Junior Anna Abondolo Collects Music Honors

The accolades keep piling up for Crossroads junior Anna Abondolo.

 

Anna was recently named a grand-prize finalist in the Music Center’s competitive Spotlight program, which provides training and development opportunities to talented teenagers.

 

Anna, who was honored for her skills on bass in the jazz instrumental category, will perform with fellow awardees May 23 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

 

“I feel extremely grateful to have this opportunity with the Spotlight awards,” she says. “My teachers and peers at Crossroads have played a large part in helping me find my voice as a musician, and I am thankful to have such a supportive community behind me.”

 

Anna is the latest in a long line of Spotlight winners from Crossroads, which has produced more than 20 finalists over the last 30 years.

 

Meanwhile, Anna recently joined senior pianist Luca Mendoza in claiming first place at the Next Generation Jazz Festival under the direction of Upper School Music Chair Evan Avery. Anna and Luca, both of whom received outstanding soloist awards, earned the chance to perform at the 60th-annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

 

Anna was also one of six Crossroads students to receive recognition in this year’s annual YoungArts competition, joining seniors Xavier Carr, Alec Schulman, Noah Simon and Ethan Treiman and junior Isaac Pross. The honorees were invited to participate in the YoungArts Los Angeles events, which were held March 28 through April 2.

 

In other music news, Max Hammond, a piano student in the Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute, recently won first place in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) Honors Competition in his age category. The sophomore advanced to the association’s state finals, which are scheduled for April 29 at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington.

 

Crossroads was well-represented at the Colburn School’s Community School Honors Recital, which was held Feb. 26 at Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. The afternoon concert honored three Crossroads students for their achievements in music performance. Tenth-grade cellist Claire Park performed Joseph Hadyn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, fellow sophomore Amy Sze played Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major and freshman Andy Park offered a rendition of Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata.

 

Luca and Ethan, meanwhile, recently had their musical compositions performed by the LA Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The seniors have been participating in the orchestra’s youth composer fellowship program.