler (1-2 years old), Tawdler (2-2-½ years old), Prepper (2-½ to 3 years old), Preschooler (3-5 years old), and Kindergartner (5 years old, but it is not offered at the Wesley Chapel location and some others).

“Even infants have a curriculum,” explains Kristen. “A lot of parents like that their children are learning as soon as they come to our center.”

L.E.A.P. includes sign language for infants and toddlers, a phonics program and even a foreign language program, teaching children Spanish or Mandarin (although currently, only Spanish is taught at the Wesley Chapel location).

L.E.A.P. workbooks include a journal, an interactive book and Fun With Phonics, which is specifically designed to teach reading to 3- and 4-year-olds.

Children also take part in activities that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The Learning Experience offers eight enrichment programs for children, including Suddenly Science, Dancing Feet, Talent Sprouts, Super Soccer and more.

“Our enrichment programs are included, and there’s never an added fee,” says Kristen. She explains that the programs are offered once a week for three months. Each student gets a kit to use in class — such as a yoga mat and CD for “Yippee 4 Yoga” — that the student takes home at the end of the unit.

The Learning Experience mascots, including Flexi Flamingo (P.E.), Lionstein (Science) and Bubbles the Elephant — the leader of the mascots — help lead the children through their day.

The Latest & Greatest

What truly sets The Learning Experience apart, says Karen, is its commitment to the newest technology and newest ideas in early childhood education.

“It’s colorful and bright and happy,” she says with a big smile.

Karen is a lifelong educator who has earned a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN, and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from California University of Pennsylvania in California, PA. She has experience as an elementary school classroom teacher and as a curriculum specialist, among other roles.

“The Learning Experience is on the leading edge of what’s new in early childhood education,” she says. “So many places aren’t willing to take the chance to change, but not here.”

She says that’s evident not only in the school’s curriculum, but also in its technology. All classrooms for kids ages three and older have L.E.A.P. Interactive smart boards in the classroom. Students being taught a new lesson interact with their smart board to circle the correct answer, for example.

The Learning Experience also has a proprietary app — which can be used at home on a computer, tablet or phone — to continue learning. Called “BubblesU,” it allows students to reinforce lessons learned in school in a fun and interactive way.

But, that’s not the only app offered by the school. Kristen and Karen say parents love the Show and Tell app, which is how The Learning Experience’s staffers communicate with parents all day about what their child is doing in school.

“We send notifications so the parents know when they were diapered, when they slept, exactly what they ate, or if they need to bring supplies, like if they’re running low on diapers,” explains Kristen, “and we send them at least five pictures every day.”

The school also emphasizes dramatic play and allows all students who are potty trained to visit Make Believe Blvd. daily, where there is a slide and a ball pit, plus storefronts and more to encourage imagination.

The outdoor play areas are covered in turf, not mulch, and feature a splash pad for cooling off in the summer.

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel provides all snacks and meals daily and is an allergy-friendly and completely peanut-free facility.

One other thing that sets The Learning Experience franchises apart is their commitment to cleanliness. Not only is the center spotless, but during construction, an air purification system was installed, similar to what hospitals use, with ultraviolet lights.

“It means our air is very clean,” Kristen says, “and that helps to reduce the number of illnesses.”

The cleanliness — including the air quality — is one of many things that Heather Barnhart loves about The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel, where her daughter Hailey, who is two-and-a-half, attends.

She says that’s just the beginning.

“I love that in art class, they do the art themselves and not have the teacher do it for them,” Heather says. “They use their imagination and their hands, markers, paint and crayons.”

Heather also has been especially pleased with the education being provided to her daughter, who comes home singing songs and counting, sharing things she’s learned at school.

The biggest compliment for The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel might be that even though Hailey spends all day there, she doesn’t always want to leave at the end of the day.

“Sometimes, she’d rather stay there and play,” says Heather.

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel is open Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. It is located at 5440 Post Oak Blvd., just outside the entrance to Lexington Oaks, off S.R. 54. To learn more, visit TheLearningExperience.com and search for the Wesley Chapel location or call (813) 994-3865.

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Pure Nail Bar Spa Is New Tampa’s Place For All-Natural Nail Services!

While Pure Nail Bar Spa opened about five years ago next to Burger 21 in the Trout Creek Commons plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., it’s only been since July of last year that it has been owned by Kevin and Nicole Nguyen.

Kevin and Nicole are New Tampa residents who have been in the nail spa industry for 15 years.

Since the couple took over, their focus has been on providing outstanding service and all-natural products for their customers.

“We removed all harmful chemical substances and use NuSkin products instead for all of our pedicures,” says Kevin. “It’s healthier for you and for our employees, too.”

Kevin explains that Pure Nail Bar offers services that are priced similar to other nail salons, but even the classic pedicure, which is just $25, uses natural products.

A wide range of pedicures includes the classic natural pedicure, natural pedicure foot treatment, signature natural pedicure or luxury natural pedicure, offering treatments such as an herbal mineral bath with essential oils, exfoliating with Liquid Body Lufra, hot stone massage, Sole Solution foot treatment and Baobab Body Butter for all-day moisturizing and enhancing the resiliency of the skin over time.

All types of manicures are available, too. While acrylic nails are still an option, Kevin and Nicole suggest customers try dipping powder instead, which feels and looks lighter than acrylic, but is actually stronger.

Any Design, Any Color

From the trendiest shapes to the most intricate designs, the specialists at Pure Nail Bar Spa can copy any design you can dream up or find on Pinterest.

“Bring in your design and we’ll match it,” Nicole says.

Cristina Chanquin is a Pebble Creek resident who says she doesn’t trust many people with her nails. While she prefers Nicole as her nail tech, she says she’s seen others who work at Pure Nail Bar, and likes what she’s seen with them, too.

“Nicole can do any shape, any design,” says Cristina. “I always get a coffin shape and she doesn’t do them too thick. She is always on trend and knows what’s going on.”

Cristina says strangers often tell her that her nails are “amazing” and ask where she has them done. She happily refers them to Pure Nail Bar Spa.

It’s not just Nicole’s skill that keeps Cristina coming back. It’s also the great customer service.

“They’re so accommodating,” she says, explaining that Pure Nail’s technicians always offer water, soda, or a glass of wine to their clients. If Cristina is running late, they will still see her and won’t make her feel rushed, and there are other personal touches, too. “If someone is unhappy with something, they’ll redo it, and they won’t charge you,” she says.

Nicole explains that this is Pure Nail Bar Spa’s guarantee. On pedicures and gel and dip manicures, “if anything chips, come in and we’ll fix it for free,” she says.

To see many examples of the specialty nails designed by Nicole and other nail specialists at Pure Nail Bar Spa, visit the spa’s Facebook page by searching “Pure Nail Bar New Tampa” on Facebook.

Other Available Services & Holiday Raffle

In addition to nails, Pure Nail Bar Spa offers a full menu of waxing and facials. The spa’s nail techs recommend and use the AgeLOC brand LumiSpa device from NuSkin, a handheld personal skin care device with gentle, nonabrasive silicone surfaces that helps to help lift skin and reduce sagging. In 2018, it was an award winner in the global Pure Beauty awards.

The LumiSpa machine and products used for facials, pedicures and manicures are available for sale at Pure Nail Bar Spa.

“The clients use it here and love it so much that they want to bring it home,” says Nicole.

And, the good news is that Pure Nail Bar Spa is currently offering a holiday raffle, now through Tuesday, December 24. You’ll receive a ticket into the raffle by purchasing any service (limit one raffle ticket per visit).

The first prize in the raffle is the aforementioned NuSkin LumiSpa personal skin care device (a $200 value!). Second prize is a $50 gift card to Pure Nail Bar Spa and third prize is a tub of NuSkin Epoch Baobab Body Butter (a $35 value).

The salon currently has 11 employees, and Kevin and Nicole say they are hiring. All Pure Nail employees must have a full specialist cosmetology license.

“It’s easy to work here,” says Kevin, “There’s no pressure to sell, you just have to make customers happy. Customer service is the most important thing here.”

Sandra is a full nail specialist who has worked at Pure Nail Bar Spa for about a year and a half.

“It’s such a positive environment,” she says, “We’re really focused on better service and better products.”

Pure Nail Bar also offers a menu of services for when parents come in with their children, such as for a mother/daughter day. These include manicures, pedicures and polish changes.

A private room is available and Pure Nail Bar Spa can accommodate all kinds of parties, such as birthday, bridal, bachelorette and even Christmas parties.

Kevin and Nicole hope to treat every customer who walks through their doors to healthy and natural products with excellent customer service, so they will be as happy with their experience as Cristina has been.

“I require something special,” says Cristina. “I like a special color, so they make sure it’s in stock. It’s very personal.”

Pure Nail Bar & Spa is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr., Ste. 104. It is open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday.

To make an appointment or for more information, call (813) 991-0099, or search “Pure Nail Bar of New Tampa” on Facebook. Also, be sure to mention this article or bring in their ad in the latest issue for a 10% discount for first-time clients.

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Wiregrass Ranch High Band Earns Best In State!

At an event where there is no scoreboard and your fate lies in the hands of judges, you really never know. But Josh Hobbs, the Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) band director, was pretty convinced that of the five finalists for Florida’s Class 4A State Championship, his Bulls were among the best.

“We thought we had a good chance to be in the top three and we would have been excited about that,” Hobbs said.

The Bulls had turned in one of their best runs of the season at the State semi-finals to make the finals, and the band was even better at the finals.

He still wasn’t expecting what happened next.

First place.

State Champs.

Boom!

“It was surreal,” Hobbs says. “It was shocking. We were flabbergasted.”

The Bulls’ performances were history-making. While acclaimed as one of the area’s best bands for years, on Nov. 23 the Wiregrass Ranch Marching Bulls became the first Pasco County group ever to capture a Florida Marching Band Championship.

“It is a first for the school, and a first for Pasco County,” says Hobbs.

The Bulls capped a great season with a magnificent and grueling final day. They had to compete against 15 other high school bands in Orlando for the semifinals, and then after being one of five teams selected to move on, had to load all of their instruments and uniforms to drive to Daytona Beach for the final that night.

They were up against perennial powerhouses in the high school marching band world, including Seminole, the defending champions, as well as Bradenton’s Lakewood Ranch and Orlando’s University High.

No problem.

The Red X

Gone are the days when a marching band was primarily entertainment under the Friday Night Lights. The band performs at every football game, but beyond bringing excitement to the bleachers, the crowd provides an opportunity for the band to do a live run-through of its show in front of an audience, honing the music and marching skills needed to be competitive against the best high school marching bands in the state.

Hobbs, who is in his second year at WRH after coming over from Wesley Chapel, credits both the students’ hard work and the design of the show for their State Championship win.

The show, called The Red X, depicts a plague. That may not be your typical marching band fare, but Hobbs says the band members, section leaders and drum majors all bought into it and made it great.

“They were super excited about it and worked really hard,” he says. “We had a great leadership team to get everyone on the same page and stayed really focused throughout the year to set small goals, to achieve our big goal, which is to get where we did.”

Music in The Red X included Linkin Park’s “In The End,” Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited,” plus classical pieces, an orchestral piece and a band piece.

“They had a great theme and they really sold it,” says Tom Viking, the fine arts program coordinator who oversees all fine arts programming in kindergarten through grade 12 for all Pasco County Schools. “They played well and performed well.”

Months Of Rehearsals

Rehearsals for the show started last May. Color guard and percussion met over the summer to rehearse, and the entire band had two weeks of band camp before the 2019-20 school year started. Every day at camp, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the band practiced.

Students started with the fundamentals of marching, learning how to stand, how to step, how to play warmups or toss a flag. Then, they started learning the placements and continued practicing two or three hours a day, at least three days a week, throughout August, September, October and November.

With 140 band members, plus support staff and volunteers, this adds up to tens of thousands of hours of work.

Hannah Kim is the band’s senior drum major and flute soloist. She’s been in the band her entire high school career and hopes to continue playing in college this fall.

Kim says what it takes to reach that pinnacle is “a lot of endurance and consistency.”

First In Class & Even Beating The Bigger Bands

“I happened to be there that night and saw all of the bands, which was really cool,” says Viking. “It was a tight margin.”

He explains that bands are divided into five categories, based on how many students are on the field, not the size of the school, which is how schools are typically classified for sports classifications.

WRH is a 4A school, the second-largest category behind 5A in Florida.

“Not only did they win their category statewide, they placed third overall,” explains Viking. “That means of the 5A bands, only two scored higher than Wiregrass Ranch.”

There are several adjudicators and each judge studies one component very carefully, he says, such as footwork or music, design or color guard. Adjudication is meticulous, and bands are judged precisely in many categories.

“Wiregrass Ranch has been in the finals before,” says Viking. “They’ve been in the hunt, and this time, the stars aligned for them.”

After making it to the finals her freshman and junior year, Hannah says it was exciting to not only reach the finals her senior year, but to finally pull off the big win.

“It feels amazing,” she says. “Honestly, I just feel so proud. We work hard every year, and I felt like all our hard work was recognized.”

Her unique perspective included watching the band perform from the drum major platform, seeing the show take shape from its very beginning, but she also got to perform in the show as the flute soloist.

“It was a cool experience. When I got drum major, I was a little sad because I was going to miss marching on the field and playing the flute,” Hannah explains, “but it was awesome to get the best of both worlds.”

Kudos To The Director & His Support Staff

“Josh Hobbs is home grown in Pasco County,” says Viking, taking pride that Hobbs not only has chosen to spend his career in Pasco, but also graduated from Wesley Chapel High (WCH), where he participated in the marching band.

In fact, Hobbs’ former school also competed this year. WCH was in Class 2A when Hobbs led it, but moved up to Class 3A this year. The Wildcats also made the finals, finishing fifth in the state for its class.

At WRH, Hobbs has the benefit of significant support, including a strong band at John Long Middle School that feeds into the high school.

“He’s got a great staff that works with him, a great middle school program, and a great group of parents,” says Viking. “It’s a special thing.”

Viking says the typical Wiregrass Ranch High band kid probably started in the band at Long as a sixth grader, and many of the students have performed together ever since.

“It’s a lot of hard work through a lot of years,” says Viking. “They’re passionate about what they do and the team members they do it with.”

This year, Hobbs says all that hard work paid off.

“The skills these kids build through the fall — time management, discipline, and working harder than they ever knew they could work — and then to be rewarded the way they were, makes it all worth it.”

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Prism Concert Highlights Wharton’s Music Programs

As holiday breaks approach for all of our local schools, Wharton’s band, orchestra and choir programs will get together to make music in a somewhat unexpected style that has become an annual tradition.

Called “Prism,” it will feature every large performing ensemble in the school’s music department, which includes the band, orchestra and chorus.

“The concert runs in a non-traditional, continuous or circular format,” explains Justin Swaim, music department chair, “with varying performing locations throughout the concert hall.”

So, when one ensemble finishes performing, the spotlight will instantly move to another area of the auditorium and the next piece will begin.

It might go from a vocal solo of a popular holiday song to a string quartet playing a classical piece. Then, the entire orchestra may appear on stage, while the jazz band sets up in the back corner.

Swaim says Prism is a fast-paced, fun and somewhat unexpected evening.

Groups scheduled to perform include Wharton’s Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wildcat Orchestra, Jazz Band, Lady Catz Choir, Mixed Choir, Percussion Ensemble and smaller ensembles.

The school’s marching band, called Wharton Regiment, will fill the auditorium in a unique way. Typically, its sounds are reserved for outdoor football fields.

But, during Prism, the Wharton Regiment brings a modified version of this season’s halftime show, which scored straight superiors (the highest possible score) at its MPA (Music Performance Assessment) competition last month and features music from Marvel Studios’ “The Avengers.”

From quiet to loud, classical to contemporary, Swaim says that at Prism, “there is always something for all ages and all musical tastes.”

Prism will be held on Friday, December 13, at 7 p.m. in the Wharton High School auditorium, located on the south side of the school (closer to Walmart) at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for students with student ID and children ages 12 and under. All proceeds from admission will go directly to supporting the students participating in the Wharton High music department.

For questions regarding the concert, please email Justin Swaim at justin.swaim@sdhc.k12.fl.us. — CM

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