Orchestra to Honor 9 Area Musicians

As recipients of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Fellowship for Excellence in Diversity, six young San Fernando Valley musicians will be honored at a pre-concert dinner tonight at the Hollywood Bowl.

The organization will also pay tribute to three Valley musicians, chosen for the Philharmonic’s High School Honor Orchestra, at the dinner before the 8:30 p.m. concert.

In all, 20 musicians ages 16 to 30 were awarded monetary prizes totaling $21,250. The fellowships, ranging from $500 to $2,500, were based on talent and need.

Dedicated to increasing the ethnic diversity of symphony orchestras, the fellowships are to be used to underwrite specific one-time costs, such as tuition, music-related travel expenses, or attendance at a music institute.

Trombone player Julian Pulido, 19, of San Fernando, received an award of $1,500. In the fall, Pulido will be entering Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio.

Ted Sugata, 19, of Northridge, a junior at the Manhattan School of Music where he plays oboe for the school’s orchestra, received $1,000.

Ariel Campos, 21, of Hollister, Calif., a percussionist with the CSUN Orchestra and a senior at the university, claimed a $750 prize.

Margaret Shin, 18, of Woodland Hills, was also awarded $750. Shin is a sophomore at USC and plays flute in the university’s symphony as well as with the American Youth Symphony.

Also receiving $750 was Jason Sugata, 16, of Northridge, who plays French horn and is a senior at Hamilton Music Academy in Los Angeles.

Violinist Jennie Jiyoon Kwon, 21, of Northridge, won $500. She plans to attend Cleveland Institute of Music in the fall.

Valley members of the honor orchestra include Julie Jung, 18, a violinist who attends Van Nuys High School; Kristopher Khang, 16, of Woodland Hills, a cellist who attends the Viewpoint School in Calabasas,and Christina Kim, 17, a violinist who attends Granada Hills High School.