Crossroads Junior Amy Sze Performs at Carnegie Hall

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice—then play perfectly.

 

By claiming first place for violin in the high school division of the Young Muse Competition, Crossroads junior Amy Sze earned the opportunity to perform Sept. 30 at the world-famous concert venue.

 

It was a momentous step in what has already been a magical journey in music for Amy, a student in the Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute classical music program at Crossroads. She has won numerous awards in music competitions, both as a soloist and as a member of a string quartet.

 

In a performance that Amy had envisioned for a decade, she played the third movement of Samuel Barber’s violin concerto.

 

“I’ve always dreamed of playing in Carnegie Hall ever since I was 6 years old,” Amy says. “Now at 16, I feel incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity and am excited to have shared with people what I love. None of this would be possible without the wonderful teachers and parents I am more than fortunate to have.”

 

Two Crossroads students, junior Sacha Feldman and sophomore Leo Major, were recently selected to participate in the LA Philharmonic’s Nancy and Barry Sanders Composer Fellowship Program. This multiyear program will allow them to hone their skills in music composition while working closely with professional musicians.

 

It’s among the latest in a string of achievements for Sacha, who in June premiered “Nigh” at the Sunset ChamberFest in Los Angeles. He also attended the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Michigan, where he debuted four new compositions.

 

For Leo, the fellowship program advances a passion for music that has grown since he was 6 years old. He has studied piano and alto saxophone and has also participated in the Colburn Jazz Workshop.

 

Crossroads junior Max Hammond won first prize in the piano open competition at the Lansum International Music Festival, which was held in late July at Pitzer College in Claremont.