Idyllwild Arts Academy junior Ben Champion is in his second year as a fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Nancy and Barry Sanders Composer Fellowship Program. Two weeks ago, Ben had the thrill of hearing his three-minute composition, “Migration,” played at the Walt Disney Concert Hall by the full Philharmonic under the direction of Christopher…

Idyllwild artist Karla Leopold is modest. She creates edgy art in a variety of mediums — evocative art suffused and deepened through her work as an art therapist treating mental illness and childhood trauma. Leopold exhibits in prestigious galleries and teaches in leading universities. And although her art is strikingly original, and her skill as…