Young musician in the spotlight
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com
      A 14-year-old Oak Park High School freshman and Simi Valley resident won the Classical Instrumentalist Grand Prize during the 19th annual Music Center Spotlight Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. Jennifer Liu was among 12 talented young performing artists and four top visual artists who earned an award at the Music Center of Los Angeles County on Sat. April 14.
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Agoura chess champ heads to world contest
      Simone Liao, an 8-year-old from Agoura Hills, has qualified to play as a member of the U.S. National Youth Chess Team in the upcoming 2007 World Youth Chess Championship. The championship will be this fall in Antalya, Turkey. Simone, a student at Willow Elementary School, has learned chess and competed in various levels of tournaments for a year and half.
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