 | Elizabeth Heller Mandell was a trustee of Crossroads School, the mother of Peter (class of 1987) and Olivia (class of 1989). Elizabeth was the primary benefactor of the Crossroads International House, as well as supporter of financial aid for Crossroad’s musicians.
In addition to her service to Crossroads, Elizabeth Heller Mandell was on numerous boards, including the Craft and Folk Art Museum, the Los Angeles Ballet, the California Junior Symphony, and the Putney School. She was also an entrepreneur, a consultant for government and non-profit groups and a member of the New York City Rent and Rehabilitation Administration.
In her honor and memory, the Mandell family, husband Alan, son and daughter-in-law Peter and Sarah, and daughter Olivia, have provided long-term funding for the chamber orchestra and classical music program of Crossroads School. This support will provide for financial aid, an endowed chair, The Elizabeth Mandell Conductor’s Chair and general support for the music program. Crossroads is honored to claim the name of Elizabeth Mandell for its Music Institute.
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THE ELIZABETH MANDELL MUSIC INSTITUTE (EMMI) MUSIC MAJOR PROGRAM The Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI) evolved from Crossroads School’s unique Music Major Program, a part of the school since 1978. Musicians are accepted into this exceptional and unique program by audition only. An EMMI Music Major is a dedicated student who is seriously committed to the study and performance of classical music. As members of the larger school community, EMMI students benefit from our college preparatory program while also pursuing their passion for classical music.
In addition to the academic rigors of Crossroads’ course of study, EMMI students are required to take sequential courses in music theory. These courses are at the conservatory/college level and encompass harmony, analysis, counterpoint, and ear training.
Additionally, chamber orchestra classes meet bi-weekly and culminate in four concerts yearly, chamber music classes meet once a week and culminate in two concerts a year and solo recitals are presented monthly. These performance classes are important ones for the training of a young musician and are a requirement.
Community service is central to the Crossroads School philosophy and therefore, EMMI students are encouraged to share their talents with the general community. Past opportunities have included presenting concerts to senior citizen centers, hospitals, day care centers, and to underserved students in public schools.
Inspired by the exceptional Jazz Music Program at Crossroads, EMMI is also committed to providing an improvisational component to the curriculum, something often lacking in the training of classical musicians. EMMI students are encouraged to compose their own music and their compositions are showcased in recitals twice a year. Students also receive master classes provided by leading American and international artists.
The array of course offerings, myriad opportunities for performance, and mentorship by professional musicians are among the many reasons that EMMI students are so attractive to universities and conservatories nationwide. It is also why graduates of this outstanding program can be found in symphony orchestras, opera houses, on the international concert circuit, and on the faculties of major conservatories around the world.
We are grateful for the generosity of The Clarence E. Heller Foundation for its continued support of the Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute. |
What Our Music Major Alumni Say… ”Attending Crossroads School changed my life. It was well worth the struggle of commuting from Northridge every day in order to attend this unique institution which offers the highest level of academic training coupled with an unusual curriculum in the arts. Upon hearing the Crossroads Chamber Orchestra as a 13-year-old violinist, I literally begged my parents to let me apply to the school to which they agreed despite the hardship it would create for them. I learned music theory, ear training and ensemble skills as a regular part of my daily life, a background which clearly put me ahead of the years to follow.”
Sheryl Staples (Class of ’86)
Principal Associate Concertmaster, New York Philharmonic
“After I graduated, I fully appreciated the depth and breadth of my experience at Crossroads. The early exposure I had to music theory, to chamber music, to the diverse music backgrounds and instincts of my peers and of the outstanding faculty gave me a head start that has been an enormous advantage to me in the music world. At Crossroads, we learned that music was not confined to the inside of a solitary practice room, or something we discussed with our teacher once a week, but something we could actively share on a daily basis.”
Max Levinson (Class of ’89)
Concert Pianist
“Thank you Crossroads Music Department for your invaluable Music Theory program. It has made me a well-rounded musician and given me the analytical edge in my quest for artistic perfection, as I journey the road less traveled.”
Danielle de Niese (Class of ’97)
Metropolitan Opera Company
“Coming to Crossroads was one of the most pivotal decisions my family and I ever made. Wonderful courses in music theory, along with inspiring literature courses, truly changed my world view and career considerations. Now, with four CD recordings behind me, and several international performing trips to Taiwan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe within the last ten years, I am more in love with music and performing than ever.”
Carol Ou (Class of ’87)
Cellist and Teacher at the New England Conservatory of Music
“Participating in the Music Major program enabled me to concentrate in the field of music while maintaining the necessary balance with an academic curriculum of the highest standards.”
Sharon Yamada (Class of ’81)
New York Philharmonic
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