Mozart In Me
Music has transformed the lives of Beckman High juniors Katie Tran, Athena Yang and Adriana Anesi since grade school. They have thrived in school and community programs: Tran on violin. Yang at the piano. Anesi in chorus.
They wanted to give that joy of music to children who struggle to simply communicate and socialize – those who are neurodivergent. “We just wanted to come together and give children the opportunity to learn and make friends like we did,” Tran says.
That program is called Mozart In Me. Teen volunteers spend an hour every other Saturday with children ages 2 to 12 having fun with instruments: keyboards, violins, guitars, drums, bells, xylophones. Group singalongs, games and live music end each session.
Last year, the Beckman students won a $5,000 grant from the Irvine-based Dragon Kim Foundation. Fundraising added another $5,000 to help buy and repair instruments.
What started in August 2024 with eight children tutored by eight volunteers has mushroomed: About 100 children are now involved. More than 200 volunteers have joined from schools around Southern California.
More than music is at play. Yang says she became “someone who expanded their perspective of who’s struggling out there and how to help them and be a good role model.”
The three friends hope younger volunteers will maintain the program.
“Especially as we go to college,” Anesi says, “they will be the ones continuing the legacy of Mozart In Me.”
Kristine Chai
Chai’s promising career path in biotechnology started in her first class at Irvine Valley College, where she graduated with top honors.
Chai soared as a lab assistant and peer mentor who co-founded a program to help students navigate the research process. She presented research from her internship at Irvine-based Invitrx Therapeutics to the annual Honors Transfer Council of California Research Conference for community college students.
Now an undergrad at UCLA, Chai hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biosciences at UC Irvine. “The greatest possibility of biotech is the freedom it will give people to live their lives without their bodies holding back their ambitions,” she says.
Rose Chhabria
The Northwood High senior was named Orange County’s Outstanding Youth honoree for National Philanthropy Day in November. She created a hands-on digital entrepreneurship program for underserved youth, teaching basic online skills and responsibility by Zoom. She has promoted mental health and organized meal distributions and has been a Girl Scout for 10 years as well as an ASB student representative who attends school district meetings.
Chhabria wants a business career with a focus on social equity. “The people around me supported my growth and provided opportunities that made me who I am today,” she says. “Many are not placed in circumstances where they can automatically rely on others to foster their growth. Recognizing that inequity is what drives me.”
