Palm Beach Symphony honors three local arts leaders with Randolph A. Frank Prize

2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize winners, Mickey Smith Jr., Heather Lescaille and Roberto J. Vidal [Photo by Palm Beach Symphony]

Three Palm Beach County arts professionals whose work spans music performance, dance education and choral instruction have been recognized with the 2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts, an annual award presented by Palm Beach Symphony to honor excellence in the performing arts.

This year’s recipients are saxophonist Mickey Smith Jr., who received the award in the Performing Artist category; dance educator Heather Lescaille, recognized as Performing Arts Educator; and choral director Roberto J. Vidal, honored as Emerging Artist.

The awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the cultural life of Palm Beach County through artistic achievement, educational impact and a commitment to excellence in their respective fields. Since 2019, Palm Beach Symphony has awarded the honor annually, with recipients sharing a $10,000 prize.

Smith, a Louisiana native and acclaimed saxophonist, was selected in the Performing Artist category for his contributions as both a musician and educator. He currently serves as associate director of instrumental arts at The King's Academy and was previously honored by Palm Beach Symphony as its 2024 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year.

A graduate of McNeese State University, Smith is a familiar presence in downtown West Palm Beach, where he frequently performs at CityPlace and has been a featured performer in the city's Soul in the City.

Beyond his musical performances, Smith is also a motivational speaker who combines music and storytelling to inspire educators and students. His family band, Sax in the City, includes his wife, Eugenia, and children Mikayla and William. Throughout his career, Smith has shared the stage with performers including Gloria Gaynor, Wendy Moten, Wycliffe Gordon and Jeremy Jordan.

Lescaille, a Palm Beach Gardens native, received the Randolph A. Frank Prize in the Performing Arts Educator category for her extensive work developing young dancers throughout Palm Beach County.

2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize winners Mickey Smith Jr., Heather Lescaille and Roberto J. Vidal; (seated) Randolph A. Frank Prize founders Nancy and Jay Parker and their granddaughter Caroline. [Photo by Capehart Photography]

A graduate of the Palm Beach County School of the Arts—now known as Bak Middle School of the Arts and Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts—Lescaille returned to Dreyfoos in 2014 and became dean of the dance department in 2016.

During her tenure, she has choreographed original productions and staged classical ballets including Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, La Bayadère and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has also championed interdisciplinary collaborations between the school's dance and orchestra departments through productions such as Swan Lake, Serenade and Concerto Barocco.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Education recognized Lescaille as the most influential teacher of a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She previously taught at the Orlando Ballet School and co-founded the Florida Dance Conservatory following the closure of Ballet Florida.

Vidal, a Cuban-born educator who serves as chorus director, vocal academy director and fine arts department chair at Eagles Landing Middle School, was recognized as this year's Emerging Artist.

Over the past seven years, Vidal has led the school's choral program to regional and national recognition. His ensembles are the only public, non-auditioned middle school choirs in Palm Beach County.

His program was recently named a finalist for the Latin Grammy in the Schools program presented by the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, and he was selected as a quarterfinalist for the 2026 Grammy Music Educator Award.

The Randolph A. Frank Prize was established in 2009 by Nancy and Jay Parker in honor of the late Dr. Randolph A. Frank. Palm Beach Symphony has administered the awards program since 2019.

Nominations for the 2027 Randolph A. Frank Prize will open in November 2026 and remain open through February 2027. Applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by others familiar with their artistic achievements and contributions to the community.

For more information, visit Palm Beach Symphony.