CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. -- A young Chappaqua musician has been named as one of the top student composers in a statewide competition.
Leona Liu, a seventh-grader at the Robert E. Bell Middle School, won the honor for her String Quartet No. 1, which was one of only 12 student compositions chosen among 115 pieces submitted to the New York State School Music Association.
Her work was premiered during a December performance in Rochester by a college ensemble at the association’s Young Composer Honors Concert.
Leona will participate in a special Young Composer Seminar with composer-in-residence Abbie Betinis; and in compositions workshops with clinicians Betinis, Dr. Rob Deemer, Dr. Daniel Deutsch, Herbert Deutsch, Frank Doyle, Dr. Mark Filsinger, J. Peter Hansen, Dr. Patricia Riley, Dr. Stephen Shewan, and Brian Zeller.
According to the school district, her composition also was submitted to the Chappaqua Orchestra by her music teacher, Laura Abbatantuono.
The orchestra recently played it at a benefit concert in Chappaqua, the school district said.
