Manhattan Beach Rotary recognizes young musicians
Manhattan Beach Middle School music award winners (front row): Juliae Shoda, Bryce Li, Samuel Liu, Alexandra Runnels and Jason Newman. Back row: Rotary President Richard Ham, Dr. Deb Robertson, MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews, MBMS Principal John Jackson and music teacher Denise Haslop. Photo courtesy of MB Rotary Club
The Manhattan Beach Rotary Club awarded prizes to local middle and high school students for their musical ability at the Marriott on March 21.
The first place winners in six categories performed for the crowd of teachers, parents, students and members of the club.
“The enthralled audience watched and listened in awe at the quality of their performances, on violin, clarinet and flute,” wrote Rotarian Jim Hallett in an email.
“We witnessed not just technical skill, but expressions of emotion far beyond what we could imagine a pre-teen or teen could be expected to show us. Each student stood before us with an athletic stance and stoic intensity that belied his/her young age and that seemed to make each student one with the instrument, a seamless whole composed of mental and physical fitness just as important as the stunning swirls and flourishes.” ER