Our Town

Palisadian classical musician and composer Samuel Siskind was named an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Morton Gould Young Composer Award winner—given to “young creators of concert music ranging in age from 14 to 29.”

“These incredibly accomplished young composers represent the best of the next generation of concert music,” ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams said in a statement. “We applaud all of our award recipients and look forward to their assuredly bright futures.”

On August 29, Siskind’s first album of concert music, “Awake,” will become available for streaming. The album was recorded in New York following the premiere of his piece, “Soaring Dreams,” by the National Children’s Chorus at Carnegie Hall.

Siskind—a Palisades Music School and Westside Waldorf School alum—lived in the Palisades until the age of 12. He is a rising senior at the Palisades iteration of Lindamood-Bell Academy.

Palisadian filmmaker Steven Spielberg attended the 19th annual Hammer Museum Gala in the Garden—which honored Ann Philbin for 25 years of leadership at the museum ahead of her retirement in November.

“The sold-out event raised a record-breaking $3.6 million to support the museum’s internationally acclaimed exhibitions and public programs,” according to a statement.

Other attendees included Jodie Foster, Keanu Reeves, Jane Fonda, Owen Wilson and Ava DuVernay, with tribute speeches by Will Ferrell, Hilton Als, Kara Walker and Darren Walker.

“The Hammer Museum is part of the School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA, and offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art,” the statement read. “It holds more than 50,000 works in its collection, including one of the finest collections of works on paper in the nation, the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts.”

Ready to Succeed—“a career and personal development nonprofit that empowers foster youth and first-generation college students to graduate, launch successful careers and reach their full potential” helmed by Palisadians Patrick McCabe and Romi Lassally—recently partnered with Maslon Group to create welcome packages at MĀVVEN mercantile on Antioch Street for foster youth who are headed to college.

More than 25 families helped craft 100 welcome packages through the Project Dorm Room arm of Ready to Succeed.

“Founded in 2017 by Ready to Succeed board member, Tania Suster, Project Dorm Room ensures that Los Angeles-based (and beyond) foster youth have the dorm room essentials and move-in support they need to launch a successful college career,” according to a statement. “To date, more than 900 college-bound foster youth have benefited from Project Dorm Room.”