- October 31, 2024
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As the curtains rose and the lights dimmed, Seabreeze High School juniors Margueritte Pittochi and Joseph Monroe took to the stage on April 10 as Mr. and Miss Seabreeze for 2024-2025.
The annual competition took place at the school’s auditorium, hosting both an in-school and after-school performance. Contestants from the previous year, Imani Victory and Kalease Heggins, acted as the show’s emcees, introducing each act.
The competition begins with auditions in January, followed by rehearsals during lunch and after school from February until the show takes place.
Pittochi has been singing her whole life. Beginning when her mom signed her up for choir lessons at her church, Pittochi began to participate in more events at her elementary school that involved singing, including talent shows, progressing to her participation in All-County Chorus at her middle school.
Her passion for performing continued throughout her time as a high schooler at Seabreeze, leading her to enter the Mr. And Miss Seabreeze competition. After knowing previous contestants who described their positive experiences with the competition, Pittochi knew she wanted to be a part of it come her junior year.
“I made so many new friends, and it was so cool to see everybody do different things and come together,” Pittochi said.
Pittochi was the final act to perform at the competition, singing “Never Enough” by Loren Allred from "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack. She had the song picked out since her freshman year when she knew she wanted to participate in the competition.
“I love it so much,” Pittochi said. “I feel like it was very empowering and just something strong.”
Pittochi said she relates to the song, as she feels like she always wants more and when she does, she will always try to go for it.
However, performing was fairly new to Mr. Seabreeze. Monroe said he wouldn't normally be the type to dress up and perform in a talent show.
“But I also think that once I got into it and saw the school culture, I thought that this was a place I could have an impact on," Monroe said.
This school year was Monroe's first at Seabreeze, as he transferred from Mainland High School for his junior year. By taking part in the competition, Monroe said he found a place for himself at his new school.
After taking a speech course at Daytona State College, Monroe knew he wanted to put a unique spin on famous speeches as his act for the competition. His act consisted of reciting Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream,” Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” and Kung Fu Panda’s Grand Master Oogway’s “The Gift.”
By partaking in the competition, Monroe said it boosted his confidence, as performing for such a large audience was not something he knew himself to be able to do.
“It definitely opened up my shell a little bit and just opened my eyes to the range of capabilities that I do have,” Monroe said.
Behind the scenes, each contestant was incredibly supportive of one another. The students participated in gift exchanges where they would encourage one another through positive messages that elevated the group and their potential to put on an excellent show.
“We just created our own community,” Monroe said.
