Southern Delaware Chorale names Lee Mitchell Scholars

Southern Delaware Chorale has announced 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 musical theater and a capella choir. Nicole has been selected for Sussex County Honors Choir and All-State Chorus every year since seventh grade. Upon graduation, Nicole plans to attend college to obtain a degree in music therapy. She also plays multiple instruments, with the euphonium as her primary instrument for concert band. This fall, she is one of two drum majors leading Indian River’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. Caliana 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. 

Gabriel Young is a senior at Indian River High School, where he is active with the school choir as well as its a capella choir. He has been continuously involved in choral music since middle school and has taken part in a handful of high school musicals as well as community theater productions with Possum Juniors in Georgetown.

Along with funding for each to receive private lessons to further their vocal skills, recipients enjoy the opportunity to 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 will perform a solo.

Designed to encourage high school singers to participate in community choral singing, the scholarship was established through an endowment given by the family of pianist and composer Lee Mitchell. He was commissioned by the chorale to compose a piece titled, “Delaware: A Secular Oratorio,” which premiered in April 1996. 

For more information, go to southerndelawarechorale.org.