The event featured performances by nine seniors — eight from Sierra Vista High School and one from Baldwin Park High School — who competed in classical vocal, classical instrumental, pop vocal and pop instrumental categories. Three judges evaluated the performances: Cruz Sembello, a Woman’s Club member; Vita Flores of the Mark Daniels Music Foundation; and Hugh van der Linden, a Baldwin Park High School counselor.
Four students were named scholarship winners, each receiving a $250 award from the Woman’s Club. The winners will also have the option to advance to the San Gabriel Valley District Woman’s Club competition, where they may compete for a $500 scholarship.
Classical Vocal honors were awarded to Lucia (Zhihan) Cong of Sierra Vista High School for her performance of “Vittoria mio core!”
Classical Instrumental winner Lola Cervantes, also of Sierra Vista High School, earned recognition for her marimba performance of “String Quartet No. 8.”
In the Pop Vocal category, Diego Urrutia of Sierra Vista High School received top honors for his rendition of “Come Fly With Me.”
Pop Instrumental (Piano) winner Ulises Vargas of Baldwin Park High School was recognized for his performance of “My Heart Will Go On.”
Additional competitors included Sierra Vista High School students Calista Elmoz, Karyme Gonzalez, Eleazar Cisneros Valdivia, Rhianna Lubas and Marisabel Matul Cruz, as well as Vargas, who also competed in the classical instrumental category on saxophone.
District leaders praised the students for their preparation, musicianship and professionalism, and thanked the Baldwin Park Woman’s Club for its continued support of arts education and student achievement.
More details on the upcoming district-level competition will be announced at a later date.