Sound man plans for the future

Michel Northsea

Ignacio Scannone. Ignacio Scannone. Ignacio Scannone. Ignacio Scannone. Ignacio Scannone

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Sound and music are important items in the life of Ignacio Scannone.

So important, that one day, he wants to major in sound design and studio technology at a Florida school.

Scannone is a junior at West Port and is in his third year of the drama program.

He enjoys his involvement with the drama program because of the opportunities to meet and work with a group of   “interesting and talented” people.

He likes the challenges that providing the sound can bring during a performance. Getting the sound right for the one-act show “Freak” was one of Scannone’s challenges.

Now his challenge, one he is not alone in, is raising the funds for a trip to the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

 The drama program at West Port High School is the only school in Florida and one of 48 schools selected out of 2,000 nominated to perform at the prestigious festival.

Standing in the way of that trip in August is funding.

So far, students planning to make the trip have raised more than half of the necessary funds to make the trip. The estimated cost is $90,000, said Janet Shelley, drama teacher at the county’s magnet school for the arts.

Recently, the group raised almost $800 during a howling event at the Trained Dog, Happy Dog facility owned by Scannone’s mother. Students have also contributed to their own cause, sold discount cards offering savings at area merchants and put on a production for various communities. A nice boost to the cause was a $500 donation to the group from members of the Oak Run Little Theatre.

Besides his activities with the drama program, Scannone, who was born in Venezuela, is on the school’s golf team and is an honor roll student. He enjoys playing the guitar and discovering new music.

Residents wishing to donate to the cause may send donations to the West Port High School, Drama Department, 3733 S.W. 80thAve., Ocala, Fl., 34481. For more information, call 291-4000.