b'Soleil.ItscalledBreakfastSprfor the Lions. Its essentiallyEvents That Matter Fianlgla story from start to finishDjango a Gogoabout something that I dealt withandovercameduringMay 7, 8, 108PM Stephane Wrembel, guitarist COVID. and composer specializing in the style of Django ChoosingacareerpathReinhardt, brings some of the worlds finest guitarists wasnt a decision Soleil tookfor three concerts and a week-long "guitar camp"lightly.Shebeganthink- DETAILSThe Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood; 973-ingaboutcollegeduringSoleil studies songwriting at Berklee College of843-2538, djangoagogo.comher sophomore year of highMusic. Here she performs at the Berklee Caf, the schoolbutfoundherselfschools dining hall. Seton Hall Universitytorn between two passions:Spotify, my jaw dropped. You reallyMay 86 8PM Graduate Open House: discuss music and zoology.get to know who she is by the way Ive always been super into ani- she sings. Naomis joyous spirit comesadmission requirements and scholarship mals and wildlife, says Soleil. I grewthrough in her voice. Its very authen- opportunities with admission directorsup watching Animal Planet. Steve Ir- tic, which is hard to achieve. DETAILSSeton Hall University, University Center, 400 South win and the Irwin family were a hugeDuringhersenioryearofhighOrange Avenue., South Orange; shu.edu/graduate-affairs/ Graduate Open Houseinspirationforme.Sheevencon- school, Soleil was sitting in Englishopen-house.htmlsidered the zoology program at theclass when she received a mass email University of California, Davis, andfromNBCtoapplyforThe Voice.Maplewood Strollersmet with several zoologists. But oneOn a whim, she texted her mom andMay 16-178PM ;May18 2PM \'In Your Dreams\' asked her to fill out theCabaret: performers do a scene or song they\'ve form and send it in. Shenever had a chance to portraydidnt think much of it, untilNBCreachedoutDETAILSThe Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 afewdayslater.SoleilDurand Road, Maplewood; 973-761-8453, thestrollers.orgIn Your Dreamscompleted the interviewThe Theater Projectprocess,buttheshow passedonherforthatMay 172PM Free staged reading of "Intake: Heaven"; upcoming season. When a living human manages to enter Heaven\'s The Voice was not theIntake office, angels explain the human conditionfirst nationally televisedDETAILSCranford Community Center, 224 Walnut showforwhichSoleilAvenue,Cranford; thetheaterproject.org/new-play-readingshad auditioned. Fresh- Intake: Heavenman year in high school,Ann Laskowski: Legal Launch! my mom and I got up at 4 a.m. and drove intoMay 173-5PM Get you and your child ready for the Manhattantodoanfuture; register and receive a coupon code for Mama opencallforAmericasBear Legal Forms; bring completed, unsigned forms Got Talent,saysSoleil.to be notarized and finalizedIdidntgetanythingDETAILSThe Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood; from that, but it was re- 917-544-5085, laskowskiandco.com/event-item/legal-launch-ally fun and really cool! paperwork-prep-for-your-18-year-old Legal LaunchFastforwardtoher In February 2024, Soleil was selected to audition forfreshmanyearofcol- Springfield Avenue Partnershipseason 27 of The Voice, which premiered February 2025. Photo credit: NBC lege.TheVoicecameMay 1811AM-5PM MayFest: Springfield Avenue\'s calling once again. Thisannual street fairday, while chatting with her parentstime,theprocessmovedquickly, in the kitchen, she had a revelation.from initial interviews to callbacks.DETAILSSpringfield Avenue in Maplewood between Indiana I was like, you know what? I thinkBy February 2024, she received theStreet and Rutgers Street; springfieldavenue.com/mayfest MayfestIm gonna go for music instead of zo- news that she had been selected toDurand-Hedden House & Gardenology, she says. audition for season 27 in Los Ange-Soleil was crystal clear about whatles. It was crazy. I was in my friendsMay 181-4PM Frederick Law Olmsted and the wasnextforher.Naomisvoiceisdorm when I got the call from myHudson River Schoolamazing.Itsthispowerfulinstru- talent agent. They were like, we haveJune 1412-5PM Annual Juneteenth Celebrationment, says Nicholas Diaz, vocal mu- some fun news for you today! Soleil sic teacher at Columbia High School.recalls, her voice full of excitement. DETAILS523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood; 917-751-7379, WhenIlistenedtoheralbumonWhenshediscoveredwhothedurandhedden.org Juneteenth Celebrationfeature story /39'