By Amelia Ward
Online Editor
The Rotary Club of Manhattan Beach hosted the 14th-annual Rotary Solo competition on Feb. 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Costa auditorium.
Judges for the competition included studio musician and composer Dr. Buddy Clements, and the Director of String Studies at California State University Long Beach Dr. Moni Simeonov. Award winners will be acknowledged at the Rotary Awards Breakfast in April, where participants who received first place will perform their solo.
“I’ve been playing bassoon for five years, starting in fifth grade,” said sophomore bassoonist Logan Elliot. “I chose bassoon because it looked cool to me, and I had never seen anyone play it before.”
The opening of the competition included ninth and tenth-grade students in the wind division. Competitors included sophomores Scarlet Perterman, Logan Kwon, and Logan Elliot, and freshmen Yash Jha and Ava Uruqhart. First place was given to Elliot, second place to Peterman (oboe), and third place to Kwon (clarinet).
“I like being able to showcase my work,” Elliot said. “I also like the cash prizes that come from placing.”
Following this section, the ninth and tenth-grade string division began. Sophomores Hayden Lee, Emery de Virgilio, McKinley Xia, and Denali Xia, and freshmen Madelyn Fu, Junie Lee, and Sofia Morales performed their solos. First place went to Xia (cello), second place to Fu (viola), and third place to McKinley Xia (violin).
“I’ve been playing since I was in fourth grade,” junior harpist Joylynn Lee said. “We got to choose what instrument we wanted to play, and I just stuck with it.”
After intermission, the eleventh and twelfth-grade wind division musicians performed. Musicians included seniors Archie Iacono and Kent Ikuta, and juniors Jacob Handzlik, Morgan Griffiths, and Josie Kennedy. First place went to Ikuta (clarinet), second place to Kennedy (percussion) and third place to Griffiths (clarinet).
“For me, the best part of the experience was performing in front of such a big audience,” Joylynn Lee said. “And showing my friends, family and community my solo.”
The eleventh and twelfth-grade string division musicians followed the wind division. Juniors Zoe Fan, Charles Hiatt, Joylynn Lee, and Ty Lockwood, and seniors Joseph Hiatt and Katherine Mueller performed their solos. Joseph Hiatt (violin) received first place, Joylynn Lee was awarded second place, and Lockwood (cello) was awarded third place.
“Everyone’s performance was beyond impressive,” said parent Sheila Murphy. “You could see how each student moved the audience with their solo.”
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