Toro alumna and high school music teacher Amanda Chavez never imagined that someday she’d be conducting on the stage of Carnegie Hall. But on March 12, that’s exactly what she did, marking her and her students’ debut in the illustrious New York City venue. Chavez and 55 of her students had been invited to perform as a featured ensemble for the "I Choose Love" festival organized by National Concerts. Chavez, who earned her degree in music education and minor in Asian Pacific Studies in 2013, is the Director of Instrumental Music and Department Chair of Performing Arts at Jordan High School (JHS) in Long Beach, where she also directs multiple ensembles. When she received the invitation to ... Read More