CV "Shakespeare and Friends: Celebrating the great poets of English Art Song
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
CLASSICAL VOICE CONSERVATORY
PROUDLY PRESENTS
NOVEMBER 21, 2024 | 7PM
Dear Friends & Families,
It is my privilege to welcome you to the 2024-2025 performance season at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA)! I am so honored to introduce this year’s amazing lineup of student performances and events.
This school year marks an exceptional milestone, as OCSA has now resided and flourished in the city of Santa Ana for 25 years! Over the past quarter of a century, the OCSA campus in Santa Ana has seen countless performances and served as the launching pad for thousands of dreams. Our campus has also provided a home away from home for students (and staff!) from Santa Ana and beyond. I cannot wait to see how our legacy within Santa Ana continues to grow and evolve.
As we open yet another exciting chapter in the history of the school, I would like to give a warm welcome to our new Chief Operations Officer, Dr. Gregory Endelman. Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, but he is also a great and caring human being who is ready to do what it takes to help our school be the best it can be for our students and staff.
I am looking forward to partnering with Dr. Endelman, along with our esteemed administrators, faculty, and staff, to take OCSA into this next chapter!
At this time, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to our 2024-2025 corporate season sponsors, Pendry Newport Beach, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Boot Barn, and Yamaha, as well as to our Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, Emeritus Board, President’s Circle, and Encore members. The continued success of OCSA’s mission would not be possible without their support, leadership, and vision.
Finally, I must acknowledge our parents, alumni, administrators, faculty and staff, members of the local community, and most importantly, our student artists. Our students are the inspiration and driving force behind what we do every single day.
I am thrilled to have you join me in celebrating another impressive performance season. Please enjoy all of the magic OCSA has to offer!
With gratitude,
Teren M. Shaffer President & CEO Orange County School of the Arts
We provide an unparalleled arts and academic education in a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment to a diverse group of students who are passionate about the arts, preparing them to reach their highest potential.
Established in 1987, the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) offers a dynamic school culture that enables students to flourish as artists and scholars. The school currently serves a diverse student body of approximately 2,300 students in grades 7-12 from more than 100 cities throughout Southern California.
In addition to offering a challenging college-preparatory academic program that produces high-achieving, motivated scholars, OCSA provides aspiring young artists with the opportunity to refine their skills and flourish in one of 17 arts conservatories. Each year, more than 200 concerts, recitals, staged performances, and exhibitions are presented at a variety of venues in Orange County and throughout the world, providing students with the unique experience of entertaining and inspiring thousands of audience members.
OCSA is a donation-dependent public charter school; no student is offered or denied admission based on financial capacity. The school’s rigorous academic education coupled with advanced arts training has impacted many students, molding generations of creative thinkers, leaders, artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
ACADEMICS + Arts
#1 BEST CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA Niche, 2025
CELEBRATING THE GREAT POETS OF ENGLISH ART SONG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 | 7:00 PM KATHY AND GARY CONRAD CHORAL ROOM
Featuring the 9th grade Art Song Collaboration Singers and Pianists
Alyssa Wills, Lead Teacher and Vocal Instructor
Dr. Jung-A Lee, Collaborative Pianist and Piano Coach
This concert is part of the 2024-2025 Murdy Foundation Concert Series
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Shakespeare
“IN
THE SPRINGTIME”
Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Abigail Graef
Isabella Ko
In the piece “In the Springtime,” the narrator reflects on the season as a time of romance, witnessing how those around them effortlessly fall into the embrace of love. Known internationally and considered to be one of the world’s greatest writers, William Shakespeare wrote at least 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and three long narrative poems in his career. In this song, the melody jumping an octave higher and then slowly making its way back down the scale, repeating throughout the piece, can be representative of the reliability and reoccurrence of spring every year, bringing a sense of familiarity and belonging to this repeating and recurring motive. I truly enjoy performing this piece because it represents a style I wouldn’t typically choose for myself. It’s personally rewarding to discover a newfound appreciation for a genre outside my usual preferences. - Abigail Graef
Betty Jackson King was an American pianist, singer, teacher, choral conductor, and composer. She was best known for her vocal works. Throughout the entire song, the harmony has a lot of consonance, creating a light or tender feeling, which makes the overall piece very balanced, even, and uplifting. The rhythms showcase many interesting examples of ostinatos, and the composer may have chosen to do this when the singer is describing the chirping of birds, demonstrating the ‘time’ of which a bird chirps. I like the flowing harmonies throughout the song, which create beautiful textures between the piano and voice. - Isabella Ko
“WHEN DAISIES
PIED”
Thomas Arne (1710- 1778)
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Olivia Song
Sophie Sukendro
This song celebrates Springtime while describing the unfaithfulness and mistrust that occurs in married couples at this time of year. Thomas Arne was a composer during the late Baroque to early Classical period. He was originally planning on pursuing a career in law, but taught himself violin and keyboard instruments— he did not have much formal musical training. He eventually became an extremely well-known opera composer. This song utilizes lyric melody to help paint the text, expressing that Spring is a season of fresh beginnings, renewal, liveliness,
possibility, and growth. The range is very wide, there are slight melismas, and there is some chromaticism. The consonance and diatonic harmony of certain phrases such as “when daisies pied and violets blue” or “larks all silver white” highlight the tranquil, serene, and pleasant image of Spring. The compound duple meter reflects the excitement that comes with Spring’s arrival and the cuckoo birds ridiculing married men as they must stay loyal to their spouses— meanwhile, other people are falling in love. I enjoy singing this song because I like the upbeat ornaments and runs. I think it also describes an interesting concept; the entire song is a metaphor comparing infidelity to a seemingly joyful nature scene. - Olivia Song
“When Daisies Pied” humorously highlights the theme of unfaithful husbands, using the cuckoo’s call as a symbol of infidelity during the cheerful spring season. One interesting feature in the harmony is the use of sparse harmonic texture during “And cuckoo buds of yellow hue.” The delicate accompaniment here reflects the fragile imagery of budding flowers, allowing the words to stand out and emphasizing the simplicity and new growth associated with spring. One interesting rhythmic feature is the use of a syncopated rhythm on the word “cuckoo” where the eighth note followed by a quarter note mimics the natural sound of a bird call, effectively painting the rhythm of the cuckoo’s mocking cry. One thing I like about this song is how the playful melody and rhythmic elements, like the syncopation on “cuckoo,” perfectly mimic the sound of a bird, adding humor and life to the song while reinforcing its lighthearted, yet satirical, theme. - Sophie Sukendro
“BLOW, BLOW THOU WINTER
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
WIND”
Julia Zhou
Yui Nagasaki
This song illustrates how painful it is to be betrayed by a friend. Roger Quilter was a British composer, known particularly for his art songs. His songs, which number over a hundred, often set music to text by William Shakespeare and are a mainstay of the English art song tradition. In the melody, chromatism is used on the words,“loving mere folly,” making the atmosphere mysterious and showing the pain of losing a friend. Dissonances are used throughout to show how painful relationships can be, even more than the cold winter wind. The second section has a faster tempo, which indicates a lighter mood by transferring the pain to singing and mocking laughter. I like this song because it changes back and forth, which makes it a very fun song to sing and also unexpected to the audience. - Julia Zhou
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“IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE”
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Col. Henry Heveningham (1651-1700)
Elena Huang
In the song, the singer has fallen in love and compares their lover’s music to the fuel of love. Heveningham started the poem of this song with the seven words “if music be the food of love.”
This phrase was derived from Orsino’s speech in Shakespeare’s famous play, Twelfth Night. Text painting is present on the word “music,” where its twisting, turning melody accurately represents the word. The piano uses light harmonic texture throughout which seems to “dance” around, matching the happy feel of the phrase. Throughout the whole song, the main rhythmic value is eight notes giving the song a smooth yet rushed feel. Something I really like about this song is the melody which flows up and down quickly, making it fun to sing and listen to.
“O MISTRESS MINE”
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Zachary Yoshimura
This song is about a man who’s telling his lover to stop trying to find love in other places and to live in the present. William Shakespeare is known for being one of the greatest dramatists who also originated hundreds of words and phrases that are used by English speakers today. The composer used chromaticism in this piece on the words “not endure” where, instead of singing a C-sharp, you sing a natural. This change by the composer helps display the story more by showing insecurity in the melody. The composer uses text painting on the word “delay” by using the rhythm to create a sense of delay. I love how “O Mistress Mine” feels both joyful and wistful, making it beautifully relatable to anyone.
British Isles Poets
“SALLEY GARDENS”
Annabella Wu
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Sophie Sukendro
William B. Yeats (1865-1939)
This song is about someone who regrets not taking the advice of a loved one. Benjamin Britten was considered the finest composer of English operas since those of Henry Purcell. William B. Yeats was one of the outstanding and most influential twentieth-century poets writing in English, and was one of the few to win a Nobel Prize in Literature. The repeating melody throughout the song tells us that the character can’t get this memory of their lover out of their head and replays it over and over. In the piece, there is a recurring motive in the piano part that makes the piece sound like a blowing breeze. I enjoy the repeating melodies in the piece making it seem like a story that starts and ends with the same thing. - Annabella Wu
“THE YEAR’S AT THE SPRING”
Cadence Bleakley
Amy Beach (1867-1944) Yui Nagasaki
Robert Browning (1812-1889)
This song is about a young lady who is excited about the recent coming of spring after waiting a long time. The composer uses lyric melody with the piece moving quickly, and the piano and vocal part are both using almost identical notes, which creates the illusion of a conversation between the two. One interesting feature of harmony in this piece is the thick harmonic texture which emphasizes the joyful emotions in the arrival of spring. One interesting feature of rhythm would be ostinato, which is the continuous repetition of a rhythmic phrase, which can be found all throughout the piece, since the piano is repeating many of the same notes. I enjoy the exciting piano repetition and volume variety all throughout the piece. - Cadence Bleakley
Amy Beach, the composer of “The Year’s at the Spring”, was an American composer and pianist.
She began taking piano lessons at age six, although she had been composing simple melodies on the keyboard since age four. At the age of 16, she gave her first public recital at Boston Music Hall, and two years later, she played the Chopin Piano Concerto in F Minor with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. In this song, consonance is used most of the time in the harmony to represent the joyfulness of upcoming spring and to make a warm atmosphere which exactly connects to the idea of the warm spring. Continuous repetition of chords is used throughout the piece on the piano making the piece very exciting. I really like that this piece creates the impression that spring is approaching by creating energy with repetition and crescendos. - Yui Nagasaki
“WHITHER MUST I WANDER”
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Liam Posos
Isabella Ko
This song describes a man who once found great joy in his life, but now is sad and alone, so he leaves to find home someplace new. The poet of this song, Robert Louis Stevenson, is most famous for writing the children’s book, “Treasure Island.” In the melody of this song, there is a motif which usually ends each verse. The repetition of the motive could indicate that he is having a hard time moving on and letting go of these memories. The harmony uses text painting when the singer sings “over hill and heather,” as the piano goes up and then down both in the left and right hand, symbolizing the incline of a hill and back down. The general tempo for this song is Andante. Andante is slow, or walking pace. This is a slow, dreamy song that is a mixture of thoughtful reflection and predicting what will happen in the future. I think that the internal nature of this song encourages a slower pace. I like the rising and falling nature of the melody, which allows for very expressive singing. - Liam Posos
“LOVE’S PHILOSOPHY”
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Simi Goyal
Love’s Philosophy describes an argument to a prospective lover, attempting to convince the lover to kiss them by using natural elements of the world as metaphors. The composer, Roger Quilter, was an english composer who composed over a hundred elegant and well-known art songs throughout his career. The poet, Percy B. Shelley was a well-known romantic writer; however, he was heavily criticized for being an atheist during an incredibly religious era. This song uses several instances of chromaticism to evoke the feeling of divinity for the listeners, such as when the lyrics say, “all things by a law divine.” By using notes that aren’t found in a
typical scale, the image created is of something that’s out of this world. It also includes examples of dissonance which may depict the frustration and desperation the speaker is experiencing. When the lyric “thou” comes up, there is a noticeable “crunchy” dissonance, reflecting the dissatisfaction of the singer. I enjoy singing this song because it uses vivid and compelling imagery which makes it a very engaging song to sing. In addition, I am personally very fond of Roger Quilter’s works so this song particularly resonates with me.
“HOW DO I LOVE THEE”
Lin
Maude Valérie White (1855-1937) Katelyn Vo
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
In this song, someone is saying to their loved one, “I love you so very much that I’ll continue loving you, even after death.” Maude Valérie White was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1879. In the melody of this song, on the line which says “depth and breadth and height,” the phrase grows higher on the word “height” and wider on the word “breadth.” This art song is very diatonic and doesn’t really stray away from its key, which makes the piece more light and romantic. There’s a suspension in the word “death” in the rhythm, indicating the length of death and emphasizing how the speaker will continue to love him even after it. I really like the text of this piece because it’s very romantic and sweet. - Kyara Lin
Kyara
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American Poets
“FEBRUARY TWILIGHT”
John Duke (1899 - 1984)
Sara Teasdale (1884- 1933)
Taryn Nguyen
This poem is about the serene and solitary observation of a winter landscape. Sara Teasdale was an American poet who won a Pulitzer Prize for her 1917 Collection of Love Songs. At the beginning of this song, the vocal line uses recitative, and it surprises the listener when accidentals occur due to the repetitive nature of the first few measures, describing the stillness of the surroundings. All of the sharps, flats, and naturals add to the emotions and message of the piece. The rhythm feels very complex and intricate. However, after the first part of the song, there is a small section where the time signature switches to a simpler rhythm, making the piece feel more stable and calm, and creating a sense of serene peace and quiet. I like the fact that this song is short, yet complex. I am also a fan of the eerie melody and the overall atmosphere of the piece.
“STOPPING BY THE WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING”
Ned Rorem (1923 - 2022)
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)
Lubaina Habib
This song describes the singer’s venture into the dark woods during a snowy evening, and her inner conflict between a moment of peace and solitude, and her duties that must be completed. Robert Frost was the first poet to recite at the presidential inauguration. He was invited by John F. Kennedy to read at his 1961 inauguration. In this song, the melody often follows a pattern of climbing up to a high note before slowly descending back down, creating an almost haunting sound and a sense of mystery. The key of E-minor lends a mystifying and dark tone to the song, although it’s complemented by major chords throughout to add to the feeling of peace. The constant use of eighth notes symbolize the narrator’s wandering thoughts throughout the song, following the meandering words of her brain the same way she follows the trail through the woods. I love the poet’s imagery throughout this piece, and picturing myself in the deep and snowy woods makes the song incredibly fun to perform.
“THE PASTURE”
Charles Naginski (1909-1940)
Robert Frost (1874-1964)
Vicky Huang
This song is about having fun at a farm and watching the cows. The melody is easy to listen to, and the higher range describes the character’s happy mood to do something. In the harmony later on in the song, there are naturals and sharps in the chords, which shows an interesting emotional change. I like the joyfulness of this song. When I am singing it I feel very happy and excited.
“I STEPPED FROM PLANK TO PLANK”
Lori Laitman (1955-)
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Kaylie Yoo
This song is about how the journey through life is unpredictable and unstable, reflecting vulnerability and fear. In the melody, the tessitura of the song is very dynamic, and the phrase suddenly goes up the octave, which creates a feeling of uncertainty. The dissonance in moments of the song makes the harmony sound unstable. The composer uses faster tempo markings towards the climax of the song to create more tension and nervousness. I like that the uncertainty of the song has such sudden high notes, which makes it so fun to sing.
“IT’S ALL I HAVE TO BRING”
Ernst Bacon (1898-1990)
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Chloe Bae
Katelyn Vo
This song is about someone bringing her whole heart into her poetry, giving the entire world through her words. Emily Dickinson is known to be one of the two leading 19th-century American poets, and only 10 of her 1,800 poems have been published in her lifetime. In this song, there is chromaticism near the end, under the words, “and all the bees,” adding a new layer to the overall story by describing that the person is giving more than just meadows and flowers, but all the bees and clovers too. Syncopation is heard on the word “all,” emphasizing the higher note, and giving the sense that the singer suddenly thought of one more thing to add as what she has to offer. I love the melody of this music because of the simple yet beautiful melody and its detailed connection to the text. - Chloe Bae
Ernst Bacon was an American composer who created over 250 songs, often setting poems by Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson to music. He was deeply influenced by American folk themes, blending them into his classical compositions. The melody often paints the text with melismatic writing, especially on the word “meadows wide.” The piece’s diatonic tonality creates a sense of resolution and stability and shows that the singer’s love is sufficient. At the lyrics, “This, and my heart beside,” rhythm paints the text with its short and long pattern that imitates a heartbeat. I like how the song beautifully captures the simplicity and purity of expressing love and gratitude through nature, making it feel heartfelt and timeless. - Katelyn Vo
PRODUCTION STAFF
Dr. Ryan Reithmeier and the Classical Voice Faculty Director of Production & Design: Kelly Pate Box Office Coordinators: Alexi McGinness, Alyssa Felix Garcia, Nichole Smith
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The Murdy Foundation Concerts Season Announcement 2024-2025
MOZART’S LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
CLASSICAL VOICE CONSERVATORY CHORAL
CONCERT SEASON
October 8
December 12
March 5
May 2
ORIGINAL STORY BY ROBERT NORMAN
December 6 & 7
CLASSICAL VOICE
VOCAL FORUM
MONTHLY RECITAL AND MASTER CLASS SERIES:
FEATURING CLASSES WITH
• DR. MARC CALLAHAN (CHAPMAN)
• DR. JONI PRADO (CSUF)
• MICHELLE GORDON (SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST)
• ALISON ENGLAND
• AMONG OTHERS
PUCCINI’S MADAMA BUTTERFLY
PARTNERSHIP WITH PARNASSUS SOCIETY
March 1
PERFORMING IN FOUR DIFFERENT VENUES:
28
25 April 22 April 25
THE DIRK FAMILY VOICE LESSON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
TUITION-FREE VOICE LESSONS, MASTER AND STUDIO CLASSES.
INSTRUCTORS
• ALYSSA WILLS
• ROBERT NORMAN
MICHAEL F. HARRAH SYMPHONY HALL, KATHY AND GARY CONRAD CHORAL ROOM, NEW SONG CHURCH, AND SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TICKET INFORMATION: BOXOFFICE.OCSARTS.NET
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
About the Classical Voice Conservatory
CONSERVATORY OVERVIEW
The Classical Voice Conservatory is designed as a college-preparatory program focused on vocal arts, ideal for young singers who are passionate about vocal expression and interested in the world of classical singing. Modeled after wellestablished collegiate programs from across the nation, the curriculum provides the perfect balance of performance, academic music, and industry-related courses. Students are immersed in the fundamental elements of music for both solo and ensemble singing and are introduced to what it takes to be a classical singer in today’s industry. Students benefit from the expertise of the Classical Voice faculty of professionals, most of whom hold a master’s degree in music and/or possess more than 10 years of experience in the professional music industry.
RYAN REITHMEIER, D.M.A. Director
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
The Classical Voice Conservatory has recently launched a partnership with the Metropolitan Opera’s MET Live in Schools initiative, which exposes students in grades 10-12 to MET Live in HD broadcasts, private interviews with MET artists and staff, and access to the MET’s rich online resources. Classical Voice is also unique in that its leadership has access to an advisory committee made up of industry professionals teaching in the collegiate setting. Members include Ann Baltz, leading opera educator; Ken Cazan, Resident Stage Director at USC Thornton Opera; Jonathan Talberg, Director of Choral Activities at the Bob Cole Conservatory; and Jessica Rivera, Grammy Award-winning opera singer. Each year, a limited number of scholarships for private vocal coaching are offered exclusively to Classical Voice students, to supplement their conservatory training.
PAST GUEST ARTISTS AND MASTER TEACHERS
Roberta Alexander Brian Asawa
Ann Baltz Angela Maria Blasi
Ken Cazan Rod Gilfry
Susan Graham Nathan Gunn
Jake Heggie Milena Kitic
Brent McMunn Cheryl Studer
Davóne Tines Deborah Voigt
Frederica von Stade Dolora Zajick
Delores Ziegler
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Ryan Reithmeier is regarded as a versatile singer/actor who has performed leading baritone roles from a range of genres, including works of Mozart, 20thcentury operas, and musical theatre. He completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal arts and opera at the USC Thornton School of Music with highest honors and was awarded the Opera Award upon graduation. As a baritone soloist, he has nearly 30 roles to his credit. His many concert performances have included roles from: Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, The Requiems of Brahms, Fauré and Duruflé, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and Fantasia on a Christmas Carol, Handel’s Messiah, and numerous cantatas of J.S. Bach in addition to Magnificat and Ich habe genug. He has appeared in concert with prestigious organizations including Pacific Symphony, Pacific Opera Project, Corona Symphony, Opera a La Carte, Parnassus Society, St. John’s, Orange Concert Series, Opera San Luis Obispo, and others.
Dr. Reithmeier is a two-time winner of the Beverly Hills National Consortium Auditions, a winner of the NATS-LA Gwendolyn Roberts Auditions, and a Western-Regional finalist in the NATS-Artist Award competition. Before becoming the Director of Orange County School of the Arts’ Classical Voice Conservatory, he served on the vocal faculty at Azusa Pacific University.
SCHOOL, FOUNDATION & CONSERVATORY LEADERSHIP
SCHOOL
President & CEO
Teren Shaffer
Chief Operations Officer
Gregory Endelman, Ed.D.
Principal
Michael Ciecek
Assistant Principal of Instruction
Kimberly Barraza Lyons, Ph.D.
Assistant Principal of Student Services
Becca Freeland
Assistant Principal of Arts
Maria Lazarova, D.M.A.
Assistant Principal of Student Supervision
Abbe Levine
Director of Special Services
Lauren Reynolds
Learning Specialist
Shelley Stanphill
FOUNDATION
Vice President of Communications
Kelly Andrews
Vice President of Development
Elizabeth Ton
CONSERVATORY
Director of Productions
Eric Hamme
SCHOOL OF APPLIED ARTS
Arts & Enterprise
Ally Bushman, Director
Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality
Daniel Mattos, Chef Director
SCHOOL OF DANCE
Ballet & Contemporary Dance
Steven B. Hyde, Director
Ballet Folklórico Dance
Marlene Peña-Marin, Director
Ballroom Dance
Robert Porch, Director
Commercial Dance
Nicole Berger, Director
SCHOOL OF FINE & MEDIA ARTS
Creative Writing
Joshua Wood, Director
Martin & Cynthia Howard
Design & Media
Patrick Williams, Director
Film & Television
Aaron Orullian, Director
Integrated Arts
Charna Lopez, Director
Cassandra Foster, Conservatory Manager
Visual Arts
Paige Oden, Director
Randy Au, Assistant Director
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Classical Voice
Ryan Reithmeier, D.M.A., Director
Instrumental Music
Sarkis Baltaian, D.M.A., Director
Pianist Program
Strings & Orchestra Program
John Reynolds, D.M.A., Director
The Garn Family Jazz Studies Program
Frederick Fennell Wind Studies Program
Nicholaus Yee, D.M.A., Coordinator
Strings & Orchestra Program
Popular Music
Natasha Pasternak, Director
SCHOOL OF THEATRE
El-Erian Family Acting
John Walcutt, Director
Donald Amerson, Conservatory Manager
Musical Theatre
Ryan Miller, Director
Amelia Barron, Conservatory Manager
Production & Design
Kelly Marie Pate, Director
LEADERSHIP BOARDS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Officers
Paul Satkin, Chair
Gary Humphreys, Secretary
Members
Hon. Halim Dhanidina (Ret.)
Vincent Foley, Jr.
Jessica Herthel
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Jason Herthel, Chair
Teren Shaffer, President & CEO
Jennifer Sternshein, Secretary
Michael Laven, Treasurer
Hon. Halim Dhanidina (Ret.), Board of Trustees Representative
Jennie Johanson-Maya, Vice Chair, Public Relations & Marketing
Eoin L. Kreditor, J.D., Vice Chair, Legacy Giving
Kimberley Lakes, Ph.D., Vice Chair, Human Capital
Christine Walker-Bowman, Vice Chair, Finance
Directors
Lisa Argyros
Jim Bergman
Lisa Brennan
Miaad Bushala
Bruce E. Chapman
Jim Conroy
Julia Feldman
Lamia Gabal, M.D.
Julie Garn
Gillian Hayes, Ph.D.
Steven Ho
Martin Howard
Michael Le, M.D.
Lee Runnels
Don Steiner
EMERITUS BOARD
Julia Argyros
John Daniels
Sandy Segerstrom Daniels
Mohamed El-Erian
Brad Ellis, J.D.
Maria Newkirk Fong
John Gates
Carol Green
Jerry Mandel
Michal Mekjian, Jr.
James “Walkie” Ray
Judy Sabbagh
Susan Samueli, Ph.D.
Janice Frey Smith
Kate St. Clair
Russell Stern
John Vestri
Scott Woolsey
In Memoriam
Paul Folino
Doug Garn
Sebastian Paul Musco
Lew Webb
the colburn school
Renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and a commitment to excellence. Find the program that’s right for you.
conservatory of music
One of the nation’s top conservatories, offering bachelors, masters degrees, and certificates
music academy
Pre-college program preparing exceptional musicians ages 12–18 for conservatory study
community school of performing arts
Private lessons, group instruction, and ensembles for students of all levels and ages
trudl zipper dance institute
Ballet, modern, and tap for dancers of all levels, including aspiring professionals
performances and venues
Spectacular facilities for rent and more than 350 performances each year featuring celebrated faculty, alumni, and guest artists
learn more at colburnschool.edu
Photo: Courtney
The OCSA Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing financial support to the school The Foundation accomplishes this through individual contributions (in addition to families’ annual Conservatory Funding Agreements); membership support and social groups, including Encore; corporate sponsorships; special events; foundation grants; legacy giving; capital campaigns; and community engagement programs and classes.
All Foundation gifts and membership contributions provide invaluable support toward important schoolwide initiatives that directly benefit our talented students.
SEASON SPONSORS
Thank you to the following 2024-2025 Season Sponsors:
Thank you to the following 2024-2025 President’s Circle members:
Lamia Gabal and Charlie Wilcoxson
Armi and Ron Abiera
Cheryl Alderson and Charles Dominguez
Courtney and James Banaag
Autumn and Frank Bignami
Alyson and Alfredo Cartagena
Kara and Rob Casola
Kathy and William Chang
Joy Chao and Jason Lee
Arpi and Bobby Charlu
Julia and Lewis Cho
Gretchen and Jim Conroy
Michelle and Tim Danaher
Neeti and Sandeep Dang
Saranya and Halim Dhanidina
Malisa and Kanwal Duggal
Julia Feldman and Ryan Malone
Sally and Dan Fleet
Laura Forbes and Mike Huntley
Betsy and Luke Freiler
Stacy and Jason Gwin
Sameena and Ali Habib
Allison and Brian Herman
Jason and Jessica Herthel
Jennie Johanson-Maya and Sal Maya
Karen Kim and Spencer Ho
Annu Khemka and Maneesh Goyal
Cheryl and Michael Laven
Debbie and Bonaparte Liu
Sherry and Paul Main
Greg McCollum and Jeff Van Hoosear
Maeesha Merchant and Gaurav Diwan
Jessica Miley and Alejandro Brubaker
Tita Nguyen and Michael Le
Rose Paguirian-Steiner and Don Steiner
Allison and Jim Panetta
Amy Parekh and Jay Shah
Brad Pivar and Rod Escobedo
Ami and Rakesh Puvvada
Alexis and Julian Recana
Catey and Chris Reese
Trilby and Michael Robinson-Dorn
Melissa and Jeffrey Ruderman
Anna Schlotzhauer and Jim Bergman
Jennifer and Brad Smith
Karen Smith and Jay Jerrier
Mohini and Vip Soni
Jeannette and John Soumbasakis
Lisa Stevens Wegner and Jed Stevens
Kim and Bert Tavares
Mei Tsang and Steve Brown
Kelly and Brooks Wackerman
Ivy Wang and Patryk Symchych
Courtney and Andrew Wittkop
Manuella and Michael Yassa
Michelle and Gary Yoshino
Sandy and David Young
Jinny and Ed Yun
Thank you to the following 2024-2025 Encore members:
Armi and Ron Abiera
Acting Conservatory Mom
Anonymous
Justin Aragon and Laura Boysen-Aragon
Ms. Jyothi Atluri
The Bailey Family
James and Courtney Banaag
Edgar and Julie Barajas
Team Bignami
The Bittel Family
Ronald and Dawne Both
Lisa and Jack Brennan
Christe Bruderlin
The Bullock Family
Dr. Alyson and Alfredo Cartagena
The Casola Family
Kathy and William Chang
Joy Chao and Jason Lee
Arpi and Bobby Charlu
Tim and Rita Chen
Julia and Lewis Cho
Vincent and Karla Chung
Cogswell Design Inc.
Dr. Gretchen and Mr. James Conroy
Kristy Crownover
CV Programs
The Dale Family
Tim and Michelle Danaher
Neeti and Sandeep Dang
Ramit and Rakhi Dayal
The Deutschman Family
The Dhanidina Family
Joe and Jessica DiPenta
DM
The Dominguez Family
Isabel Dong
Kyle and Courtney Duff
Malisa and Kanwal Duggal
The Elder Family
Dr. & Mrs. Gregory and Lisa Endelman
The Engle Family
Julia Feldman and Ryan Malone
Sally and Dan Fleet
Laura Forbes and Mike Huntley
Luke and Betsy Freiler
Lamia Gabal and Charlie Wilcoxson
Kim Gangnes
Byron and Raquel Gillen
The Goodemote Family
The Gourley Family
Apra and Rahul Gupta
Mala and Neeraj Gupta
Brandi and Javier Gutierrez
Jason and Stacy Gwin
Sameena and Ali Habib
Aurora He
The Herman Family
Jason and Jessica Herthel
Stacey and Justin Hill
Andy and Gracie Hinton
Scott Holty and Emilie Albert
Angela Huang
Cindy Hughes and Paul Schmidhauser
The Idriss Family
Ivie-Valle Family - IN This House Love Rules
Jenii Jacobson
Jennie Johanson-Maya and Sal Maya
Angela Kent
David and Sara Kerrane
Andrew and Chinyee Keyoung
Annu Khemka and Maneesh Goyal
Karen Kim and Spencer Ho
Kevin and Kelly Kelley
Barbara and Keith Kuntz
Jason and Susan Lai
Cheryl and Michael Laven
Rosemarie and Michael Le Coz
My Lee
The Lee Family
Scott and Susan Lee
The Liu Family
Debbie and Bonaparte Liu
Kevin and Louise Lloyd
The Ly-Pang Family
Jay and Danielle Madison
Molly Mahoney and John Dominguez
Paul and Sherry Main
Greg McCollum and Jeff Van Hoosear
Paul Mendoza
Maeesha Merchant and Gaurav Diwan
Val and Larry Miles
Jessica Miley and Alejandro Brubaker
The Mitras
Olga, Geoff, and Avery Mizrahi
Moon’s Family
Yvonne Naranjo
Tita Nguyen and Michael Le
Niu Family of FTV
The Oh Family
The Ortiz Family
Molly Ortwein
Rosemarie Paguirigan-Steiner and Don Steiner
Jim and Allison Panetta
The Parekh Shah Family
Oscar and Jessica Parra
The Passalacqua Family
The Pennor Family
Peters Architecture Inc.
The Pivar-Escobedo Family
Rakesh and Ami Puvvada
The Ransford Family
Hon. Julian and Alexis Recana
Chris and Catey Reese
Mr. and Mrs. Carlos and Nancy Reyes
Savalai and Brent Ridley
Trilby and Michael Robinson-Dorn
Logan and Carol Ross
The Rossfeld Family
Melissa and Jeff Ruderman
Anna Schlotzhauer and Jim Bergman
The Schultz Family
David and Tina Sidoni
Bandana and Jolly Singh
Brad and Jennifer Smith
Karen Smith and Jay Jerrier
Mo and Vip Soni
Lisa Stevens Wegner and Jed Wegner
John and Jeannette Soumbasakis
Patryk Symchych and Ivy Wang
Kim and Bert Tavares
Elliot Tong
The Truong/Kondo Family
Mei Tsang and Steve Brown
Reagan Vallejo
Michael and Nicole Vicioso
The Vik Family
The Villanueva Family Foundation
The Vitta Kama Family
The Voros Family
Brooks and Kelly Wackerman
The Weaver Family
Courtney and Andrew Wittkop
Parents of David Wong (CW, ‘26)
Brenda Wooding and Eric Adler
Brian Yan’s Family
Michael and Manuella Yassa
Michelle and Gary Yoshino
Drs. Edward and Jinny Yun
The Zazik Family
Advancing Care Through Clinical Trials and Research
The St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute
Ongoing research and clinical trials are creating breakthroughs in cancers once thought insurmountable—and we are a leader in bringing these benefits from the lab to the bedside. Our specialists routinely use advanced genomic testing to identify the DNA alterations driving the growth of a patient’s tumor, allowing us to identify treatments and clinical trials that target those mutations. As part of the Precision Oncology Alliance, a collaboration of the nation’s leading cancer research centers, we o er over 100 clinical trials focused on dozens of di erent cancers—giving our patients access to some of the most promising and aggressive treatments available.
For more information or to learn about eligibility requirements for each trial, call St. Jude Oncology Research at (714) 992-3000 ext. 4332.
The goal of Students First: A Capital Campaign is to create an enhanced campus environment that will benefit the entire OCSA community.
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations who have donated in support of this transformational campaign:
Acting Conservatory Families, Class of 2025
Anonymous
Julia and George Argyros
Lisa Argyros
Albert and Miaad Bushala
The Cha Family
Dr. Gretchen and Mr. James Conroy
The DeVoe Family
DevTo Support Foundation
The Dhanidina Family
The Dirk Family
El-Erian Family Foundation
Roberta Estrin
Farmers & Merchants Bank
The Garn Family
The Harold Struck Charitable Fund
Shelley and Steven Ho
The Larry and Helen Hoag Foundation
Martin and Cynthia Howard / Howard CDM
Chinyee and Dr. J. Andrew Keyoung
N&D Kim Family
Tina and Eoin Kreditor / Cleo A Bluth Charitable Foundation
Dr. Kimberley Lakes and Dr. James Kay
Cheryl and Michael Laven
Hsueh Chun Lo
The Malone Family
Jennifer and Paul Meyhoefer
Mrs. Tita Nguyen, Esq. and Dr. Michael Le
Ryan and Jin O’Grady
The Park Family
Debbie and Joe Rogoff
Samueli Foundation
Anna Schlotzhauer and Jim Bergman
Karen Smith and Jay Jerrier
The Sternshein Family
The Tioleco-Cheng Malabarba Family
Ryan and Nicole Warne-McGraw
The Wegner Family
Michelle and Gary Yoshino
If you are interested in supporting the OCSA Foundation, please reach out to Vice President of Development Elizabeth Ton at elizabeth.ton@ocsarts.net or visit www.ocsarts.net/DonateNow
Special Thanks To Our Families
Thank you to all of our OCSA families who have contributed this year through the Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA) in support of their child’s arts conservatory experience. Your contributions specifically support conservatory salaries, facilities, equipment and supplies, performance opportunities, guest artist master teachers, and field trips.
We can’t make the OCSA magic happen without you!
Pendry Newport Beach is proud to be a sponsor of the Orange County School of the
Contemporary Luxury
MAKE A SCENE MAKE WAVES
WHEREVER THE FUTURE TAKES YOU
CREATE ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES
The Hearts for the Arts campaign provides additional support for arts conservatory needs beyond each conservatory’s annual budget. Donations help to fund special equipment and supplies, performances, field trips, and other arts enrichment opportunities for our talented OCSA students.
HELP STUDENTS IN NEED
The Artist Scholar Sponsorship Program supports economically disadvantaged students who attend OCSA. Donations help to fund the arts conservatory portion of their school day and ensure they have access to the full OCSA experience, including yearbooks, technology, school supplies, and more.
PROVIDE GUEST ARTIST EXPERIENCES
The Master Artist Series supports high-profile visiting artists who create meaningful experiences for our student artists. Donations help to bring master artists and industry leaders to OCSA’s campus to share their career stories and expertise with students through residencies, master classes, lectures, and performances.
CSArts Academy offers extracurricular arts courses to student artists of various ages from throughout the community. Join us for fun and rewarding classes in the fall, spring, or summer!
FALL SATURDAY SERIES
Classes begin September 21, 2024
Registration opens in late August
SPRING SATURDAY SERIES
FALL SATURDAY SERIES SPRING
SPRING
Classes begin February 22, 2025
Registration opens in January
Classes begin July 7, 2025
Registration opens in January
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Promote your business at a specific conservatory performance or throughout the entire conservatory season! Hear your company’s name announced from the stage, promote your brand to a loyal target audience, and receive complimentary tickets!
$2,500 PER CONSERVATORY PERFORMANCE SEASON
BENEFITS
•Recognition in conservatory-specific promotional materials and communications
•Customized speech from the stage at select performances in your conservatory’s season*
•Two (2) complimentary tickets to each performance** in your conservatory’s season
•Recognition on OCSA’s Digital Donor Wall in the Tower Lobby, Center for the Arts Lobby, and DMS Lobby
$1,000 PER SPECIFIC CONSERVATORY PERFORMANCE
BENEFITS
•Recognition in conservatory-specific promotional materials and communications
•Customized speech from the stage at your selected conservatory performance*
•Two (2) complimentary tickets to your selected conservatory performance**
•Recognition on OCSA’s Digital Donor Wall in the Tower Lobby, Center for the Arts Lobby, and DMS Lobby
PROCEEDS WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE CONSERVATORY OF YOUR CHOICE!
To view a list of upcoming performances, please visit www.ocsarts.net/BoxOffice.
*Also applicable to conservatory-specific events.
**Some exclusions may apply, including special events and performances at outside venues.
Support from businesses directly impacts the transformational education and creative opportunities provided for our students.
Current OCSA Families: Please note that donations from businesses to this campaign cannot be allocated toward your Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA). All OCSA families are encouraged to contribute the requested amount toward their child’s conservatory through the CFA prior to supporting other OCSA initiatives.
To secure your Spotlight Sponsorship, please contact Greg McCollum, Director of Corporate & Business Relations, at gregory.mccollum@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 6616
Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) proudly offers a wide range of professional-level performance groups comprised of inspiring student artists from the school’s many arts conservatories. Make your private, corporate, or charity function more special by featuring a select group of OCSA’s bright and talented students!
Our extensive variety of repertoire is completely customizable. Choose the group that best meets the needs of your event and budget!
Ballet folklórico dancers
Ballroom dancers
Classical singers
Commercial dancers
Instrumental musicians
MONTAGE! performance ambassadors
CATERING SERVICES
We cater to your needs! Let our talented high school students and their world-class chef instructors make your gathering an event to remember.
Are you or someone you love struggling to overcome obstacles, achieve balance, or lead a more fulfilling life?
South Coast Psychiatry can help
Our highly accomplished psychiatrists provide personalized, comprehensive and compassionate care to adolescents and adults.
We work with our patients to treat emotional issues, identify and address academic challenges, overcome performance obstacles, and work to enhance positive coping strategies and improve resilience.
With a convenient and upscale location next to South Coast Plaza, and telehealth services available, getting the best possible care has never been easier.
ELEVATOR SERVICES
Elevator specialists in installation, maintenance, and modernization. We ensure safe, reliable vertical transportation, tailored to your building’s needs, with top-tier service and expertise.
Our Services:
Elevator Maintenance
Elevator Repair
Elevator Modernization
Elevator Interiors
With over 25 years in business, we bring trusted expertise, unparalleled service, and a commitment to quality. Our experienced team ensures smooth, safe, and efficient elevator operations, offering tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. Experience the difference with our reliable and responsive support.
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Design, Permitting, Construction, Tenant Management - We do it all!
BEACH CLEAN-UP
WHAT IS KIWIN’S?
CNH KIWIN’S (California, Nevada, Haiwaii), similar to its KEY CLUB counterparts, is an student-led club that stretches among multiple schools, including OCSA. This club promotes a sense of community and allows students easy access to various COMMUNITY SERVICE events. Students can learn to strengthen skills such as LEADERSHIP, collaborating with others, and can learn the significance of supporting your community. This looks great on COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, especially since joining this club can open up opportunities for SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, and NETWORKING.
ZOEY ZIEN, CA&H ‘27 CLUB PRESIDENT zoey.zien@ocsarts.net
“CHILDREN: THEIR FUTURE, OUR FOCUS, LIVE2LEARN”
One of CNH KIWIN’S major focuses/service events puts emphasis on students promoting education and literacy, focused on youth, ages 5-9. This is just one of the many community service opportunities strengthening students’ connection with their area.
✓ Low teacher:child ratios
✓ Child-centered, emergent, engaging curriculum
✓ Inclusive & integrated learning environments
✓ Strong image of the child
✓ Highly trained teaching team
Currently serving children ages 3 to 5 years old
PROGRAM OFFERINGS
California State Preschool
•Reduced family fees for qualifying families
•Part-Day Program Sites:
•Commonwealth Elementary
•Hermosa Drive Elementary
•Maple Elementary School
•Orangethorpe Elementary
•Pacific Drive Elementary
•Woodcrest Elementary
•Full-Day/Full-Year Program Sites:
•Richman Elementary
•Valencia Park Elementary
Fee-Based Preschool
•Part-Day Program Sites:
•Beechwood Elementary
•Sunset Lane Elementary
•Full-Day Program Site:
•Sunset Lane Elementary
Fullerton School District
Educational Services
Preschool Program
714-447-7499
https://www.fullertonsd.org/preschool
Fullerton School District 2025 - 2026
Dual Language Academy
Great Schools, Successful Kids
Accepting Intents to register TK through 8th grade
Spanish and English Dual Immersion 90/10 Model
Korean and English Dual Immersion 50/50 Model Read, write, and communicate effectively
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) 21st Century Learning Skills, Cross-cultural competencies
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 714-447-7416 / FULLERTON_DLA@MYFSD.ORG OR VISIT: FULLERTONSD.ORG/PAGE/2468
