Mongolian throat singer Jurmeddorj Nordog plays the Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle) while overtone chanting at the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.

Santa Monica College President Dr. Chui L. Tsang and SMC Music Professor Dr. Yulia Kozlova perform "Ein Ton" on the piano during SMC's Opening Day ceremony at The Broad Stage on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009. According to the 1976 publication The Guinness Book Of Music Facts And Feats, "Ein Ton" has the dubious honor of being the world's most monotonous song. Written in 1859 by the German composer Peter Cornelius (1824-74), the note B is repeated 80 times in 30 bars. In this rendition, Dr. Tsang played the B note.

(1) Audra Mae performs during the Fourth Annual 'Jazz on the Lawn' - Upright Cabaret at Santa Monica City Hall's lawn on Sunday, Aug 9, 2009. (2) Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford performs during the Fourth Annual 'Jazz on the Lawn.'  (3) Brenna Whitaker performs during the Fourth Annual 'Jazz on the Lawn.' (4) Brenna Whitaker performs during the Fourth Annual 'Jazz on the Lawn' at Santa Monica City Hall's lawn on Sunday, Aug 9, 2009.

Singer/Songwriter/Actress/Fashion Designer Lana Baugus sings "I'll Strike a Pose For You" at the Venice Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, July 12, 2009.

Kindergartner Lucas Augustine, 5, plays the drums at Arizona Avenue during the Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Lucas has been playing the drums since he was 1.

Celebrated folk singer and songwriter Joan Baez performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 25th Anniversary Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 9, 2009. Many of her songs are topical and deal with social issues. She remains known for her long relationship with Bob Dylan and her lifelong passion for activism, notably in the areas of nonviolence, civil, human rights and, more recently, the environment. Baez has performed publicly for over 50 years, released over 30 albums and recorded songs in at least eight languages. She is considered a folk singer although her music has strayed from folk considerably after the 1960s, encompassing everything from rock and pop to country and gospel. Although a songwriter herself, especially in the mid-1970s, Baez is most often regarded as an interpreter of other people's work, covering songs by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and myriad other artists. In more recent years, she has found success interpreting songs of diverse songwriters such as Steve Earle, Natalie Merchant and Ryan Adams.

(top) Santa Monica High School student Taylor Weary, 15, performs "Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino," on the flute during the 60th Annual Santa Monica Kiwanis Music Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday June 17, 2009. Weary, received First Place in the High School Instrumental division (Grades 9-10) and won a Kiwanis scholarship. (above) Santa Monica High School student Maki Kubota, 17, performs "Cello Concerto in D Minor, 1 Prelude," during the awards luncheon. Kubota, received First Place in the High School Instrumental division (Grades11-12) and won a Kiwanis scholarship.

Students from Santa Monica and Malibu Middle Schools and High Schools competed for 24 awards, consisting of an Instrumental Category and a Vocal Category. First through fourth place were awarded in both categories for 6th through 8th grades, 9th & 10th grades and 11th & 12th grades. All groups are adjudicated by professional judges in their field. The first place winners in each category performed for all those attending the luncheon.

Students, their parents, and SMMUSD music department teachers and accompanists attended a luncheon given by the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club on Wednesday, June 17th, in which the students received scholarships and certificates of merit. Also in attendance was Tim Cueno, Superintendent of SMMUSD, Sally Chou, Chief Academic Officer, Peggy Harris, Director of Educational Service and Tom Whaley, visual and Performing Arts Coordinator

The following are the winners in each category:

11-12th Grade Instrumental                 11th-12th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Maki Jubota - Cello                 1st Place – Jane Kivnick
2nd Place – Richard Dobeck - Clarinet      2nd Place – Madelyn Ross
3rd Place – Emily Wong - Violin                 3rd Place – Tanya Verimezova
4th Place – Laila Zakzook - Viola              4th Place - Ethan Corn

9-10th Grade Instrumental                   9-10th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Taylor Weary – Flute             1st Place - Christina Lamell
1st Place - Michaelle Hwang – Violin        2nd Place - Ariana Stultz
3rd Place – Scott Operman - Clarnet       3rd Place - May Claire LaPlante
4th Place - Evan D. Kahn - Cello              4th Place - Peter Harding

6-8th Grade Instrumental                     6-8th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Jeffrey Ho – Cello                  1st Place – Emily Bosetti
2nd Place – Finn Bordal - Violin                2nd Place – Bret Hart
3rd Place - Eli Brown – Trumpet              3rd Place – Olivia Thorne
(Tie) - Steven Harmon – French Horn      4th Place – Preston Searfoss
4th Place - Pieter Block- Trumpet (Tie) - Sarah Ohanian - Flute

Kiwanis International is an organization of service clubs. Members of Kiwanis place special emphasis on service to children and youth, both through international initiatives intended to improve the quality of life of children around the world, and through their Service Leadership Programs, made up of about 7,000 youth clubs with about 320,000 youth members. Today, Kiwanis International has more than 600,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs, located in more than 90 countries around the world.