Opus 12
Saturday, July 30, 2005, 7:30 pm
Oceanview Performing Arts and Rec. Center, 575 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
Sunday, July 31, 2005, 2:30 pm
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 East Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Performers and Their Pieces
Overture to Ruy Blas, Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
Conejo Concerto Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Thomas Osborn
Koncertstück in F Major, Op. 86, First movement, Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)
Mr. Ryan Ebanks, Mr. David Feldman,
Mr. Jon Lusher, & Ms. Samantha Luxenberg
Mr. Ryan Ebanks, a senior at Westlake High School, has been playing horn for six years under the guidance of Mrs. Phyllis Rautenberg. In that time he has held the position of principal horn in the CSUN Philharmonic and Westlake High School Wind Ensemble, as well as positions in the highest All-State Band, the All-State Orchestra, the Idyllwild Festival Wind Ensemble, the Harvard Summer Orchestra, and the YMF Summer Debut Orchestra. Additionally, he performs with the Solstice and Excelsior chamber ensembles.
Ryan holds the office of Thousand Oaks Youth Commissioner, a sworn post through which he advises the City Council on youth issues, and also acts as chairman of the T.O. Youth Master Plan committee. He is ranked #1 in Westlake High School’s graduating class, has garnered numerous scholarships & awards, including a National Merit Scholarship and AP Scholar Award with Distinction, as well as various corporate scholarships, and was featured in the Ventura County Star as one of the region’s “Star Scholars,” having already taken courses through Stanford, Harvard, and UCLA.
Ryan will be attending Princeton University in the fall, his longtime objective because of the school’s unparalleled physics, philosophy, and genomics programs—his three primary interests. He plans to continue playing horn in one of Princeton’s numerous instrumental ensembles, and eventually hopes to attend law school.
Mr. has been playing the French horn for nearly half of his life—eight of his eighteen years. He studies with Mrs. Phyllis Rautenberg and Mr. James Thatcher. David’s first big challenge was to play with the Disney Youth Orchestra at Lincoln Center in New York. David has also played with many orchestras and ensembles including Conejo Youth Symphony, CSUN Youth Orchestra, New West Youth Symphony, Colburn Orchestestra Da Camera, L.A. Youth Orchestra, TOHS Lancer Band, Ventura County Honor Band, The Young Musicians Foundation Brass and Woodwind Ensembles, Kendall Betts Horn Camp in New Hampshire, Tanglewood University in Massachusettes, Idyllwild Arts, YMF Debut Orchestra in Malibu, and Disney Young Musicians Orchestra in New York.
David has been the recipient of numerous honors, awards and music scholarships including scholarships from the Leni Fe Bland Foundation, The Young Musicians Foundation and several summer programs. David has been a Discovery Artist and played Strauss Horn Concerto No.1 with the New West Symphony in Oxnard and Thousand Oaks. He was recently a semi-finalist in the Spotlight Awards in Los Angeles.
This fall, David will be attending The Juilliard School—his longtime goal—and has been awarded scholarship money.
Outside of music, David has many passions as well. He loves cars, surfing, and art. After graduation, David plans on playing with a major symphony and doing studio work.
Mr. Jon Lusher, 16, just finished his sophomore year as an honor student at Westlake High School. Jon has been playing the horn for six years. He first played with the Conejo Valley Preparatory Youth Orchestra and a year later was accepted into their Youth Orchestra. He was section leader for three of his four years there. For the past two years Jon has played in the CSUN Philharmonic.
During the summer months Jon enjoys music camps. He has attended the Idyllwild Arts Music Camp, and was section leader for the Symphonic band in 2002 and 2003. He also received a full scholarship from the Young Musician Foundation for their music camp at Pepperdine University. In 2004 Jon returned to Idyllwild to play in their Symphonic Orchestra, culminating in a performance at the Disney Concert Hall. This summer Jon spent two weeks at the Kendall Betts Horn Camp. Jon earned the Director's Award from Colina Middle School, and has received Command Performances through SCSBOA. He has played in the SoCal Honor Band as well as the All-State Honor Band.
In his spare time Jon enjoys listening to Hindemith and Romantic music, reading, body surfing and hiking in the mountains.
Ms. Samantha Luxenberg, 15, developed an early love for the French horn after attending a recital of her brother’s fellow classmate at the Julliard School when she was seven years old. Samantha’s love for her instrument has only continued to grow with her past five years of study under the cherished direction of her teacher, Phyllis Rautenberg. She hopes to continue to develop her studies throughout her high school career and someday become an accomplished professional musician.
Samantha has just completed her freshman year at Agoura High School. She is involved in various musical groups such as the Orchestra da Camera at the Colburn School, Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra, AHS (Agoura High School) Wind Ensemble, and AHS Concert Band. In the past she has attended the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival, YMF Debut Orchestra Camp, and multifarious chamber groups. This coming fall, Samantha hopes to participate in the YMF Chamber Series.
In addition to music, Samantha enjoys reading, going to the beach, running, and spending time with family and friends. Furthermore, she hopes to learn to play tennis and join her high school’s tennis team.
Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453, First movement, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Mr. Jonathan Chew, 18, graduated with a 4.4 grade point average from Chaminade College Preparatory High School. On campus, Jonathan was known as the “happiest and most optimistic” student. He was voted “most unforgettable” and “prom king” by his classmates and received the “Father Chaminade Award,” the highest award the school can bestow upon a graduate.
Jonathan was an active member of the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation (CSF), Link, LIFE Team, Lights Crew for Drama, The Talon School Newspaper, and got a kick out of being Senator Chew for Youth and Government.
Jonathan began his piano studies at age nine with Edward Francis. He has many awards for his performances in various competitions: Certificate of Merit honors, Twentieth Century & Romantic festivals, Southern California Jr. Bach Festival and the Leni Fe Bland Foundation. His background in classical music has made it easy and fun to participate in his school concert band and accompany students at several talent shows. When not occupied with school or music, Jonathan likes to travel, spend time with friends and family, watch Star Trek, go skiing and read science-fiction.
Jonathan will be continuing his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles with an interest in medicine, or following his parent’s footsteps in dentistry.
Carnival of the Animals, Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921)
Ms. Maize Wang & Mr. Justin Ramos
Ms. Maize Wang, 14, is a student at Medea Creek Middle School. She began piano studies with her mother, and later Mrs. Clemons. She is now under the guidance of Peter Yazbeck. Maize has participated in the Gail Newby Concerto Competition in Antelope Valley, New West Symphony Discovery Artists Programs, and the Showcase or Young Musicians in Orange County. She has been a gold medalist at the MTAC Holiday Festival for the past three years, performed in the MTAC State Convention, and participated in the MTAC Concerto Competition. She also competed in SYMF in 2004. She was a regional winner of Southern California Junior Bach Festival, performed in the Bach Showcase Concert in Santa Barbara, and in April 2005, she performed at the Ventura Music Festival, in the Young Artist Concert. This will be Maize’s second appearance as a featured performer with the Conejo Concerto Orchestra.
Mr. Justin Ramos, 16, will be a junior at Adolfo Camarillo High School this fall. He started his study of piano at the age of 5 at a studio in Sherman Oaks. Upon moving to Camarillo in 1997, he began private study with Donna Lee Simmons and is now under the guidance of Peter Yazbeck.
Justin passed his Level 10 Certificate of Merit exam with honors and was a finalist at the Regional Panel. He was selected to perform at the Music Teachers’ Convention in Sacramento in the Panel III program. He was a gold medal winner at last year’s Russian Festival in Ventura. He participated in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival Complete Works Audition at Cal State LA and competed in the Gail Newby Concerto Competition 2005 in Antelope Valley. At the Ventura Music Festival, he was one of the soloists who performed on the Young Artists Program. He was the winner of this year’s Ann George Memorial Scholarship.
He is currently a member of the Jazz Band at Camarillo High School where he maintains a 4.0 GPA taking honors and AP courses.
Aside from playing the piano, Justin likes traveling, playing basketball, and fishing. He is a member of the JV tennis team and actively participates in his church youth group. In the last three years, he has volunteered as a pianist in several musical productions in Ventura County. In his spare time, he enjoys jamming with friends.
This is Justin’s second appearance as a soloist with Concertos with Orchestra Thousand Oaks.
Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, Third Movement, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Mr. Ralph Li & Ms. Rachel Li
Ralph Li, 16, is going to be a junior at Westlake High School this fall. He began playing violin at the age of five and has been studying violin with Diana Ray-Goodman for the past ten years. He has also worked with Elise Goodman.
A first violinist of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra, Ralph has passed the advanced level of Certificate of Merit and is a constant soloist in the MTAC Convention Festival recitals. He has attended the Young Musicians’ Foundation Debut Orchestra Camp for the past 4 years. In addition, Ralph is the Principal First Violinist of the Sunset Hills Strings Ensemble and the Principal Second Violinist of the Westlake High School Orchestra. On this year’s Mother’s Day, Ralph performed live with his sister, Rachel, and other members of the Young Musician Foundation Chamber Group for KMZT Radio’s “Sunday Live” broadcast.
Besides his musical activities, Ralph is active in his school and church. He has been on the Westlake High School tennis team for the past 2 years and he won the Sportsmanship award in 2004. At his church, Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks, Ralph is the youth group worship leader and plays guitar for the Sunday worship.
Rachel Li, 15, is an upcoming sophomore student at Westlake High School. Rachel started learning violin at the age of seven. For the past four years, Rachel has been playing the viola. Her teacher is Diana Ray-Goodman.
Throughout her musical studies, Rachel has been a yearly soloist in the MTAC Convention Festival Recitals. She has attended the Young Musicians’ Foundation Debut Orchestra Camp for the past 4 years. Currently the Principal Violist of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra and the Westlake High School Orchestra, Rachel has performed live on KMZT Radio’s “Sunday Live” broadcast with the Young Musicians Foundation Chamber Group in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
Besides playing the viola, Rachel enjoys playing tennis and is a member of the Westlake High School Girls’ Tennis Team. She loves to do anything outdoors and hang out with friends. Rachel also actively participates in her church’s youth group.
Piano Concerto in A-minor, Op. 54 Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)
Ms. Lydia Lo, 17, has been studying piano since age five. Her past teachers include Theresa McArthur and Caroline Lai, and she began studies with her current piano teacher Edward Francis in 1999. She has soloed with the Conejo Concerto twice in the past—in Opus I and Opus VII—as well as with the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra as the winner of the Young Pianists Competition. She has consistently won honors at the Southern California Junior Bach Festival and the Romantic & Contemporary Festivals sponsored by the Conejo Valley MTAC, and she passed the Advanced Level of Certificate of Merit examinations with honors in 2002. She is also a scholarship recipient of the Leni Fe Bland Foundation and participated in the Honors Piano Seminar at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. Piano studies aside, she was a first violinist in the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra for four years.
An honors student at Westlake High School, Lydia was the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and co-captain of the mock trial team. She played varsity golf for three years. She was a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a Ventura County Star Scholar, among other honors. An aspiring doctor, she was involved in her school’s Advanced Anatomy program and volunteered at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. In her free time, she enjoys sleeping, reading, driving and going on adventures with friends. She will attend Harvard College in the fall as a sociology concentrator, and hopes to continue her piano studies there.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C-minor, Op. 18, First Movement, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943)
Mr. Landon Baumgard has been playing the piano since the age of seven. He has received numerous Gold medals in the Music Teacher's Association's Contemporary Festival, and has also won three consecutive regional medals in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival. He also performed Rachmaninoff's Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos in "Duos by the Masters," sponsored by the Westlake Village Music Society, in October 2004. In 2005, Landon won the Bernice Bernard Scholarship, and a scholarship from the Santa Barbara Foundation's Leni Fe Bland scholarship audition.
Besides solo work, Landon also loves to accompany and play with other instrumentalists at church, festivals, and school. He has also appeared with the Ventura County Honor Band on French horn and piano for four years. Just recently a graduate of Moorpark High School, Landon will be pursuing piano performance at CSU Northridge on a scholarship in the fall of 2005. He was a longtime student of Christine DeKlotz of Moorpark, and this past year became a student of Edward Francis.