Arts & Entertainment

'American Idol' Contestant Jeremy Rosado To Sing at Center Place Arts Gala

Jeremy Rosado has agreed to perform two songs at "Rock for the Arts" at the T. Pepin Hospitality Centre in Tampa on April 28. The Center Place arts gala brings Rosado, a Top 13 "American Idol" finalist, before a hometown audience.

 

Jeremy Rosado’s American Idol journey took him across the country and into the nation’s homes and now he’s going to get up close and personal with the people back home who make Center Place a vibrant cultural and arts community.

Rosado and his agent have reached an agreement with the people who run the to perform at the center’s annual arts gala April 28, at the T. Pepin Hospitality Centre in Tampa.

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“He’s going to perform two songs and he will be our special guest,” said Center Place’s executive director, Dawn Galia. “He hasn’t been by Center Place yet so we said we would love to meet him. We invited him to stop by and see what we do.”

Often referred to as Greater Brandon's "best-kept secret," Center Place nevertheless has been in operation for more than 30 years. Its mission from the start has been to promote both the arts and civic involvement with a centralized venue that draws people of all ages to art classes, theater performances, community meetings and to a space available for event rentals.

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Rosado’s name became a household word after his Top 13 finish in this season’s "American Idol" contest. At the time Rosado was a student at the Brandon campus of Hillsborough Community College and employed in Brandon, at Bay Area Infectious Disease Associates (BAIDA), at the corner of Oakfield and Lakewood drives. Rosado, a Valrico resident, graudated from Durant High in 2005.

How did he end up with a gig at “Rock for the Arts” for Center Place?

“It’s really, really weird how that happened,” Galia said. “I watch American Idol and my mom watches American Idol and we found out the guy who does her yard work, he’s a pastor at a local church and Jeremy leads their song service. I said to my mom, ‘That’s really cool, now that you have an 'in' with Jeremy, maybe you could get him to come to the gala.’ ”

Far-fetched? Maybe. But not so far-fetched that it extended beyond the realm of possibility.

Doesn't hurt to ask, right?

That's how Rosado ended up meeting Galia’s mother at her house, where they talked about both Center Place and the arts gala. Phone numbers were exchanged, emails sent back and forth, and approval from Rosado’s agent was received April 18, according to Galia.

“It was a really nice surprise,” she said. “It’s going to be a really neat treat for the 300 people or so who attend the arts gala.”

Tickets for the gala are on sale, at a price of $100 per person, which includes dinner and a full premium bar throughout the night. Proceeds from the annual arts gala pay for the management expenses that keep the center running throughout the year.

This year’s dress is casual. Sponsorships still are available. The event’s major sponsors are Brighthouse Networks, TECO and the Pepin Distributing Company.

For information, and tickets, call Center Place at 813-653-8888.

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