Isabella Rodriguez – Whiz Kids

August 22, 2017 | South Tampa Magazine | Categories: Whiz Kids | Tags: No tags found.

Isabella Rodriguez had a busy year.

She played the lead in “Peace, Love and Understanding” at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, won awards for trumpet and violin performances and as a student conductor for band, was a member of All-County Chorus and All-County Band and was president of the National Junior Honor Society.

Forget triple threat; Isabella Rodriguez is a quadruple threat. She dances, acts, sings and plays musical instruments. It is hard for her to pinpoint which she loves best, but this vivacious teen spends an average of three hours each night practicing.

“It can be challenging,” she says. “Lots of evening after dinner I stay up late, but I am doing what I love and I know it is going to take hard work.”

Just this summer, Isabella has attended band and theatre camps at Plant High School, where she’ll attend ninth grade in the fall, and the University of Tampa. She auditioned for and was accepted to Showstoppers – an intensive three-week musical theatre program culminating with five performances – at the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory. Even when she’s participating in her Girl Scout troop, she puts her entertaining skills to work. To earn her Bronze Award she produced a solo vocal show, “Stars, Stripes & Songs,” that she performed at area nursing and assisted living homes.

Performing may just be in her blood – both of her parents are musicians, and her mom says she was attending musical performance in the womb.

“For as long as I can remember I have been performing,” Isabella says. “I used to put on a show every night after dinner for my family. I love every aspect of entertaining. I can not imagine doing anything else.”