SOPHIA COLON is a high school senior pursuing a degree in music performance for percussion. She attends J.W Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Florida. She has participated in the All-State Band twice and five times in the Pasco All-County Band. She has also earned many district and state superiors. In the community, Sophia is a percussionist with the Bay Area Youth Winds (BAY Winds) and Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (TMYO). She also plays in the St. Petersburg College percussion ensemble, led by John Shaw. Sophia recently won a concerto competition held by TMYO. This is the first time a percussionist has ever won the competition. She will perform with TMYO in May 2020 as a soloist. Sophia continually seeks to improve her musical skills, taking lessons with John Shaw, and Robert McCormick (percussion professor at USF). Sophia also studies latin percussion with Millie Puente, a descendant of the late legendary Tito Puente. Sophia is auditioning at various universities around the country to pursue a degree in orchestral percussion. Sophia received a music scholarship from the University of North Texas School of Music and will attend in the fall.
