First published in the May 26 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
By Nancy Gunther
Special to the Outlook Valley Sun
The auditorium at Paradise Canyon was recently filled with beautiful music as the young musicians in the Assistance League of Flintridge’s instrumental music program presented concerts on April 26 and 28.
PCY rolled out the welcome mat for ALF’s spring concerts when a scheduling conflict arose at Lanterman Auditorium.
String instructor Sahak Karapetyan conducted the beginning strings in a program that included classical favorites, European folk songs and Beethoven’s beloved “Ode to Joy.”
A crowd favorite, “Can Can,” had the audience tapping and clapping.
Students in the string orchestra program, also under the direction of Karapetyan, also performed “Good King Wenceslas” as well as two March pieces — Bach’s “March from Peasant’s Cantata” and “Majestic March.”
Ripsi Yepremyan is the assistant in the string program and pianist Sofi Sarkisyan accompanied both string groups.
The audience also enjoyed performances by string soloists Nyree Derbedrossian, Aiden Fan, Elias Kang, Isabella Kurs, Milo Kurs and Des Moore.
Band Instructor Phillip Yao conducted the beginning band playing traditional folk songs, which included favorites “Go Tell Aunt Rhody,” “The Banana Boat Song” as well as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
The concert band, also under the direction of Yao, opened its program with the upbeat “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and continued with a variety of pieces, which included “The Minstrel Boy,” “The Rainbow Connection” and Bach’s “Chorale,” before closing with the crowd pleaser “It’s a Wonderful World.”
Interspersed throughout the program, to the delight of the audience, were solos by Eliana Arthur, Owen Beyer, Aaron Chung, Yeon-Seo Chung, Doga Ersavas, Aiden Fan, Noah Kim, Owen Matsui, Allison Roberts, Tyler Tanouye, Leo Wang and Anish Reddy Yerasi.
Other band Instructors included Shahid Osuna, Amanda Campos, Charles Brunson, Colin Ring and Sean Moriarty.
All 6th-graders at both concerts were honored with special medals in recognition of their participation in ALF’s instrumental music program.
For more information about membership in ALF, its many philanthropies as well as the music classes offered in summer school, visit alflintridge.org.
