Laynee Stokes, daughter of William and Sarah Stokes, is a Senior at New Mexico State University and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in viola performance. Laynee is a recipient of the National School Orchestra Member Award as well as the Texas Music Educators Association, El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association Ben Ayala, EPISD Education Foundation, and the Rotary Club of El Paso Quinn scholarships to continue her studies. Laynee is a four-time winner of the NMSU Music Department Honors Recital, receiving recognition for outstanding achievement as a performer. She is a guest performer with the El Paso Symphony and other orchestras in the region and made her international solo debut in 2024 in Morelia, Mexico, where she performed Bruch’s Romanze for Viola and Orchestra with the Conservatorio de la Rosas chamber ensemble. Laynee has multiple recitals a year as part of her concert series, “An Evening of Music and Poetry,” which features her recited poetry paired with musical selections.
Outside of music, Laynee is a certified paralegal and enjoys volunteering with multiple organizations in the community. As part of her service to others, she provides music to cancer patients at Memorial Cancer Center as they undergo chemotherapy treatments and holds weekly recitals for elderly residents at the White Acres Senior Living Facility. She is also an active volunteer at St. Luke’s Catholic Church ministries, including the church choir and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Laynee served as Sun Princess in 2025-2026 and intends to continue being an ambassador of El Paso as Sun Queen.
