Some Shout Outs
To Some Tremendously Talented Young Friends
Levon Henry
Levon Henry, musical prodigy and progeny of Joe Henry and Melanie Ciccone, was one of eleven students invited to The White House to participate in a Jazz Workshop sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute. First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters were on hand to welcome the students.
Levon and the talented ten worked with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians including Branford, Ellis, and Wynton Marsalis. The students also attended a Duke Ellington Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.
Levon and his graduating cohorts in the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble also opened the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl last weekend.
And, Levon has received a very generous scholarship to The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music , which he will be attending in NYC this fall.
Congratulations Levon!
Ryder Bach
Ryder Bach has been cast as the lead in “Girlfriend,” a world premiere musical wound around the tender love songs of Matthew Sweet’s landmark album. “Girlfriend” opens at Berkeley Rep, on April 9.
In the world premiere muscial, boy meets boy. It’s an eternal story turned upside down, a dual-Romeo duet directed by Les Waters. “Girlfriend is the breathless testimony of a fool for love,” raves Rolling Stone, “a rock ‘n’ roll valentine that delivers subtle wisdom with an exhilarating kick.” Fall in love with the boy next door (Ryder) at Girlfriend.
Ryder recently returned from NYC where he was (oh so close) to being cast for “American Idiot,” on Broadway.
We’ll see your name in lights Ryder, it’s only a matter of time!
Xander Pollock
Xander Pollock has secured a paid graphic design internship with Experts Exchange, the number one resource on the Web for solving technology problems. Experts Exchange is based in San Luis Obispo.
Xander will also be working remotely with Attention Span Media, a social media studio and pioneering developer of online entertainment. This is in addition to his continuing position as Senior Designer for CalPoly Athletics.
“We Are the Mustangs”
I wonder when he will have time to attend classes?
Woohoo Xander P!
