Inland Valley Symphony Review

October 26, 2003

Antonio Pontarelli

Antonio Pontarelli is twelve years old and is a resident of Temecula. He is referred to as a music prodigy by many and began his violin training at age four while he studied under the tutelage of Lois Leyva. He has been a 5 time winner in the Music Heritage Youth string Competition and started winning violin competitions at age 6. Antonio has been selected the past three years to play first violin in the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra. The orchestra formerly known as the Disney Young Musician's Orchestra is composed of sixty of the finest players throughout the United States and Europe between ages 8 and 15. He currently is the Concert Master of the San Diego Youth Symphony Symphonic Orchestra and has served as their Assistant Concert Master the previous two years. Antonio has been a guest soloist of Grammy winner Mark O'Connor, the Southern California Chamber Soloists, the NAMM Show and he has played with the San Diego Symphony. He has been a guest on national television talk shows where he spoke about his passion for music, his nonprofit foundation and he played his original compositions. He has performed as a soloist internationally and had a mentor relationship with the late Isaac Stern. Antonio currently is working on his own CD of original material, which will soon be available on antoniomusic.com. He is on staff as a studio musician, arranger and composer for DeLuzRecording.com a non-profit recording studio in Temecula.

Antonio also plays piano and a 6 string electric violin where his fiery licks rival many of the rock guitar greats. He aspires to compose music that has a direct connection to the world that we live in and breathe new life into classical music blending it with the musical colors and textures of rock, blues and planetary beat. "Music creates pathways to learning as well as uplifts the soul". "My goal is to compose and play music that makes a difference in people's lives"

In the academic world Antonio is a stellar example of music creating neurological pathways to higher learning.
He is a straight A student at Hillcrest Academy in Temecula, and he recently received state honors in the John Hopkins University Search for Talented Youth. He is currently enrolled in an honors program in Biotechnology and Bioengineering at USC, in Los Angeles.