Crossroads News

Crossroads Students Excel in Music Composition, Performance

Upper School musicians selected for awards, prestigious opportunities.
In composing original music for a four-minute short movie as part of the Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Contest this year, Crossroads junior Leo Major tried to write a piece that would not only complement the visuals, but also add a new layer of intrigue.
 
Giving depth to the sense of mystery, wonder and magic that the film exudes, the score he submitted earned him finalist honors in the youth category of the national competition, one of the latest accomplishments in his music career.
 
Being a student at Crossroads, he says, has given him several advantages.
 
“Crossroads has helped me develop as an artist by giving me the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded peers who are incredibly talented in every field and outstanding teachers who inspire me to keep on working on my craft,” he says.
 
Leo and two other Crossroads students, senior Sacha Feldman and junior Stanford Fram, are all participating in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Nancy and Barry Sanders Composer Fellowship Program this year. The prestigious fellowship enables students to develop their artistic voices through reading sessions, rehearsals and guidance on their original compositions.
 
“I feel very lucky to be able to participate in this amazing program for a second year,” Leo says. “The fact that I’m a junior and have the chance to work with the world-class teachers and musicians associated with the LA Phil is truly incredible.”

Through the fellowship, Sacha is writing an original composition that will be premiered by the full orchestra in February 2019.
 
Having a piece performed in Disney Hall is very exciting, and a little unreal,” he says. “I've felt so supported by the incredible mentors I've had at Crossroads.”
 
Meanwhile, Crossroads senior Amy Sze was featured as a violin soloist in the Santa Maria Philharmonic’s performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto Sept. 29 in Santa Barbara County.
 
It’s the most recent highlight in a string of performance accolades for the EMMI musician; she played at Carnegie Hall last year after winning first place in a high school violin competition.
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