CONGRATULATIONS

MUSIC COMPETITION WINNERS TO PERFORM

Young winners of the annual Bach Competition, Gail Newby Concerto Competition and Antelope Valley College Concerto Competition, sponsored by the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, will perform at 8 p.m. March 8 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster.

In a 7 p.m. recital before the concert, four first-place winners of the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale Bach Competition will perform. They are Sevanna Abramyan, 11, of Glendale; Ani Bukujian, 14, Glendale; Jonathan Mamora, 12, Colton; and Monica Chen, 15, Tarzana.

These first-place division winners received scholarships of $200 each.

For more information on the music competition programs, visit www.avsomc.org. Tickets for the March 8 concert are available at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center box office, (661) 723-5950 or www.lpac.org.

AIR FORCE major NAMED OUTSTANDING OFFICER

Air Force Maj. Michael R. Whalen has been named Air Mobility Command Outstanding Field Grade Officer of the Year 2007.

Selection was based on the individual’s exemplary duty performance, job knowledge, leadership qualities, significant self-improvement, specific achievements, notable accomplishments and community service and support.

Whalen is a contracting officer assigned to the 436th Contracting Squadron of the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base. The major has served in the military for 15 years.

He is the son of Nick and Barbara Whalen of Sunland.

Whalen graduated in 1987 from St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge and received a bachelor’s degree in 1992 from Loyola Marymount University.

YOUNG MUSICIANS PERFORM IN YOUTH SYMPHONY

Six young musicians from the local area performed with the Pasadena Youth Symphony on Feb. 17 at the Pasadena Civic Center.

They are Emily Connor, of Burbank, clarinet; Ian Elliott, of Glendale, French horn; Aileen Ro, of Glendale, cello; Seth Biagini, of La Crescenta, cello; Sarah Biagini, of La Crescenta, violin; and Gordon Pettigrew, of La Crescenta, trumpet.

ST. FRANCIS HIGH GRAD COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING

Army Spec. Colin W. Charbonneau has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

He is the son of William Charbonneau of La Crescenta.

The specialist graduated in 1985 from St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1989 from the University of Portland in Oregon.