Schwarzwald, Kelly Gain Teen Titles

By Danielle Gillespie, Staff Writer

2010-03-11
Harvard-Westlake juniors Courtney Kelly and Kevin Schwarzwald won the Chamber of Commerce's annual Teen Contest at Pierson Playhouse last Wednesday evening, making them the new Mr. and Miss Palisades.

  'I'm ecstatic,' said Kelly, while holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing the Miss Palisades sash over her elegant dark-pink dress.

  'There was a bunch of talented people,' Schwarzwald said of his competition. 'I am so happy I won.'

  To earn the honor of representing the community, Kelly and Schwarzwald each had to present their artistic talents. Kelly, who was named runner-up last year, gave an impressive slideshow presentation of her artwork, while violinist Schwarzwald flawlessly performed 'Spain,' an instrumental jazz-fusion composition by jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea.

  They then answered questions about their goals and extracurricular activities in an onstage interview with co-emcees Cindy Simon and Rich Wilken.

  The eight teens participating in the contest were judged on character, talent, poise, presentation and communication skills. To kick off the show, all the competitors danced to Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five,' choreographed by Thea White.

  Kelly and Schwarzwald will each receive a $2,000 Cathie Wishnick Memorial Scholarship and will have the opportunity to ride in the town's Fourth of July parade.

  Schwarzwald, 16, has a passion for composing music and has played the violin for 10 years and the piano for six years. In the seventh grade at Paul Revere, he won the National PTA Reflections Contest for one of his compositions. Last December during a performance at Beverly Hills High, the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic played a six-minute piece he composed.

  'It was one of the best feelings,' said Schwarzwald. 'I had put so much work into the piece and to hear it come to life ''

  Schwarzwald, who is inspired by Grammy award-winning musician and composer Gordon Goodwin, would like to double major in music and engineering at an East Coast school. His parents are Reinhold, a music producer, jazz musician and composer, and Petra, a neurofeedback specialist and yoga teacher.

  Kelly, 16, could often be found in the arts and crafts corner during kindergarten class in Chicago. She has since taken art classes at Harvard-Westlake, Archer School for Girls (where she went to school from 6th to 8th grade), Mission Renaissance in Pacific Palisades, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. She mostly enjoys painting portraits with oil and acrylics.

  'The face is so interesting,' Kelly said. 'Everyone has eyes, a nose and a mouth, but we all look so different. The face also conveys different emotions.'

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  Although Kelly loves art, she wants to study medicine and has spent 100 hours volunteering at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This past summer, she interned for a psychiatrist at UCLA. Kelly first became interested in medicine after dissecting a fetal pig in her biology class freshman year.

  Her parents are Carol Meylan, a social worker for Leisure World in Seal Beach, and Bob Kelly, an investment advisor for Capital Group. She has a 19-year-old sister Erin, a student at Boston University, and a 12-year-old brother Gavin, who attends Wildwood.

  In addition to honoring Kelly and Schwarzwald last Wednesday, the judges named Katie Takakjian, a Palisades Charter High School junior, and Jacob Correia, a Brentwood School junior, as runners-up; each received $200.

  Takakjian showcased her photography, while Correia, who was also named runner-up in 2008 and 2009, played the Andante from Joseph Haydn's Violin Concerto in C major.

  Other contestants included Madi Bisharat (PaliHi), Mike Schem (Loyola), Sara Bowman (Brentwood School) and Maddy Leshner (PaliHi).

  While the judges scores were being tabulated, reigning Mr. Palisades Wyn Delano entertained the audience with Bobby Darin's 'Once in a Lifetime,' changing the lyrics to reflect his 'once in the lifetime' opportunity to be Mr. Palisades.

  'I met Miss America. How many teenage guys meet Miss America?' he sang, referring to Katie Stam, the 2009 Miss America, who rode as the grand marshal in the Fourth of July parade.

  Outgoing Miss Palisades Sabrina Giglio played Camille Saint-Saens' 'Allegro Appassionato' on her cello, and then Fancy Feet Dance Studio members performed jazz, contemporary and African dances.

  The judges were Ray Abruzzo, writer/director/actor; Jeanne Elfant Festa, producer/former Miss Palisades; Lewis Hauser, stage director; Andy Rawn, singer; and actor Gavin MacLeod, who is also the town's honorary mayor.

  The event was organized by Carol Smolinisky (who has served as contest committee chairperson for many years), Chamber President Ramis Sadrieh, Chamber Executive Director Arnie Wishnick and Palisadians Thea White, Lauri McNevin, Marge Gold, Andy Frew and Chana Messer.