Local Talent Profile

Local Talent: Country with a twist

Lake County singer often takes his talents to Nashville. Country artist Rob Nichols, who started performing professionally when he was about 22, thinks back to growing up and listening to his parents’ Elvis Presley 45s, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and…

Local Talent: Moved by the wind and tides

Made of Earth brings nature’s elements to the stage through its lyrics. When three Lake County musicians were trying to name their band, they looked to their Christian faith and the name “Made of Earth” just flowed. “As Genesis 2:7…

Local Talent: Free spirit

Singer Christina Adinolfi spreads energy through her music. Spirituality plays a part in singer Christina Adinolfi’s performances, and listeners felt that one recent evening as her voice floated from the patio of Magical Meat Boutique to the heavens above Mount…

Local Talent: She’s a natural

Artist Hope Barton features Florida scenery at her Clermont gallery. Florida’s natural beauty is recognized worldwide, so it’s no wonder that an artist would want to capture it. Hope Barton, for example, has a simple motivation behind her artwork. “I…

Local Talent: Talking heads

Ventriloquist Mike Palma brings audiences to life by bringing dummies to life. Ventriloquist and comedy magician Mike Palma got started with magic at a young age and has now been performing for more than 20 years. He got his first…

Local Talent: Passionate painter

Florals, Florida waterways and mountains are favorites of artist Marjorie Dodrill. The walls of artist Marjorie Dodrill’s Villages home resemble an art gallery, and it’s easy to be drawn to the intricate detail in her scenic paintings and the rich…

Local Talent: A taste of American folk music

The Lake County Folk Festival moves through the city of Eustis with a local duo. The popular Lake County Folk Festival is coming in November to Eustis and features a local duo: Smithson and French. Singers and songwriters Paul Smithson…

Local Talent: Bringing history to life

Novelist Susan Carol McCarthy sets her fictional stories in historical Central Florida. Author Susan Carol McCarthy discussed the writing process during a recent visit to Lake County libraries. “I write, but more importantly, I read. If I had to choose…

Local Talent: Getting in tune

The members of the Mount Dora Pipes and Drums bond over a Scottish tradition. Photos: Nicole Hamel Musicians don’t have to be Scottish to play the bagpipes but playing the bagpipes might make them feel a wee bit Scottish. Members…

Local Talent: Artwork in the workplace

A Leesburg business gives local artists a unique venue. At many offices, employees are herded into gray, dreary cubicles where they dust off plastic plants and stare at drab walls. At Florida Plus Realty, however, the office is a vibrant…