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COMMUNITY NEWS
SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 16 – JULY 6, 2018
Two Chandler music school students tapped for concert SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Two student pianists at East Valley Yamaha Music School in Chandler – 7-yearold Saadhvi Sri Jayaram and 15-year-old Luke Hoang – have been selected to perform at the Yamaha 2018 National Junior Original Concert in California. The performance will take place at 4 p.m. June 24 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos. “The concert offers students of the Yamaha Music Education System the opportunity to unlock their full musical potential by composing original pieces and performing them in front of enthusiastic audiences,” spokesman Peter Giles said. The performers will play new compositions in a variety of settings, from piano solos to chamber and larger ensembles. Chosen from more than 6,000 young musicians, Luke and Saadhvi “prevailed as
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one of just 13 talented, emerging artists to perform an original musical composition at the renowned concert celebration,” he added She will present “Under the Banyan Tree,” her original composition for ensemble featuring piano, flute and percussion. Saadhvi has been a student of Heidi Grimes at the East Valley Yamaha Music School since she was around 3. Once Saadhvi mastered simple songs, she then began composing, which led to her writing her first song at the age of 4. Outside of music, Saadhvi enjoys dancing, painting and origami. She also loves to play video games with her brother. Luke will present “Tokyo Suite,” his original composition for piano. He has been attending the East Valley Yamaha Music School for 11 years. He began composing at age 8 and performed at Yamaha’s concert in Japan
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the world and learning about new cultures, eating exotic food and taking inspiration from the countries his family travels to. Information: 4wrd.it/usajoc18
Roy Conrad, on left, bonds with his son, Alexander W. Conrad when Conrad enlisted in the Army while a student at Hamilton High School. Staff Sgt. Conrad was later killed in action in Somalia.
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last year. Aside from the piano, Luke plays the mallets and trumpet in school and also knows how to play the violin and drums. Outside of music, Luke enjoys travelling
just one of the aspects of him. “We’re all multifaceted people. There’s a lot that’s going to written and said about Alex over the next days and weeks that is focused on him as a soldier. It’s important to highlight this aspect of him, as well.” Tributes, condolences pour in Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny expressed his condolences to Sgt. Conrad’s loved ones.
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Special to the San Tan Sun News
SAADHVI SRI JAYARAM
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to know people as compared to simply being a surface-level guy.” Chagoya fondly remembered how while in Germany last year, he, Sgt. Conrad and other American soldiers went to a beer festival. Their tour guide told them about a “stone-lifting competition” at the festival and jokingly asked if anyone wanted to participate. Chagoya said Sgt. Conrad without hesitating said he would “absolutely love to do that” without knowing what it would entail. Chagoya said rather than a stone, Sgt. Conrad had to lift something “like a weight with a handle” that weighed about 500 pounds while on stage. “It was a good example of the kind of guy he was,” Chagoya said. “He saw a challenge and said, ‘Alright, why not?’ He was the only American that participated in that event. Adventurous is a good way to describe him.” He said Sgt. Conrad liked weightlifting but showed his softer side when they went to an orchestra concert in Prague. “I remember thinking, this doesn’t really seem like Alex’s thing,” Chagoya said. “When the concert was finishing up, he was wiping tears out of his eyes. He said it was incredibly moving. To me that’s
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Special to the San Tan Sun News
LUKE HOANG
“This was extremely sad news,” Tibshraeny said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends today. To have one of our own residents perish is a grim reminder of the thousands of brave men and women who, on a daily basis, serve to protect this country – as well as to protect the rights and safety of others all across the globe. Our hearts go out to this Chandler hero.”
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Flags at City of Chandler facilities were flown at half-mast on June 11 until the morning of June 12 to commemorate Sgt. Conrad. The City Council also observed a moment of silence in honor of the soldier during its June 11 study session at City Hall. Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all flags at all state buildings be lowered immediately to half-staff until sunset on June 11 to honor Sgt. Conrad. He also said the flags would be lowered the day of Sgt. Conrad’s funeral, which had not yet been scheduled. “The prayers and hearts of all of Arizona are with the family and loved ones of Staff Sergeant Sgt. Conrad,” Ducey said. “He made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country, and we are forever grateful.” President Trump also paid tribute to Sgt. Conrad, posting on Twitter, “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of our serviceman who was killed and his fellow servicemen who were wounded in Somalia. They are truly all HEROES.” Family members traveled to Delaware recently to receive Sgt. Conrad’s body and escort him home for a funeral. Sgt. Conrad will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family members ask people to make donations to the Pat Tillman Foundation. To learn how to donate, visit pattillmanfoundation.org.
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