“Colburn has helped so much with my stage confidence. Performance opportunities, like the Friday Night Recitals, contribute to that along with feedback from teachers,” said Jasmine Ji.  “I think Colburn has shaped this path to Prague and I honestly couldn’t have done it without the support of my teachers here.” 

Photo: Community School piano student Jasmine Ji takes the stage in Smetana Hall, Prague. 

A chance elevator encounter reunites two talented young artists—dancer Mackenzie Carroll and violinist Yejoon Kwon—whose friendship has endured from summer camp to the Colburn School and now into promising futures in the arts. 

 “My role clearly has been to mentor classical flutists who dream of a career as a performer or teacher,” said Walker. “Having a career that covered more bases than normal has allowed me to speak somewhat knowingly about those career areas that are not often a part of the traditional conservatory setting.”

Since the LA Phil’s Composer Fellowship program was established in 2018, it has been a magnet for students from the Community School of Performing Arts. Samantha Adams-Blanco (Community School ’24) reflects on her experience in the program and how it developed her musical point of view. 

Colburn Conservatory of Music student Yanyan Bao and Community School of Performing Arts student Kento Ishikawa (center) join Koni and Geoff Rich (left), Terri and Jerry Kohl (right), and Neema Pazargad and Sel Kardan (center back) in Zipper Hall for the debut of a new Steinway & Sons piano.