You may have taken notice during the past year of the addition to the Orchestra's cello section of a very young man, namely Ernest (Ernie) W. Carbajal.
The San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra sponsors a "Youth Outreach Program" to foster and aid exceptionally talented instrumentalists whose excellence is brought to the attention of Maestro James Domine by their teachers. Such a young man, and student of Daniel Grab, is 13 year old Ernie who has been studying and playing the cello since the age of five.
In the past year Ernie has won four competitions, including the Glendale City's "Best Musician Award," having been chosen from among the entire Glendale School District. In addition to the grand prize, he received a cash award and the opportunity to play the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto in front of an audience of 1,000 people.
In 2011 and 2012, Ernie was awarded two-week scholarships to "Stage Strings Summer Camp." This summer he was selected from a group of eight equally talented students to perform the Haydn Cello Concerto at the final Recital of the season.
This September he will enter the prestigious and renowned Crossroads School under a four year fully paid scholarship. Crossroads is a small private high school in Santa Monica that boasts an 18 piece chamber orchestra that is consistently one of, if not the finest in the country.
Keep your eyes and ears open for rising young star Ernie Carbajal.