40 MARCH 2025 By Rachael Bouley Evelyn Errante has been singing her heart out for as long as she can remember. Now, the 13-year-old has her sights set on a bright future in country music after a string of appearances at iconic venues such as Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk in Nashville and sports events like Phoenix Suns games and USA Pickleball National Championships. Evelyn said she is eager to make the most of every opportunity and is thankful she has her family’s full support. “From the moment I could carry a tune, I knew music was my passion. I started singing at a young age, around the house, in school performances, or at local events,” she said. “When I was 11, I told my parents this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” With the backing of her family and encouragement from music teachers and mentors, she began performing at intimate live music venues across the Valley. These experiences inspired her to start writing and recording her first original song, “First Rodeo.” “It was a dream come true to take an idea from my heart and turn it into something real that people can listen to and connect with,” she said. “It’s about chasing big dreams and moments, and when you finally get to experience that, you’re not afraid because you know you’ve put in the work and deserve to be there. You know who you are, what you believe, and where you are going!” The music lover is drawn to powerful emotions and takes inspiration from country, pop, classic rock, 80’s music – even some Broadway tunes. Her favorite artists are Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Chappell Roan, Martina McBride, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. “I’m especially drawn to country music because of its storytelling and the way it connects with people’s lives,” Evelyn said. “When I perform, I love singing anything from heartfelt ballads to acoustic country and fun, high-energy songs that get the crowd moving.” She’s been working on her songwriting while playing guitar and learning piano, and hopes to pick up the electric guitar or banjo in the future. Her skills and confidence on stage helped her win the Rising Stars competition at Foley Ranch restaurant and country bar in Phoenix last year and even helped her capture the attention of industry professionals. “I was fortunate enough to be offered a development opportunity and join a talent agency called DDP Worldwide,” Evelyn said. “This has brought me two new mentors – Diana Blewer and Dennis Petty – and has created more opportunities for me to grow as an artist.” She loved every minute of performing at Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk, creating core memories in an electric atmosphere. She also got to bring her music to a high- energy sports crowd with the USA Pickleball National Championships. “That one was especially fun because it was a celebrity match, so there were some pretty big names and faces there,” she said. “Every performance teaches me something new, and I’m grateful for each opportunity.” Evelyn credits her mom, dad, and sister for encouraging her and hopes to inspire other kids to follow their dreams. “Singing is all about passion and perseverance. If you love it, keep working at it, put yourself out there, and embrace every opportunity,” she said. The teenager’s next steps include songwriting, recording, connecting with and growing her fan base, and continuing to perform at new venues. “My dream is to become a country music superstar. I want to build a career in music where I can release original songs, perform on bigger stages, and connect with more people through my music,” she said. “Ultimately, my biggest goal is to create a life filled with passion, music, and meaningful connections. I want to make a positive impact.” evelynerrante.com Scottsdale teen takes singing dream on the road Evelyn made it through two rounds of the Alice Cooper Proof is in the Pudding Competition in 2024. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVELYN ERRANTE 2025 Direct-mailed to households in 85018, 85016, 85251 and 85253, the Arcadia News targets affluent families with our trusted and award-winning monthly publication. RESERVE YOUR SPACE BY MARCH 13 AT NOON. Email ads@arcadianews.com or call/text 602-840-6379 Display Ad + Listing • 1/4* Page Print Ready Color Ad in the APRIL Issue ($820 value) Need help with ad design? We are happy to design your ad for $45. • FREE Summer Camp Directory Listing in the APRIL Issue ($130 value) Want to reach more happy campers? ArcAdiA News SUMMER ’24 Camp DIRECTORY Camp DIRECTORY OF LISTINGS 2021 OF LISTINGS 2021 Is your camp missing? EMAIL RONI@ARCADIANEWS.COM TO ADVERTISE YOUR CAMP IN THE MAY 2021 CAMP DIRECTORY . STEAM CAMPS-ENGINEERING FOR KIDS-PHX METRO When school is out, camp is IN at Engineering for Kids of Phoenix Metro! We offer an extensive list of in-person and virtual STEM curriculum for kids 4 to 14. Camps are at the coolest kid-friendly venues around town so kids can learn & enjoy physical play. In our camps; students design, build, test and improve upon their projects while building the teamwork and collaboration skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. 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41 MARCH 2025 By Kylie de Best Enjoying the great outdoors while trying to get below par on the course – sounds just like golf, right? Not quite! This sport is disc golf, played with a Frisbee, and Veritas music teacher Jason Erbst hopes to make this the next big sport among youth in the area. Erbst’s passion for disc golf began in 2021. He loved the physical and mental aspect – not to mention its financial accessibility. After growing his skills, he decided to give his students an opportunity to learn and play. He began recruiting in November and December through a newsletter and word of mouth, and by January, team practices began. Six students currently lead the team, and anyone from sixth to 12th grade is welcome to join at any time. The equipment is provided thanks to donations from companies and community members. Other than disc golf using a Frisbee and traditional golf using a ball, the two sports have many parallels. The goal is to complete each round in as few strokes or throws as possible and each club and disc has a different purpose. You start the game at a tee pad area. Instead of getting the ball in a hole, the player tries to get the Frisbee into a chained basket. The course is much shorter, and the game can be played any time of the year. The types of discs used is determined by how thick their rims are, and they also have similar names to golf clubs: driver, putter and mid-range, for example. The team meets up twice a week. Practices focus on skill and technique using a throwing program created by the head coach of the Finnish national disc golf team, Joonas Merelä. Erbst saw Merelä’s program on social media and decided to reach out, receiving resources, information, program details and scheduling to help Veritas build a successful team. “I have played disc golf before and really enjoyed it. My goal right now is to get under par,” eighth grader Jackson Milana said. The club takes the school shuttle to Vista del Camino, Los Olivos, and Papago Course to apply their skills and play multiple rounds. Since the team has a diverse age range, it has allowed middle and high schoolers to connect with each other. Erbst has noticed how fast the students have been learning and loves how they are always champions of each other. “I think this sport is going to grow into a large youth group in Phoenix and I wanted to be one of the first people in it,” sixth grader Justin Weiland said. Erbst’s long-term goal is to help build a competitive team in Phoenix. Since it’s not available at many schools nearby, he is also hoping that one day there is an opportunity to get other schools to join so they can hold competitions in the future. New disc golf team ‘tees off’ at Veritas Prep Veritas disc golfers Todd Weiss, Jackson Milana, Justin Weiland and Owen Eisner. PHOTO: JASON ERBST By Mark Hays In an acknowledgment of her exceptional coaching career, Xavier Prep’s varsity soccer head coach Barb Chura has been honored as the National Federation of State High School (NFHS) Association’s Girls National Coach of the Year for 2023-24. Chura said the recognition was an incredible honor. The NFHS, established in 1920 and headquartered in Indianapolis, serves as the national authority for high school athletics and performing arts programs in the United States. Since 1982, the organization has recognized outstanding coaches through its awards program, honoring individuals in the top 10 girls’ and boys’ sports. “It was wonderful to be recognized for many years of coaching and having a successful program,” she said. “This honor was a culmination of many hours, days, weeks, months and years of work and I am thankful to the players, coaches, and supportive athletic administration.” The AIA nominated Chura, requiring her to complete documentation detailing her career and achievements in coaching. The New York native’s passion for soccer started at the age of six in her hometown of Clifton Park. Growing up in a neighborhood where soccer games were a daily occurrence, she was influenced by her older brother, who often led the outings. These games laid the foundation, as her talent and dedication took her to the University of Connecticut. Chura played collegiate soccer and competed for a national championship against formidable opponents such as the legendary Mia Hamm. The university’s program was consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally during her time there. Coaching began when a friend on her club team introduced Chura to another team during her senior year of college. That experience sparked her passion for coaching, leading her to serve as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech University. She went on to coach at James Madison University, returned to Texas Tech, and later coached at the University of Notre Dame. After a decade at the college level, Chura transitioned to high school. Since joining Xavier, Chura has led the soccer team to remarkable success, including four consecutive 6A state championships. Over her 22-year tenure, she has secured nine state titles and amassed an impressive overall record of 288-66-26. For Chura, the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing the players grow and improve. “Watching student athletes grow and develop over the years is the greatest satisfaction,” she said. “How they grow up before your eyes, their maturity as a person and as a soccer player, the fact that they aspire to play in college…these students put a lot of work into it.” Reflecting on memorable moments, Chura highlighted the program’s first state championship win in 2009. “I specifically remember girls on the team then, they were feeling the burden of not winning – so many other XCP teams were – it was a relief for so many of the players,” she said. The team followed up with another state title in 2010 and have continued to dominate in the years since. Beyond the victories, Chura says the relationships built through the sport are what she values most. “Wins and losses come and go – it’s the relationships the kids build and the friendships that go on for a lifetime,” she said. “Their experience and lives are forever changed. It all starts here being on the field, with the chemistry we build over the season that extends long after it’s over, that’s the most valuable thing.” Xavier Prep soccer coach wins national honor Barb Chura