The Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI), Crossroad School’s elite pre-professional orchestral and chamber music program, is holding a competition for prospective music students on Saturday, Feb. 9, at Crossroads’ 21st Street Campus in Santa Monica. Appropriate candidates for the competition are advanced violinists, violists and cellists who are currently in grades 8-11 and who practice and perform high-level solo and orchestral repertoire.
Merit scholarships of first prize ($15,000), second prize ($10,000) and third prize ($5,000) will be awarded to the winners who apply for admission and are accepted to Crossroads. Winners who are not accepted for admission to Crossroads will not receive merit scholarships.
“Crossroads has a rich history of commitment to classical music education, and we are thrilled to provide this incredible opportunity for highly gifted music students who are interested in attending our amazing School,” says Grace Park, director of K-12 strings and director of EMMI. “These students potentially have the chance to build on the legacy of Crossroads’ music program, which has produced numerous professional classical music performers and composers.”
Participants in the Feb. 9 competition will perform one or more solo pieces of their choice (with or without an accompanist) to demonstrate both fast, technical playing as well as slow, lyrical playing. A movement or movements of a sonata or concerto will be accepted.
Registration for the competition is available online here.
Any questions about the competition may be sent via email to Emily Doerner, assistant director of secondary admissions, at EDoerner@xrds.org.
The Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI) at Crossroads evolved from the School’s unique music major program, which was established in 1978. Student musicians are accepted into this exceptional and unique program by audition and are committed to the study, performance and composition of classical music. As members of the Crossroads community, EMMI students benefit from our college preparatory program while also pursuing their passion for classical music.
EMMI alumni have consistently gone on to perform in some of the finest professional symphony orchestras in the world. In addition, they have assumed leadership roles in opera companies, professional societies and in teaching. Among the roster of accomplished EMMI alumni are Robert Chen, concertmaster for Chicago Symphony; opera vocalist Danielle de Niese; Sheryl Staples, professor at Juilliard and principal associate concertmaster in the New York Philharmonic; Haldan Martinson, principal second violin of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Carol Ou, professor at New England Conservatory; and Nokuthula Ngwenyama, composer in residence of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society.
Submitted by Sara Ring, Director of Communications
