Area vocalist impacts lives of many through music and social advocacy. 

Most nights Evita Santana keeps the energy alive by performing at one of The Villages town squares. A vocalist for the band Blue Stone Circle since 2004, her passion to perform is fueled by finding a connection with patrons of all ages that attend their shows. 

She enjoys making people laugh and thrives on stage by not taking herself too seriously. 

“Humor is an essential part of what the band does, and we like to have fun with our crowd,” says Evita, a resident of Seminole County.  

Growing up in Silver Springs Shores, Evita began performing for her local church at a very young age. Both of her parents were singers, and she continued her singing all the way throughout high school, eventually earning a music scholarship to college. She then obtained a degree in social work at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee.  

Currently, Evita performs with her band several times throughout the year in The Villages and the Margaritaville Resorts in Kissimmee. 

By day, she is an intake and placement advocate for Hands of Mercy Everywhere, a residential group home for teen girls in foster care. Evita began working at the Marion County nonprofit after meeting the organization’s founder and CEO Diane Schofield after one of Blue Stone Circle’s shows. 

Evita’s role as a social worker has allowed her to connect and help others — another one of her passions. 

“Our goal in talking to these young ladies is to empower them in knowing their choices and voice is important to us,” Evita says. 

Evita says her jobs as a performer and an advocate go hand-in-hand. With social work being more mentally challenging at times, singing has become a form of therapy for her. 

“I get that physical release of any mental stress through performing with the band,” she says. 

In her down time, Evita enjoys good food, dancing and time with her family. Along with her love for Tina Turner, she is inspired by her parents. Evita says they molded her into the singer she is today.