Maltz Jupiter Theatre Conservatory of Performing Arts Honors Top Students at COPA Awards

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre's Conservatory of Performing Arts recently honored six outstanding students during the annual COPA Awards luncheon March 26 at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens.

"The COPA Awards are a testament to the talented students our conservatory attracts," said Julie Rowe, director of education. "And the awards are an opportunity for us to encourage students to keep reaching higher."

This year's six recipients are:

Malachi Rosenfield, The Mary Ellen and Dermot Healey Award for Leadership

Malachi has been a COPA student since 2008, including performances in West Side Story and 42nd Street, and she a member of the COPA Youth Touring Company. Malachi, 15, is a student at Jupiter High School, where she is a member of the swim team, school band (French horn), and the Moon Buggy Club, where her team built a moon buggy for competition. Malachi also finds time to perform with Young Singers of the Palm Beaches.

Patrick Condon, The Jodi Ann Saltzman Award for "Most Spirited Student"

Patrick has been a COPA student since 2007 and has performed in West Side Story, Les Miserables, 42nd Street, Pirates of Penzance, Good News and School House Rock. He also will be in the upcoming COPA production of Fame: The Musical. Patrick, 15, is a sophomore at Jupiter High School, where he is a drama student and also works on sound for school productions. Patrick lives in Jupiter Farms, where he has been involved in community service for many years.

Lanardo Davis, The Dr. Bernard and Phyllis Eisenstein Award for Cultural Awareness in the Arts (honors students who have shared their cultural heritage with other students)

Lanardo has been a COPA student since 2009, where he is a member of the COPA Youth Touring Company, and will also be in the upcoming COPA production of Fame: The Musical. He has performed with Young Singers of the Palm Beaches since 2005, including performances in Europe at the Mozart Festival, and in Oregon at the Pacific International Children's Festival. Lanardo is also a member of the FMEA All-State Concert Chorus and Sight Reading Chorus. Lanardo, 16, is a junior at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where he is a member of the Honor Choir and the Jaguars varsity basketball team.

Allison Bell, The O'Hagan Family Award (honors students who have shown marked progress in acting, dance or voice)

Allison has been a COPA student since 2009 in Acting and Improv classes. She is 13 and a seventh-grade student at Murray Middle School, where she is an A-student, a member of the Student Council, and recently won first place in the Science Fair. Allison also is a contributor to the Children's Home Society 5-K program. She recently celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, and also enjoys creating pottery.

Kiki Sabater, The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Guild Award (honors students who have shown marked progress in acting, dance or voice)

Kiki has been a COPA student since 2008, and has performed in West Side Story, 42nd Street and Pirates of Penzance. Kiki also will be in the upcoming COPA production of Fame: The Musical, and other credits include Anything Goes, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty with Ballet Florida. Kiki, 16, is a student at Dreyfoos School of the Arts.

Sabrina Freeman, The Peggy and Rick Katz Award for Outstanding Achievement (honors students who have shown progress in all three disciplines).

Sabrina has been a COPA student since 2009, and has performed in Another Openin', Another Show and will appear in the upcoming COPA Best of Broadway revue in May. Sabrina, 10, is a student at Beacon Cove Elementary School.

Students were presented with trophies and certificates, and met the benefactors of their awards, which are named in honor of the donors who made possible the physical construction of COPA, which has a rehearsal studio and separate rooms for voice and acting.

COPA offers classes in acting, musical theater and dance, and spring break and summer camps designed to educate and entertain students of all ages. For information on classes for children and adults, please call (561) 575-COPA (2672).

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is an award-winning professional not-for-profit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire our community. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and is located east of U.S. Highway 1 at 1001 East Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter.

For more information on Maltz Jupiter Theatre, please visit http://www.jupitertheatre.org/

Photo: COPA Award winner Malachi Rosenfeld (left), COPA Award winner Lanardo Davis, singer Emily Rynasko, COPA Award winner Allison Bell, COPA Award winner Kiki Sabater and COPA Award winner Patrick Condon. Photo by Scott Simmons