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At top left, with hundreds of dress shoes to choose from in her wardrobe, Joanna says she matches her attire to her footwear. Her love of shoes is inspired in part by her youth, when she wore ugly boots to correct a foot problem.

At bottom left, Joanna also has a passion for fine jewelry. Her collection of earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets is partially supplied by her parents' business, Medawar Fine Jewelers in Palos Verdes Estates.

At left, Joanna even color coordinates her conductor balons. of which she has dozens of all makes and models. Every item of dress has been carefully thought out over the decades of stage performances, Joanna says.

As with everything else, her home life is a juggling act. Joanna has been married to husband Hani for 34 years. They met in Lawndale in 1983, when Joanna was invited to conduct the Arabic choir started by Hani and friends.

The couple have lived in their PV home for 25 years, where they enjoy gardening and cooking.

Hani retired from the corporate “ world to open two Jersey Mike’s Subs She is a force of nature. Joanna has a restaurants (as of 2021) in Gardena, great sense of fashion and is always starting in 2014. dressed immaculately, with a little bit of

Joanna and Hani have two adult sass. children: Hannah, an attorney with Booth Law, a Torrance firm specializing — Rodney Rose,in sexual abuse and serious injury cases; and son Timothy, a youth leader at Seacoast Grace Church in Cypress, who is studying to be a minister. a member of the Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers and a former ECC music student

Sharing her knowledge

The in-class learning experience cannot be duplicated online for musicians, Joanna says. Which is why she has returned (early) to in-person instruction for all of her fall 2021 classes.

She calculates that more than 250 of her ECC music students have continued their music education at universities and performance art institutions across the world.

Joanna has led her El Camino students to six concert tours of New York’s Carnegie Hall in the past 15 years. This task has included fundraising to help students with air travel and hotel stay. Traditionally, conductors do not engage with the audience before a performance, she says. Joanna, however, diplomatically broke with tradition at Carnegie Hall. “I told (the audience) what we are going to do. No boring historic stuff,” she says. “I said, ‘what were you doing at age 5? Guess what I was doing at age 5? I was sucking my thumb. But what was Mozart doing at age 5? He was composing and concertizing.’ And (the audience) connected,” Joanna says with a chuckle. In May 2010, April 2013 and May 2015, Joanna conducted three historic performances at Carnegie Hall with choirs from Lebanon, Dubai and Los Angeles, she says. ” “These students realized that they don’t have to learn each other’s language or culture,” Joanna says. “They stand side by side (when singing), have the same challenges, the same successes. It’s the best form of self-diplomacy.” Joanna traveled to Lebanon in 2009 to compile Arabic choral music for publication in the United States. That year she also made her conducting debut in her home country at the Al Bustan Summer Festival in Beit Mery. Her legacy was furthered when she conducted the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014.

With her office walls adorned with photos and news clippings, Joanna shares the history of her accomplishments. She began as a student at ECC.

One of Joanna’s proudest moments also came in 2014, when she ignited the career of a young Lebanese composer.

Georges Tomb, 22, sought out Joanna to show his work of music compositions.

“He asked if I would do his work here at El Camino and I said, ‘I have a concert in Lebanon in two months,’” Joanna says. “Georges responded, ‘You will do it in Lebanon?’”

Joanna, however, faced resistance from Lebanese music leaders.

“They fought me tooth and nail,” she says. “They did not want to open the door for a young composer to be featured.”

Her program was to conduct Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Mozart’s Vesperae solenness de confessore.

“They said, ‘how would you put somebody young like that in the middle of these masters?’ Joanna says. “I said, ‘where do you think Mozart and Beethoven started? Somebody has to open the door.’”

She convinced her contemporaries to give the unknown composer a chance. Joanna included Georges’ compositions in the concert, highlighted by “Hope,” a romantic piece arranged for the piano and orchestra.

That performance made Georges the youngest Lebanese composer to have his work played by the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Joanna premiered my career, and as every artist needs someone to believe in him at first, she was the one giving me this very first chance in my country, where many wouldn’t have risked it,” Georges says.

Joanna’s last major concert was in 2019 when she took her JMNS troupe to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia to present Master Classes. JMNS and Pokroff Chamber Choir received a Department of State Public Diplomacy Grant, she says.

While her journey as ECC choral director is nearing its end, Joanna can’t imagine a life without sharing her music with the

Joanna says red is her favorite color and that it reflects her desire to create a memorable visual presence for her audience. Red compliments her blue-black hair color in a spectacular fashion, Joanna says. She also requires her students to dress impecably at concert performances. Joanna will even bring extra dress items for those students who have forgotten her concert dress code.

masses.

“I really believe my future is not just to do what I’m given the opportunity to do, which is to teach the discipline,” Joanna says. “But continue to live my life and show them that I’m not just a teacher, I am a performer.”

Top 5 Brazilian spots in the South Bay

A wonderful cuisine with wonderful dishes is available in the South Bay

Story and photos by Matheus Trefilio

Wanting to change up your diet and eat some tropical food? Or craving that juicy steak, with some rice and black beans? Or maybe some typical beach place seafood? If any of that applies to you, definitely check out some of these Brazilian places here in the South Bay.

The barbecue plate at Panelas Brazil Cuisine lets you sample steak, chicken and sausage.. It is served with black beans on the side and the Brazilian soda Guarana, a great drink to go with it.

1. Panelas Brazil Cuisine

Located on a small street in Redondo Beach, Panelas brings us classic homemade Brazilian plates. Among those plates are the traditional feijoada and the Strogonoff, with choice of steak or chicken. But the most popular plate is the barbecue plate, which comes with the famous picanha, perhaps the main steak cut in Brazil, chicken and sausage. Those are accompanied by rice, black beans, potato salad and the great farofa and vinaigrette. It is open seven days a week, with the focus being lunch time.

Address: 2808 Phelan Lane, Redondo Beach Phone: 310-214-4143 Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Website:https://www.panelasbrazil.com/

The Berry Acai Bowl at Natureba in Torrance is a delicious and healthy choice. Served with strawberry, banana and granola, it makes for a great energy boost for the day.

2. Natureba Juice Bar

If you are looking for a more tropical choice, then Natureba is the perfect place for you. With a variety of juices and smoothies, it makes a perfect stop after a workout or an early run on the beach. Besides the drinks, the acai bowls are what make the place even better. The typical Amazon fruit is a great choice to eat with some other fruits and granola. Besides being delicious, it is also very healthy.

Address:2415 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach Phone: 310-597-4517 Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: Closed

Website:https://www.naturebajuicebar.com/

Sylvio's BBQ is a great place to hang out with friends and family. Being in front of the Hermosa Beach Pier, it makes for a great time with great atmosphere. Silvio’s style goes back to the same style described for Panelas, but the main difference is the location. Situated right next to the Hermosa Beach Pier, it makes for a great place to hang out with your friends. The drink menu is amazing and the food is even better. A must-have is the Brazilian-style shrimp. Grilled with garlic, butter and lime juice, it makes you feel like you are at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Address:20 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach Phone: 310-376-6855 Hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Website:https://silviosbbq.com/

Brazilian Plate House is a place to get typical homestyle Brazilian cuisine. It serves appetizers, main dishes and the best coxinha in the South Bay.

4. Brazilian Plate House

As for some quick appetizers, the Brazilian Plate House is your choice. Serving the amazing coxinha portion, you can’t really go wrong. Coxinha is a small appetizer filled with chicken and a Brazilian cream cheese called catupiry. It also serves main dishes, such as the picanha plate, but the coxinha alone will make your visit worth it.

Address:4509 Torrance Blvd., Torrance Phone: 310-370-9077 Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday: 11 am. to 7:30 p.m.

Website:https://www.brazilianplatehouse.com/

Sampa's Calabresa pizza is served just like if you ordered in Brazil, with Portuguese hot sausage, mozzarella, onions and olives. Delivery is recommended for this place.

5. Sampa’s Gourmet Pizza

Brazilian-style pizza is something that was missing from this list, but no worries. Sampa’s is the perfect place for that. The menu is filled with the most popular Brazilian toppings and pizzas, including the Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with the former being chicken, catupiry and corn, and the latter being hearts of palm, catupiry and provolone cheese. Besides those, they do have the one and only Calabresa pizza, which is Portuguese hot sausage, onions and olives, just like if you ordered in Brazil.

Address:2413 Pacific Coast Hwy. #107, Lomita Phone: 424-263-5750 Hours: Monday-Thursday: 4-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.