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New Stuff
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* Video of Jazz in the White House hosted by First Lady, Michelle Obama. LACHSA jazz combo members John Egizi and Max Zooi are in this video (towards the end). Other LACHSA combo members who are at the workshop at the White House are Levon Henry, Sam Miller and Adam Moezinia. There were 150 telented high school jazz students from across the country who participated in the workshop.
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* Check back often for new stuff on lachsamusic.org
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Doc's Corner
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At the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Dr. Castro has developed
one of the premier high school music programs in the country where he has served
as chair for twelve years. Most recently in 2006, the LACHSA Music Program received
the prestigious Grammy Signature Schools "Gold" Award given to only six high schools
nationally by the Grammy Foundation. His students and ensembles continue to win
awards at the national and state level. For his contribution to music, Dr. Castro
has earned numerous accolades including Distinguished Teacher Award from the White House
Commission on Presidential Scholars. Dr. Castro holds a Ph.D. from UCLA in composition.
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June 20, 2009
First, I want to congratulate all our seniors on an amazing journey you all
have had throughout your time at LACHSA. I have enjoyed knowing and working
with all of you and I wish you all the very best as your journey continues
beyond this point. You have all proven to be committed and dedicated and our
school is richer because of that. This is also the last regular email I will
be sending out to our senior families. I hope that you will continue to
check this website for information regarding
our department and performances and I hope to see you and some of these
performances.
We certainly ended the year on an amazing note. In fact, three very special
performances occurred after graduation. Congratulations to our jazz ensemble
under the direction of Jason Goldman for opening the 31st annual Playboy
Jazz Festival last Saturday afternoon at the Hollywood Bowl. The band was
swingin' and just sounded great!
Congratulations go out to Sammy Miller, Adam Moezinia, Max Zooi, Levon Henry
and John Egizi who were invited to Washington DC and The White House as
guest of Michelle Obama and attended a special concert highlighting the
importance of music education. They also had an opportunity to play with
several members of the Marsalis family.
Congratulations also go out to 40 members from our voice department and
director, Ms. Zanaida Robles who performed with LACHSA alumnus, Josh Groban
last night at the Hollywood Bowl's Gala. It was a beautiful evening and our
students sounded great.
Thank you all for a wonderful year. It takes great students, parents and
faculty to be successful so I thank all of you for doing what you do to help
and assist our department in every way. I wish all of you a wonderful summer
and I look forward to seeing returning families in September.
Sincerely,
Dan Castro
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Upcoming LACHSA Music Events
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Announcements
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| * Order DVDs of many of the 2008-09 LACHSA performances including the Music Gala. Click here to find out how to orderDVDs |
| * Order a DVD of many of the 2007-08 LACHSA performances including the Music Gala. Click here to find out how to orderDVDs |
| * Order a DVD of the hugely successful Beggar's Opera performed by LACHSA Opera Students on November 16 and 17, 2007. Click here to find out how to order the DVD |
| * We are currently selling our latest LACHSA Jazz CD for $15. This CD features recordings from our Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo. It was recorded May, 2007. CD's can be purchased directly in the music office. Checks can be made payable to LACHSA Foundation. |
| * Check out www.bridgetomusic.com for information on music schools. |
| * Congratulations to Justin Klunk, Stephen Szabadi, Levon Henry, Justin Kopczynski, and Adam Moezinia who each received individual solo awards in New York on May 9 at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Big Band Competition. The LACHSA trumpet section was also recognized as "outstanding trumpet section" by the judges. The LACHSA Jazz Ensemble performed in New York on May 9 where they were one of 15 bands selected to perform at Frederick P. Rose Hall. |
| * Congratulations to Sammmy Miller who won 1st place in the Spotlight Awards Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Sammy competed in the "jazz instrumental" category and received a cash award of $5,000.00. |
| * Congratulations to Jason Goldman and the members of our Jazz Ensemble and Combo G who both received notification that they have been selected as the 2009 Downbeat Jazz Ensemble and Combo of the year. They will be recognized in the upcoming issue of Downbeat magazine. |
| * Congratulations to John Egizi, Sam Miller, Adam Moezinia, and Max Zooi for being selected to the Monterey Jazz Festival's 2009 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. See the announcement at www.montereyjazzfestival.org. The NGJO will do a bus tour from Kansas City to Washington D.C. in July and then will perform on the main stage at the 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival on September20, 2009 with Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. |
| * Congratulations to Jason Goldman and all the members of our Jazz Ensemble for their outstanding performance on April 4, 2009 at the Next Generation High School Jazz Festival. Our Jazz Ensemble received 1st place for the 2nd time in 3 years and actually received a perfect score of "100" from one judge. They will perform on Sunday, September 20 on the Main Stage at the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Special Congratulations to Jason Goldman for his tremendous work and outstanding composition. The band performed an original composition by Jason that was commissioned by the Bobby Brooks Foundation. The members of the Big Band were:
Jackson Niebrugge–Trumpet,
Gordon Pettigrew–Trumpet,
Ivan Pyzow–Trumpet,
Dallas Howard–Trumpet,
Ryan Greenfield–Alto Sax,
Justin Klunk–Alto Sax,
Katie Strelitz–Alto Sax,
Levon Henry–Tenor Sax,
Max Zooi–Tenor Sax,
Zak Solotoff–Baritone Sax,
John Egizi–Trombone,
Daniel Gostelow–Trombone,
Cuauhtemoc Mauricio–Trombone,
Stephen Szabadi–Trombone,
Lily Moon–Piano,
Zak Rios–Piano,
Justin Kopczynski–Guitar,
Adam Moezinia–Guitar,
Benjamin Lipson–Bass,
Sam Miller–Drums,
Taylor Murphy–Drums
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| * Congratulations to John Egizi and Levon Henry who received Outstanding Soloist Awards in the Big Band Division at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival on April 5, 2009. |
| * Congratulations to the LACHSA Jazz Combo A directed by Jason Goldman for their outstanding performance on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Next Generation High School Jazz Festival. The combo received 2nd place in the Small Combos division of the festival. The members of the Combo were: John Egizi–Trombone, Balam Garcia–Bass, Levon Henry–Tenor Sax, Sam Miller–Drums, Adam Moezinia–Guitar, Lily Moon–Piano, and Taylor Murphy–Drums. |
| * Congratulations to Jason Goldman and all the members of our Jazz Ensemble. They have just been selected as one of 15 bands to participate in this year's Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition. Click here to see the announcement. |
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Announcements Continued
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| * Congratulations to Ariana Solotoff who won the ASTA CA State Solo Competition for viola, junior division on October 25 in Sacramento. |
| * Congratulations to Adam Moezinia who received the 2008 Shelly Manne Memorial New Talent Award given by the Los Angeles Jazz Society at the Sheraton Universal Hotel during their annual jazz tribute awards dinner and concert on October 5, 2008. |
| * Congratulations to Sam Miller who was selected as one of two Spotlight Award Finalists. Also, congratulations to Levon Henry who received Honorable Mention. Fifteen students, which included ten LACHSA students, competed in the Jazz Instrumental Semi-Finals at the Colburn School of Music on Sunday, February 15. Sam Miller and Joshua Crumbly, of Palmdale, will compete in the Finals at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday, May 2, 2009 |
| * Congratulations to John Egizi, Mike Gurrola, Levon Henry, Sam Miller, Adam Moezinia, and Lily Moon for their outstanding performance at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival on January 31, 2009. LACHSA Combo A directed by Jason Goldman received a higher score by far than any other combo in their division of the small combos. Our students received the highest score of the day with a total of 293 out of a possible 300. All six students received full tuition scholarships to the 5-week Berklee Summer Workshop. Congratulations to John Egizi, Mike Gurrola and Lily Moon who received all three of the Outstanding Musicianship Awards given in their division. Congratulations to Sam Miller who received both the Superior Soloist Award and the Superior Musicianship Award, the highest honor awarded in each division. |
* Congratulations to the following LACHSA students who were selected as Performing Arts Semi-Finalists in the Music Center's Spotlight Awards (the complete list of Performing Arts Semi-Finalists can be found at www.musiccenter.org/about/press/2009/012609.pdf):
Classical Instrumental:
Austin Chen—Piano
Jazz Instrumental:
John Egizi—Trombone
Balam Garcia—Guitar
Ryan Greenfield—Saxophone
Michael Gurrola—Bass
Levon Henry—Saxophone
Justin Klunk—Saxophone
Justin Kopczynski—Guitar
Samuel Miller—Drums
Jihyun (Lily) Moon—Piano
Maximillian Zooi—Saxophone
Dance:
Chris Kaiser
Jacon Robleto
Non-Classical Dance:
Rai Garcia
Joshua Rodriguez
Evan Schwarz
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| * Congratulations to Michael Mayo who has been selected for the 2009 National Grammy Choir. Congratulations also to the following 8 music students who were selected as finalists in the judging: Lauren Desberg, John Egizi, Mike Gurrola, Justin Klunk, Sam Miller, Zach Palmer, Stephen Szabadi, Max Zooi. |
| * Congratulations to Ryan Greenfield who performed on November 2, 2008 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in the Gold Medal Recital. |
| * Congratulations to John Egizi and Adam Moezinia who were selected to perform with Antonio Hart during the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz tribute to B.B. King at the Kodak Theatre on October 26, 2008. |
| * Congratulations to LACHSA Vocal Jazz Ensemble which performed at the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival on September 21, 2008. This honor is bestowed on them because they won 2nd Place in the Vocal category at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Vocal Jazz is directed by Pat Bass. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble members were:
Samantha Alon,
Austin Andrews,
Vanessa Coleen Campos,
Lauren Desberg,
Madelyn Deutch,
Jacob Fitch,
Hope Flores,
Lewis Hatkoff,
Benjamin Lipson,
Michael Mayo,
Lauren Mendoza-Ruiz,
Jonathan Pugh,
Jennifer Smith,
Francis Tull,
and
Ayana Williams,
and the rhythm section was
Dornell Carr,
Julian Cubillos,
Mike Gurrola,
and
Sam Miller.
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| * Congratulations to Stephen Szabadi, Mike Gurrola, and John Egizi who performed at the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival on September 18, 20 and 21, 2008 with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. They were selected to the NGJO in April, 2008 and the Monterey performances will complete their term of service in this national all star band that began in July, 2008 when the NGJO performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands which was followed by a performance and a recording session at the Berklee College of Music. This is Stephen Szabadi's second year performing in the NGJO. |
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