Community: Student musicians jazz up a spring luncheon
Four Hoover High School musicians entertained members and guests of the Glendale Committee for the Los Angeles Philharmonic during the annual spring luncheon on May 11 at the Oakmont Country Club.
Member Lucile Leard introduced the students — Josh Paik, Noah Zelezny, Alistair Laskin and Vahan Safaryan — of the Downbeat Combo, a group selected from the studio jazz orchestra program at Hoover.
Martin Rhees, the director of instrumental music at Hoover for three years, stood at the back of the room as members of the group introduced their musical selections. After the concert, President Leila Otey gave listeners a chance to ask questions. Students told about their current studies and their future educational plans.
The foursome often spends school lunch hours in the music room improvising their own jazz music, Rhees said.
The Glendale Committee often features student musicians at the spring luncheon. For many years, the committee has presented the Music Mobile at schools throughout Glendale, introducing third-graders to musical instruments and offering a “hands on” opportunity for each student to hold and play an instrument.
“Money from our patrons’ donations goes to support the instrumental program of the Glendale schools. It is nice to see the fruits of our labors,” Otey said.
Healthy Kids honored as a safety net
Glendale Healthy Kids was one of four finalists in the annual Los Angeles Business Journal Healthcare Leadership Awards. The event salutes outstanding programs, agencies and individuals.
Glendale Healthy Kids received the award in the Safety Net Category, competing with other groups such as Valley Presbyterian Hospital, the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Glendale Healthy Kids raises funds and provides health care and education to the city’s children from low-income families. For more information, call (818) 548-7831.
Tea party member is guest speaker
Mike Munzing, one of a handful of tea party candidates elected to the Orange County Republican Central Committee, will be the guest speaker for the La Crescenta Valley Republican Women Federated’s luncheon on June 14. His topic is U.N. Agenda 21 and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.
The group will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the La Cañada Country Club, 5500 Godbey Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. For reservations, call Ellen Hedrick at (818) 248-0924 or Molly Powers at (818) 248-4825 by June 8. Fee is $25.
Munzing has built a 28-plus-year career covering the real estate and mortgage industry. Over the past four years, he was a member of numerous tea party groups and has organized and promoted conservative happy hours throughout Orange County.
Donors help with scanner purchase
Glendale Adventist Medical Center has purchased a Toshiba Aquilion Premium CT scanner through the generosity of donors. The hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting event on May 9.
“Implementation of this technology will allow us to better support key hospital service lines such as cardiac and stroke, where time to diagnosis is critical,” said Rob Marchuk, vice president ancillary services at the medical center.
The Aquilion Premium CT scanner has the latest dose-reduction technology that minimizes exposure to the patient while optimizing resolution and image quality, hospital officials said.
“Patient safety and radiation-exposure reduction was one of the key drivers in our decision to partner with Toshiba on this project,” Marchuk said.
Local singers perform with chorale
Several local singers will perform with the Los Angeles Master Chorale when it concludes its 48th season with a mostly a cappella tribute to celebrated Polish composer Henryk Górecki at 7 p.m. June 10 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Performing are Todd Honeycutt (Tenor) and Christian Marcoe (tenor) of Burbank; Suzanne Anderson (soprano), Bradley Chapman (tenor), Greg Davies (tenor), Sal Malaki (tenor) and Helene Quintana (alto), all of Glendale; and Jody Golightly (tenor) of La Crescenta.
Music Director Grant Gershon conducts “Miserere,” “Lobgesang (Song of Praise),” written for chorus and glockenspiel, and the “Marian Songs.”
The chorale is also recording the Górecki repertoire for its second CD with Decca. Slated for release in the fall, it will be the world premiere recording of both “Lobgesang (Song of Praise)” and the “Marian Songs.” The CD comes on the heels of the chorus’ all-Nico Muhly recording, “A Good Understanding,” which launched the choir’s recording partnership with Decca in 2010.
For tickets call (213) 972-7282, or visit www.lamc.org.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.