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Costa Mesa resident receives jazz award

Marc Harris received the 2013 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his big band jazz composition, “A Lizard’s Blues.”

The honor from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation (ASCAP) encourages gifted jazz composers younger than 30.

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The 17-year-old Costa Mesa resident earned this award eight months after initiating his music composition studies.

Harris, a student at Brethren Christian Junior and Senior High School in Huntington Beach, worked under the tutelage of band director Len Montgomery and performed his composition “On the Flip Side” at the school’s Big Night O’ Jazz last February. That was when Harris caught the attention of Grammy Award-winning performer, composer and producer Willie Murillo, who became the budding composer’s mentor.

“I have been given incredible opportunities at Brethren Christian, “ Harris wrote in a release. “I am grateful to Mr. Montgomery for expecting excellence of his students, and that Willie Murillo was there at the premiere of my first song. Willie has given me the vision and tools to see a potential future career in music composition.”

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Limestone Canyon photo wins

Anaheim resident Alex Gurrola’s photograph of Limestone Canyon took first place in the inaugural “Love the Landmarks” photo contest, organized by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

For his winning image — a depiction of hikers on a docent-led trek to the Sinks, commonly termed Orange County’s mini-Grand Canyon — Gurrola earned a 2013 OC Parks Combination Pass.

Representatives from city and county parks within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy selected Anthony Gliozzo, of Mission Viejo, Julie Maurer, of Orange and Jodi Newell and Sheetal Wagle, both of Irvine, as the remaining finalists.

For more information, visit https://www.irlandmarks.org.

—Rhea Mahbubani

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