Andrew Levin graduated from Magruder High School in 2002 and received a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he has two majors, music and neuroscience. A trumpeter, he played with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra on June 23 at Strathmore Music Center. Levin toured with the Orchestra last summer where they played at the world renowned Gewendhaus in Leipzig, Germany. They were the first Americans to perform at the Smetanova Festival in Litomysl, Czech Republic. This summer he is working in Pittsburgh with a summer research fellowship where he is studying neurodevelopmental changes associated with a protein called RGS4, which is altered in the brains of schizophrenic patients. Father David Levin, teaches music at Winston Churchill High School. Mother Donna Lynn Levin graduated from Churchill in 1976.
Joel Hellman, a Winston Churchill High School graduate, plays guitar for Curtis Murphy Syndicate. He has been playing with Shaley Scott. Hellman, along with another Syndicate member (Justin Apergis), are competing alongside Shaley against 100 bands in a new NBC.com competition headed by producer David Foster. The entire competition takes place online at http://www.nbc.com/. There are 100 bands that compete against each other where two bands compete and one moves on. The winner of the competition receives a record deal from WB Music. Joel is currently producing and playing guitar on her newest record.
Steve and Lynn Pomponi, owners of the Just Dogs! gourmet store in the White Flint Mall, were heralded as "Canine Advocates of the Year" at the second annual franchise convention on July 1. The Pomponi's received the award for their donation of time and goods to several local animal charities including Montgomery County Region of Guiding Eyes for The Blind, a charity with volunteers that help potential guide dog puppies develop into well adjusted, mannerly young adults; The Perseus Foundation, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, established to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes related to animal cancer; and The Washington Animal Rescue League Partnership for Animal Welfare.
The Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) has selected Róisín Magee of Potomac to participate in its 2006 National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB*) Coastal and Ocean Science Training Internship Program (COAST) for her continued interest in the ocean sciences. This internship, given annually, is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about the coastal environment in non-traditional ways. This year students traveled to Redwood National Park in California where they conducted several water quality monitoring projects to determine the presence and potential effect of sediment plumes on inter-tidal communities.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra appointed Resa Levy, of The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, as the new Director of Development for the BSO at Strathmore, effective July 17. A longtime resident of Montgomery County, Levy brings to the position more than 15 years of fundraising experience, as well as knowledge of the performing arts and a commitment to community development. As the Director of Development for the BSO at Strathmore, she is responsible for the BSO's fundraising efforts throughout the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Montgomery, an organization which trains community leaders, Levy serves as a commissioner of the Montgomery County Commission for Women. She was Director of Philanthropy and Resource Development for four years at Jewish Women International. A trained dancer and supporter of the performing arts, she served for six years as a board member for the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts. Levy holds a B.A. in education from American University. A mother of four grown children, Levy lives with husband Sam Walinsky, in Olney. She may be reached by phone at 301-581-5215 or by e-mail at rlevy@BSOatStrathmore.org.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company has recognized Dave Murray of Potomac, long term care insurance specialist of West Financial Group in Bethesda, as a member of its Excalibur Club for his excellence in their field and for serving as a role model to other insurance professionals. Murray resides in Potomac. He earned a bachelor of arts from Dickinson College.