Who We Are

Bring The Hype is an extremely diverse band made up of young talent in the Charleston area, who are looking to play songs of any genre for your venue!

We are six high school seniors from the Academic Magnet and School of The Arts high schools, and in just two years, we have played at various restaurants, ceremonies, birthdays, churches, and stadiums, also being featured in Charleston's Piccolo Spoleto Music Festival and the Kulture Klash Arts Festival.

Our existing repertoire of 50+ songs covers a wide range of genres from rock, blues, and country, to jazz, r&b, pop, and Latin, and it continually expands as we strive to learn new styles. Our venues are also welcome to request specific songs.

We love to have fun on stage, and make it our ambition to bring the audience in, so we frequently hold raffles, offer karaoke, and gladly take audience song requests!

With our dynamic set list and our electrifying show, we would be thrilled to come and Bring The Hype to your venue!‼️

Fearless Leader

Keveon Ford

Keveon Ford is a senior at Academic Magnet High School, Presidential scholar nominee, and has developed into an experienced guitarist in only 2 years of playing. He specializes in his confidence and powerful stage presence. He started playing guitar his sophomore year and has since formed the High School band, Bring The Hype, who has played at many venues around Charleston. Keveon is just excited to play as he simply puts it, “I like to just get on stage and do my thing”.

Bass Boss

Donovan Hamilton

Donovan is an 18 year old Bassist and Singer for Bring The Hype. A senior at Academic Magnet, he plans to go to University for Special Education and Entrepreneurship. Throughout the years he has developed valuable leadership and social skills as the Junior Class President of Academic Magnet, Track and Football Team Captain, and a prominent participant in multiple bands, clubs, and classrooms. He continues to seize opportunities for individual and collective growth in his community.

“Let’s be called Bring The Hype!”

Music Maestro

Randy Villariza

Randy Villariza is a senior at Academic Magnet High School and has been playing piano since
the age of two. He also plays drums, electric/acoustic guitar, bass, accordion, harmonica, and ukulele. Randy is a five-time South Carolina Music Teachers Association All-State selection on piano and has won many district championships for piano as well. In addition, he was chosen for the 2024 South Carolina All-State Guitar Orchestra. After quitting competitive piano due to a lack of interest in winning more competitions, Randy joined Bring the Hype, which gave him a platform to show off his multi-talented musicianship to audiences of all demographics, and most importantly, allowed him to share his talents with other talented musicians through collaboration.

Singer Extraordinaire

Cece Whitfield

Ciara Whitfield nicknamed Cece, has been singing since the age of three, inspired by her late father, whose love for music continues to drive her passion. With a deep love for artistic creation, she finds her muse in her mother, who encourages her creativity in every form. As an upcoming student at Furman University (Class of 2029), she plans to major in education while pursuing her musical journey with a minor in music. Since joining Bring the Hype, she has loved every second of performing and collaborating with the band, bringing energy, emotion, and dedication to every song.

Virtuoso Vocalist

Isa Pineda

Isabella Pineda is a senior Strings major at SOA. She began studying music in elementary school taking piano lessons for a year at Carolina Voyager Charter School. She began playing violin and participating in choir after transferring to Ashley River Creative Arts in the fourth grade. She previously studied the violin with Mr. Chris Gawlik and now takes lessons with Ms. Asako Kremer. She taught herself to play the guitar in the sixth grade. Isabella spent last summer with the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive, as well as playing guitar, violin, and singing at various gigs around Charleston with Bring the Hype!

The Groove Man

Sam Persinger

Sam is so thankful he decided to join his middle school band as a percussionist. Now a senior at Academic Magnet High School, he has been playing drums in a multitude of bands, including the AMHS Dirty Birds drum corp., AMHS Jazz Band, professionally at his church, and many more! In Bring the Hype, he strives to contribute in every way he can to support the band, especially through continuously improving his skills as a percussionist! He intends to pursue computer science at Coastal Carolina University, as well as learn to play new instruments! Sam is extraordinarily grateful for the many musical opportunities, talented musicians, and incredible friends he has found on this journey.