Whiz Kid of the Week: LACHSA Cellist Wins Sierra Madre Rotary Music Contest

Morgan Little took first place in Sierra Madre Rotary’s yearly music competition, held last Thursday, March 11 at La Salle High School in Pasadena. The cellist, a senior at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), was awarded $250 toward his college expenses from the Sierra Madre Rotary.

Little performed compositions by LaLo and Bach, and is hoping to attend one of two prestigious music schools, Baltimore’s Peabody Institute or The Manhattan School of Music next year.

Another LACHSA student, violinist Patrice Chang, took second place in the local contest. She performed Kreisler compositions, and hopes to attend UCLA in the fall.

Third and fourth place went to La Salle High School seniors. Guitarist, Lauren Bruer, a guitarist, played a combination of Chet Atkins and classical Carcassi. French horn player, Daniel Estes, performed Ravel’s familiar Pavane pour une Infante Defunte.

The Dan Stover music competition honors the Alhambra Rotarian educator and musician, who played his “Rotary organ” for club members until he passed away in 1987. First established in Alhambra in 1988, the competition eventually expanded to a Rotary District 5300 event, and young musicians have competed for over two decades for funds to apply to their musical education. For more information on the contest, visit www.District5300.org/Stover/.