ALF Spring Concert Delights at Lanterman

Lanterman Auditorium was recently filled with the sound of beautiful music as young musicians in the Assistance League of Flintridge Instrumental Music Program presented their traditional spring concerts on May 8 and 9. 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 clapping. The string orchestra, also under the direction of Karapetyan, impressed the audience with selections by Puccini and Mozart, as well as the traditional “Yankee Doodle.” Ripsi Yepremyan is the assistant in the string program, and pianist Susanna Israyelyan accompanied both string groups. The audience was entranced by performances of string soloists Chloe Chung, Aaron Kang, Logan Kim, Sean Kim, Colette Park and Maeve Rodriguez, as well as the duet by Ethan Alvarez Salazar and Sofia Flores-Sirolli. Outstanding student trophies were presented to beginning students Lalia Kazazian, Tanmay Penanen and Lucy Peterson, along with orchestra students Katie Avakian, Julia Jun and Troy Parker. Band instructor John Tegmeyer, conducted the beginning band playing traditional folk songs, “Hard Rock Blues,” and the familiar “Ode to Joy.” The concert band, also under the direction of Tegmeyer, presented Jamaican and Mexican folk songs, “Rondeau,” and the ballad “Shenandoah.” Other instructors in the band program include Michael Davis and Sean Moriarty and assistants Ruth Kasckow, James Myers and Colin Ring. Band soloists Edrik Alvarez-Salazar, Yireh Ban, Emma Bertran, Gayane Khachatourian, Isabella Lim, Siyoon Lim and Matthew Park received well-earned praise for their performances, as did Siyoon Lim and Faith Okino, who presented a duet. Outstanding student trophies were given to beginning students Sophia Barton, Lily Bingham, Stella Dziak, Jacob Feldman, Victor Zhijian He, Kate Mester and Arden Marie Torres and concert band students Edrik Alvarez-Salazar, Annabelle Larson and Rosie Miller. All 6th-graders at both concerts received special medals recognizing their participation in the Instrumental Music Program. For more information about ALF, its many philanthropies, as well as music classes offered in summer school, visit alflintridge.org.