Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry proud of his son's state championship on piano in Florida Federation of Music Clubs

Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Daytona Beach Beach Mayor Derrick Henry is shown with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Henry, and their two children, Deriick Henry Jr., and daughter, Paisley. Derrick Jr. is also shown (at left) where he competed in a state piano competition.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

The following was posted by Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry in social media regarding an educational music achievement by his son, Derrick Henry Jr., 13, an eighth grader at Ormond Beach Middle School.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Two years ago, our son traveled to Tampa to compete in the state piano competition. Although he performed well, he did not place among the top finalists.

The following year, he returned with a new goal: to make it onto the stage as one of the top performers. Through hard work and determination, he achieved that goal.

This year, he returned with an even bigger goal to win the championship.

Today, I am incredibly proud and overjoyed to share that he is the State Champion of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, earning this honor at the recent Junior Convention. It was a few weeks ago but we are still celebrating. His journey is a powerful reminder that success is often the result of perseverance, growth, and the courage to keep striving toward your goals. We could not be more proud of his accomplishment.

Today, I am incredibly proud and overjoyed to share that he is the State Champion of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, earning this honor at the recent Junior Convention. It was a few weeks ago but we are still celebrating. His journey is a powerful reminder that success is often the result of perseverance, growth, and the courage to keep striving toward your goals. We could not be more proud of his accomplishment.

Multimedia Presentation:

Below is his performance as the winner of a local competition in Altamonte.

Derrick Henry video / Derrick Henry Jr. on piano the State Champion of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, earning this honor at the recent Junior Convention as champion.

BIO: Daytona Beach's Mayor Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry, 57 is serving his fourth term as mayor of the City of Daytona Beach, after running unopposed in 2024. He is the city's 21st mayor since 1926, when the towns of Seabreeze, Daytona and Daytona Beach merged into one city. Mayor Henry is the city's second African American mayor. His campaign platform was "Together we can do more," and his priorities are improving the quality of life for all residents, making the city friendlier to businesses, mentoring youth, upgrading the city's aged infrastructure, addressing homelessness and creating more affordable housing options.

In addition to fulfilling his duties as mayor, he remains a certified educator and serves as an assistant principal at Ormond Beach Middle School. He is married to Dr. Stephanie Henry, an international education consultant and creator of learning programs. Mayor Henry has two sons, Michael and Derrick Jr. and a daughter, Paisley. 

Henry Frederick press card / Headline SurferAbout the Byline Writer: 

Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008. The site serves the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando areas along the I-4 corridor and beyond via HeadlineSurfer.com in Lake Mary, Florida. Frederick earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Orlando in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade, and before that, the same beat with The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. He's also worked as a city editor and city hall reporter for two dailies. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz & the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. Assisting Henry Frederick with Headline Surfer is Sera King, who writes about the weather and feature stories, takes photos, shoots video, and occasionally draws editorial cartoons. •  Bio: https://henryfrederick.com/.