Bridgeport High School graduate Brandon

LeRoy hasn't missed a single year attending the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. 

 

For the second consecutive year, will be part of the festival's main stage entertainment. Back by popular demand from their debut year, he and Marissa Bailey will join the WVIHF Orchestra for a Sept. 6 performance. The show is titled "'Amore' A Musical Tribute to Family, Friends & Heritage."

 

"Last year, my dream became a reality," said LeRoy, a 2011 BHS alum . "Going into our second year performing on the main stage, we have learned a lot and made some exciting new a changes and additions to our show this year." 

 

Beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 6, the show will feature some of the classics from last year's show - including hit songs by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublè - and also will include some brand new charts that LeRoy is confident will be huge showstoppers.  

 

LeRoy expressed appreciation to Stephen Pishner for helping he and Bailey musically and professionally. 

 

"He really help

ed us get our career up and running," LeRoy said. 

 

Singing from the main stage to a large crowd of festival attendees is something LeRoy said he often pictured himself doing when he was very young. 

"The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival has always been a huge part of my life. I have never missed a year of being at the festival and always embraced my Italian heritage through all of the sights, sounds and aromas of the festival," he said. "Every year, I would always stand in front of the main stage in awe of the performers and dreamed to perform on that stage accompanied by the WVIHF Orchestra." 

 

Some of LeRoy's most vivid WVIHF memories include dancing in the streets to the sounds of "Amici" and staring up at the main stage and admiring the powerful voice of Mary Francis Beto-Smith.

 

"I was also amazed by the fluidity of the elegant dance numbers by Anna Pishner-Harsh and her 'Allegro Dance Company,'" he said. 

 

Prior to being a featured vocalist at the WVIHF, LeRoy played saxophone with "Amici" for the enjoyment of festival attendees and for the WVIHF Bella Notte dinner. He has also performed on the Showcase Stage. 

 

A past drum major for BHS, LeRoy is a cantor and saxophonist for All Saints Catholic Church Choir under the direction of Pishner. He has also performed with Vintage Theatre Company. This past May, he graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He is a structural engineer for AECOM out of their Morgantown office. He performs regularly at area festivals and other events and is available for parties and weddings. For more information, visit LeRoy's Facebook page HERE. 

 

Bailey is a 2015 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School and a freshman at WVU. She has performed throughout West Virginia. She won the 2014 talent award in the West Virginia Outstanding Teen pageant. 

 

The main festival stage is sponsored by Antero Resources and is located at the Harrison County Courthouse Plaza.