Howard W Blake High School of the Arts Alumni

Liana Repass - Drawing, Painting and Dance Alumnus

Liana Repass is an aerialist and a visual artist. Her visual arts education began at Howard W Blake School of the Arts, where she majored in drawing and painting while also studying with the dance department. After graduation from Blake in 1999, she continued her studies at Atlanta College of Art, where she graduated with a BFA in drawing. She is currently represented by Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, Ga.

Liana is also a self trained aerialist, calling upon her extensive background in artistic gymnastics and ballet. Before being accepted into New England Center for Circus Arts last summer, she completed a nine month program focusing on doubled trapeze, acrobatics and aerial silks. She is a founding member of Atlanta's Entanglement Circus Troupe, performing in venues and arts events throughout the Southeast. Liana has worked with Cirque du Soleil's social outreach program Cirque du Monde since 2006.

Eric Darius - Music Alumnus

With the release of 2004's Night on the Town, saxophonist Eric Darius was prophetically hailed, Best Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News, alerting the world that an exciting and vibrant new artist was officially embarking upon his destined mission to take the idiom to scintillating new heights. Noted for his searing and unrelenting passion and energy, Eric's albums and live performances earn him new fans at every turn, as well as industry and critical acclaim. His last album Just Getting Started debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, remained there for nine consecutive weeks, and featured four hit singles.

Living in Tampa, Florida, Eric has exceptional access to the cutting edge of pop sounds, considering the vibrant mix of Latin and African-American traditions and trends simmering and mixing there. "I pay attention to pop radio and go to clubs just to see what people are listening to," Darius shares. "It gives me a lot of inspiration, and also helps me to be aware of what’s relevant in today’s music.”

By age 11—after only playing for one year—Eric was chosen to be in Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band, which consisted of young musicians, ages 5-12. The group toured the country and even played at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Throughout Eric’s young, illustrious career, he’s had the tremendous opportunity to travel and perform worldwide with groups, such as the Blake High School Jazz Ensemble, the University of South Florida Jazztet, and with his own band to Japan, Indonesia, France, Italy, and many other countries. In addition, he has also shared the stage with countless notable artists, such as Prince, Brian McKnight, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, and Dionne Warwick, just to name a few.