Crossroads Students Honored with Awards and Scholarships

Tenth grader Liv Amiri was honored with a Silver Key Award in Poetry from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. In addition, she was accepted into the Yale Young Writer’s Workshop and Brown University’s Writing Program. 

Eleventh grader Lucian Davidson was accepted into University of the South’s Sewanee Summer Creative Writing Program in Sewanee, TN. 

Eleventh grader Jaden Andreone won a  poetry award from the Mayor’s Youth Council Initiative. 

The following eighth grade students received honors in the National Junior Classical League Writing Competition: Lirit Leong placed fourth for the story “The Siege of Syracuse,” India Gendell placed fifth for the story “The Sirens and the Seagull,” Natalie Braxton placed sixth for the story “The Singing Contest” and Imogen Smith placed seventh for the story “The Smuggler.” 

Twelfth grade violinist Rachael Kim was invited to attend Sounding Point Academy at the Colburn School to work with renowned teacher Robert Lipsett. 

Twelfth grade violinist Marena Miki received the Grand Prize Alfred Newman Memorial Award, winning the opportunity to solo with the Palisades Symphony Orchestra. He also received second place in the Kathryn Gawartin Chopin Piano Competition.      

Ninth grade violinist Elizabeth Hayden was invited to perform at the Borromeo International Music Festival in Switzerland and will also attend the Colburn Chamber Music Intensive.

Eleventh grade cellist Christine Kivi was accepted to the Interlochen Music Academy in Michigan. 

Ninth grade pianist Lola Goetz received a scholarship through the Westside Committee of the LA Philharmonic Scholarship Competition. She also won first place in the Alice Frazier Kitchen Scholarship Competition. This summer, she will attend the Interlochen Piano Summer Program and the Colburn Chamber Music Intensive.

Seventh grade violinist Vivienne Shiao was selected to participate in the Honors Performance Series Orchestra in Carnegie Hall and will perform at the Montecito International Music Festival. She also received a Certificate of Excellence from the Santa Monica Westside Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

Ninth grade violinist Lena Kim was invited to perform at the Montecito International Music Festival.

Eleventh grade pianist Tyler Hernandez will attend the Oberlin Conservatory Summer Piano Seminar and will also perform at the Montecito International Music Festival.

Ninth grader Sissi Rao received a Distinction Grade for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Piano–Performance Grade 8.

Seventh grade drummer Oliver Orosco will attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts Popular Music Program in Interlochen, Michigan. 

Eighth graders Coleman Steele and Miles Belkind each received the Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Forum Music Festival. 

Tenth grader Zachary Zwelling was accepted into the NYU Summer Songwriters Workshop. He was also invited to attend the Tisch Summer High School Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in New York City. He will also attend Stanford University’s Jazz Workshop.

Seventh grade bassist Landon Hollman was named to the California All-State Music Educator Association’s All-State junior high jazz ensemble. He was also named to SCSBOA’s honors Jazz Ensemble. This summer, he will attend Stanford University’s Jazz Workshop. 

Twelfth grader Eli Holz, 11th grader Owen Cazenave and eighth grader Kesh Puri were also accepted into Stanford University’s Jazz Workshop

Ninth grade guitarist Ally Kozicki was named to the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s honor band The Jazz Ambassadors.

Eighth graders Shiv Munjal and Melese Light-Orr, tenth graders Brij Munjal and Nathan Petros and 11th grader Lucian Davidson were named to the California Association of Independent Schools' honor band. Brij Munjal also received a gold medal in the Royal Conservatory of Music Awards and performed at USC for the awards ceremony. Saxophonist Nathan Petros received a Black Lives Matter Scholarship from the California Alliance for Jazz.

Tenth grader Sebastián Olsa received first place honors in the Crescendo International Music Competition and was subsequently invited for a solo performance in Carnegie Hall.

Eleventh grader Madalyn Braun received Silver Keys for her photographs “Grocery Store” and “WEED.” 

Twelfth grader Ryan Celmer received a Gold Key for his photograph “Looking Through a Window.”

Twelfth grader Kate Jang received an Honorable Mention for her photograph “Camaraderie.” She received Honorable Mentions for her sculpture “Gathering” and her mixed media piece “Toxic.” She was honored with a Gold Key for her sculpture “Forest.”

Eleventh grader Sophie Szigeti received an honorable mention for her photograph “Green Girl.”

Twelfth grader Oliver Tannenbaum received a Silver Key for his photograph “Waves.”

Eighth graders Leo Rao and Tedros Yarnell received first place for their scene from “Romeo and Juliet.” 

Seventh graders Elyse Barry, Hannah H., Samantha Leeds, Rachel Ma and eighth graders Deneya Ahmed and Owen Way received first place for their scene from “Macbeth.”

Sixth graders Yemaya Chappell, Julia Feinblum, Izzy James-Jones and Dorian Way received first place for their scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Eighth grader Deneya Ahmed received the Santa Monica Rotary Club’s Citizenship Award. 

Eleventh grader Jesse Nevins received the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his work with Chords2Cure. He was also accepted to Yale’s Young Global Scholar Program. 

Twelfth grader Meazi Light-Orr was named a Posse Scholar and will receive a full-tuition scholarship to Northwestern University. 

Tenth grader Gray Larson was accepted into Georgetown University’s Sports Management Program.