The hills were alive….

By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor

The audience at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church was treated to an evening of exceptional music on Jan. 29 as six students participated in the Rotary music competition.

There were two participants in the vocal category.

Junior Emily Salazar sang “Burn” from Hamilton (music by Lin-Manuel Miranda) and “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia (music by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens). Emily sang to recorded music.

Paul Fournier, Jay Rynda and Elizabeth O’Neil with Jaered Angel, Brenden Watson and Jaden Martinez.

Vala-Valis Miller, also a junior, sang “The Next Time It Happens” from Pipe Dream (music by Richard Rodgers and Roger Hammerstein) and “Great Adventure” from Kimberly Akimbo (music by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire). She sang a cappella.

The sole pianist was sophomore Aleric Herzog, who played Frederic Chopin’s “Raindrop Prelude” (Op. 28, No. 15) from memory. He demonstrated lovely dynamics throughout the piece.

Three young men participated in the “other instrumental” category.

Jay Rynda, president of the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Club; Elizabeth O’Neil, president of the Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club; and Paul Fournier with Vala-Valis Miller and Elizabeth Salazar.

Senior Jaered Angel wowed the crowd with his performance of “White Knuckle Stroll” (music by Casey Cangelosi) on the marimba. Playing the piece from memory, Jaered demonstrated a variety of techniques as he struck the keys with his two mallets.

Junior Brenden Watson performed “Pequeña Czarda for Saxophone and Piano” (music by Pedro Iturralde) on his alto saxophone with recorded piano accompaniment. His fingers flew over the keys as the tempo increased, producing a liquid, soulful, rich sound.

Jaden Martinez, also a junior, played two pieces – “C Major” (music by Gustav Adolf Heinze) and “A Minor” (music by Johann Heinrich Luft) – on his baritone saxophone, producing sultry low tones.

While the judges – John Grady, Virgie Witte and Paul Fournier – deliberated, representatives of the three sponsoring Rotary clubs – Crestline-Lake Gregory, Lake Arrowhead and Mountain Sunrise – told the audience about the various projects and activities their clubs participate in.

When the judges returned to the sanctuary, Fournier – who coordinated the contest with Aylene Popka – announced the winners.

In the vocal category, Emily Salazar placed second with Vala-Valis Miller placing first.

As the sole entry in the piano category, Aleric Herzog placed first.

And in the “other instrumental,” Jaden Martinez placed third, Brenden Watson second and Jaered Angel first.

The first-place winners were awarded $100, second $75 and third $50.

Fournier also announced that the three Rotary clubs will be sending Aleric, Jaered and Brenden on to the district level contest. The instrumental competition will take place on Saturday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the piano competition on Saturday, March 22 at the same times. Both take place at the University of Redlands in the Frederick Loewe Performance Hall, 1200 E. Colton Avenue, Redlands.

Paul Fournier, Jay Rynda and Elizabeth O’Neil with Aleric Herzog.