At Home in the Spotlight: Sofi Rosales ’24

Sofi Rosales ’24 was in touch with the music in her soul at a very young age. “Even at the age of three or four, she was always singing,” says her mother, Liliana Lizarralde. “She was very outgoing, never shy, and she had a very strong voice.” Her parents found her a voice teacher when she was about seven; and after that, her musical skills and interests blossomed. Accompanying her dad to Tampa Bay Ukulele Society gatherings led to acquiring her own instrument; and she later added the guitar to her repertoire.

A student at Shorecrest since kindergarten, Sofi’s extracurricular life became focused on performing across multiple disciplines. She is now recognized as a gifted actress as well as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

“I’ve known her since she joined the Middle School rock band in fifth or sixth grade and I was her instructor,” says Band Director Ethan Updike. “She’s a really talented songwriter and singer, and she’s one of a very small handful of students who’s taken her music education to another level. She’s surrounded herself with a really creative group of friends and the best resources she could find in St. Pete and created a musical environment for herself. She’s also one of the least selfish kids I know – super kind and humble, and always happy to see others succeed.”

She wrote her first song for an assignment in Mrs. McCarthy’s music class when she was about 13, and although she says she hasn’t counted them recently, she thinks she’s written about 45 altogether. When Mr. Updike offered her the opportunity last year to do a solo concert featuring her original songs, she invited several friends to participate.

“I was so nervous,” Sofi says. “When you’re doing theatre, you have another layer of ‘armor’ because you’re playing a character. But when you sing, you have to be authentic. … I really wanted my friends to collaborate because I love the sound of harmonies and singing together, so I taught them to sing my songs and it was really cool. I was able to share my music with so many people I cared about.”

Sofi has always understood the power of stories – a quality that underlies the success of her artistic efforts. “If I’m not singing, dancing, or acting, I’m reading. I think storytelling is a beautiful art form … and I love analyzing stories and finding characters’ motivations, which is helpful for acting.” Not surprisingly, English is her favorite subject, and she mentions Mr. Seymour as one of her most memorable teachers. “His teaching style was so unique and fun. He really makes you want to listen, and I always looked forward to his class.”

According to Ann Marie Hardy, Upper School Dean of Student Life and psychology teacher, Sofi’s deep interest in people and their stories is evident in all aspects of her life. “Sofi is very curious and interested in what it means to be human. She makes connections to real life, which brings a new level of interest to classroom conversations. … and when she’s singing her own work, you can feel the energy of her caring about what she’s singing about.”

Sofi’s singing prowess led to a standout performance at last year’s District 4 Thespian Festival. “I won the Critic’s Choice … which is something you strive for,” she says. “And I got it for my musical duet with my best friend from childhood, Lauren. We sang ‘And Eve was Weak’ from ‘Carrie.’”

Her acting chops also receive high marks from those who’ve watched her develop those skills.

“Sofi is an outstanding, versatile theatre student in all respects,” says Michael McCarthy, Upper School Musical Theatre Director. “She takes on director’s notes with an intelligent thought process and creative talent that sets the bar high. She played Dorothy in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ in Middle School, and you could see then that she had a natural talent with great soul. I cast Sofi as Pirelli in ‘Sweeney Todd’ in Upper School. This part is normally played by a male tenor, but she worked and studied and made it her own. Outside of being a hard-worker and dedicated performer, she is an incredibly humble and thoughtful young woman. I have also witnessed how supportive she is with younger students, displaying natural leadership qualities.”

Sofi acknowledges the impact of the School’s creative environment on her artistic pursuits and says, “The teachers are all so qualified in their fields. Shorecrest has connected me with a lot of amazing educators, like Mr. McCarthy and Mrs. McCarthy. And I’m also able to listen to and learn from my peers.” Her mother adds, “It’s not only that the teachers are so supportive and encouraging of her performing, but also with her academic life. They are so committed to the success of their students, and I don’t think I could find better teachers anywhere else.”

With the guidance of the Shorecrest College Counseling Office, Sofi underwent the rigorous process of applying to colleges to be a musical theatre major, which includes pre-screening videos and in-person auditions in addition to all of the requisite paperwork.

It would be easy to imagine that she is headed to Broadway, and although she says that would be wonderful, she is not locked into pursuing a specific path. “My goal with my degree is to transfer all of the skills I learn to wherever I go. I’ve always been a singer first, and I always and forever will be. I love performing, and as long as I’m on a stage somewhere, singing my heart out, I won’t care where I am. I’m looking forward to taking my career one step at a time.”

Wherever she ultimately lands, her fans know she is destined for accolades and applause. She will attend the College of Fine Arts at Boston University in the fall.