Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Academic All-Ohio Honors from OCSA 02.07.25 | Women's Soccer Five Musketeers earn All-Ohio First Team; Five also pick up Academic All-Ohio honors Thanks for visiting Two Orange County campuses have earned national recognition in an annual ranking of charter schools a platform that analyzes and compares schools across the United States evaluates nearly 100,000 institutions based on academic performance The organization creates detailed profiles for schools and universities Niche released its 2025 Best Schools report Orange County School of the Arts — often referred to as OCSA — was named the No 1 best charter high school in California and ranked No 10 best charter high school in the country which serves students in grades 7 through 12 also placed first in Orange County for both charter and public high schools.  OCSA aims to offer a welcoming environment where students pursue rigorous college-preparatory academics alongside pre-professional arts training in one of 17 conservatories The donation-dependent school fosters both artistic and academic excellence “OCSA’s success is a direct result of our phenomenal students staff and community partners,” Teren Shaffer “I am tremendously grateful to the entire OCSA family for making our school the amazing place that it is today Our 2025 Niche rankings reflect not only our students’ passion for the arts but also their deep commitment to learning I could not be more proud of our amazing campus community!”  Joining the school of the arts in the top ranks, Oxford Preparatory Academy – Saddleback Valley which serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade 3 best charter elementary school in California and 73rd among all public elementary schools in the state.  According to the school, OPA emphasizes individualized learning through the theory of multiple intelligences challenging students in a safe and caring environment The tuition-free charter school operates multiple campuses in South Orange County with both elementary campuses receiving the 2023 California Distinguished School Award and being named 2023 National Schools to Watch “This achievement reflects our commitment to nurturing the whole child through our innovative approach grounded in Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences,” said Principal Adam Wright and we provide unique educational opportunities that foster both social and academic excellence.” “Our success is a testament to the dedication of our teachers who work together to create an environment where all students can thrive.” Both schools operate under the charter authorization of the Orange County Board of Education For more information on the 2025 Niche Best Schools rankings, visit niche.com/k12 Official Instagram for the Orange County Department of Education | View the OCDE web policy at ocde.us/webpolicy Orange County Department of Education  Website publishing policyNon-discrimination policySocial media policy Thanks for visiting the OCDE Newsroom. Questions and story suggestions should be sent to communications@ocde.us If you’re a member of the media in need of information about the Orange County Department of Education, please email communications@ocde.us or call 714-966-4475 Print As Thanksgiving approaches the community in support of the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) has much to be grateful for Talented OCSA students presented their annual Season Premiere 2024 show before some 400 guests attending the performance and dinner celebration held at Balboa Bay Resort Broadway-style review featuring impressive dance and vocal talent One of two major fundraising events during the year Season Premiere delivers significant assistance to OCSA in its ongoing need to raise some $10 million in private donations to augment student funding provided to the public charter school which focuses on academic excellence and artistic immersion has a student body of 2,300 pupils enrolled through a competitive application and audition process so community and family support is essential Sal Maya and Jennie Lynn Johanson-Maya are among major donors to OCSA (Doug Gifford) Making OCSA thrive and underwriting Season Premiere were principal donors and honorary producers Carole Pickup representing event angels Balboa Bay Resort and Pendry Additional principal sponsors were F&M Bank Boot Barn and MIP (Modern Illumination Productions) The list of family sponsors is more evidence of the passionate support for OCSA in the community Jim and Gretchen Conroy and Sal and Jennie Lynn Johanson-Maya Gretchen Conroy attend Orange County School of the Arts’ season premiere event (Doug Gifford) Applause not only goes to the student performers but also must be shared with the OSCA staff led by Teren Shaffer weaving together the complex elements of performance with the overall objective of delivering an exceptional evening to be remembered Joining Shaffer deserving that applause were Cindy Peca creative director and producer; Melissa Wackerman Many others not mentioned must also take a bow Sharon Sullivan and Hal Struck in the Orange County School of the Arts crowd of 400 donors (Doug Gifford) The crowd flowed seamlessly from cocktail reception to the auction and speeches and then a first-class chef-curated four-course dinner right into the show starring a cast of some 80 kids singing and dancing their hearts out Brianna and Teren Shaffer, OCSA President and CEO serving as host and emcee of the season premiere at Balboa Bay Resort. (Doug Gifford) To learn more about the programs at OCSA visit ocsarts.net which benefits Balboa Island Museum’s yearlong free-to-the-public exhibits was created with style and energy by museum executive director Tiffany Pepys Hoey working with the creative staff of Elite OC Productions led by Linda Young Matt Leonetti joins Shirley Pepys founder and CEO of Balboa Island Museum at Cowboy Carnival (John Watkins) The Friday night crowd arrived on the Peninsula at sunset many traveling across the harbor on the Balboa Island ferry leaving the mainland behind and entering the Fun Zone which had been transformed for the night into a Texas Ranch dance party The James Kelly cowboy band rocked the outdoor dance floor as guests entered the party greeted by line dance instructors Within minutes the rhythm of the night was set wandering through rooms adjacent to the central dance arena awarding stuffed pink pigs and brown horses to those with superior skills at the hatchet toss just one booth among others in the gaming arcades Victoria and Natalie Fless Mary Fleiss and Dennis Bress all attend the annual museum “fun” raiser (John Watkins) The night was made possible with generous backing from Texas Tycoon sponsors Julia and George Argyros whose support over decades has sustained Balboa Island Museum for the entire community to enjoy Paula Castanon and Clint and Kristen Burns among the carnival underwriters a flash mob of about 20 teenagers from the Orange County High School of the Arts (OCSA) charged in ready to dance and took the party by storm Add to that the infectious positive energy of host and emcee Bob Miller rallying the crowd to participate in everything happening all around them What every cowboy party must have is the best barbecue food on the planet The crowd raved over the sirloin steak martinis chicken and tangy Western salad selections Spotted in the ranch mess hall was local film star Seymour Beek “Newport and Me: Seymour Beek,” about the early days of Newport was featured in sold-out showings at the recent Newport Beach Film Festival Local artists Barbara and Dan Abbott attend Cowboy Carnival at the Balboa Island Museum (John Watkins) Also in the crowd was Balboa Island artist Barbara Abbott creator of the Balboa Island mural recently installed on the wall of the island’s Irvine Ranch Market Others were museum president of the board John Conners joined by his wife Newport Beach Councilwoman Robin Grant and Wendy and Mark Hales To learn more about Balboa Island Museum, membership opportunities and plans for the holidays, visit balboaislandmuseum.org. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. Opinion Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Thanks for visiting This marks another significant achievement for the talented young musicians who proudly represent not only their school and county but also the entire state of Florida The Osceola County School for the Arts Jazz Band A is the only high school jazz band from Florida to earn a spot in this prestigious competition solidifying their reputation as one of the premier jazz programs in the country earning accolades for their standout performances Matthew Black and Sonialynn Jackson were honored with Outstanding Drums Solomon Geleta for Outstanding Alto Saxophone and Danial Browne for Outstanding Trombone One of the competition’s most significant honors named after the legendary trumpeter known for pioneering the plunger mute This was only the second time the award had been given with its inaugural recipient being OCSA’s own Nathaniel Williford in 2023—the same year the band took first place marking their second championship title at Essentially Ellington Such consistent excellence speaks volumes about the extraordinary talent fostered at OCSA talent alone isn’t enough—it requires strong direction was recognized as Outstanding Director in 2024 a testament to his unwavering commitment to nurturing and elevating young musicians With a legacy of remarkable achievements and a bright future ahead it’s clear that the Osceola County School for the Arts Jazz Band continues to set the standard for high school jazz nationwide and expert leadership is a source of pride for Osceola County and the entire state of Florida Jazz at Lincoln Center has doubled the number of bands the 2025 Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival will take place over five days which will include two rounds of competition taking place on two stages The final concert and awards ceremony will be held on May 11 at the Metropolitan Opera House “In the first years of Essentially Ellington we at Jazz at Lincoln Center were insisting on the integrity of the playing,” said Wynton Marsalis Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director so many great musicians have come through the program and many of them have had a profound impact on the scene I’ve also been impacted by the students and the interactions I’ve had with them over these 30 years.” He continued “The fact that hundreds of thousands—perhaps even millions—of young people around the world have played Duke Ellington’s music and his music has been distributed so widely through this program I truly feel that Jazz at Lincoln Center has contributed something of real value to the world The music of Duke Ellington is certainly the highest level of what has come out of the United States of America.” The finalists were selected from 127 schools that submitted recordings of select tunes from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s R In addition to highlighting the top high school jazz bands the festival will recognize the winner of the 13th Annual Essentially Ellington Dr Douglas White Student Composition and Arranging Contest The 2025 winner is Ethan Liao from San Francisco University High School in San Francisco Liao will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the winning composition entitled “By Candlelight,” will be recorded by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra The prize also includes a trip to the 2025 Competition & Festival for a composition lesson with Grammy Award-winning artist Ted Nash The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival brings musicians from across North America to Jazz at Lincoln Center to spend several days immersed in workshops three international guest bands will join to compete on stage in Rose Theater The top-placing bands will be chosen by several judging panels comprising distinguished jazz musicians and historians One of the most innovative education events in the world the Essentially Ellington program and resources for students and band directors are free of charge and aim to elevate musicianship and inspire performance through the music of jazz icon Duke Ellington Essentially Ellington Festival events, including the final concert featuring the top-placing bands and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will stream live on jazzlive.com. Tickets will be available for purchase in the coming months. For more information, visit jazz.org/ee Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress JavaScript is required to use content on this page ​​​ More than 800 students across the country were recognized as winners with distinction by the national YoungArts program for their talents in a variety of artistic disciplines such as music Approximately 40 students from Orange County were named 2025 YoungArts winners — with 12 of those receiving special honors — across 10 categories including dance, photography, design and film, just to name a few. A complete list of winners can be found on the National YoungArts program site Students named winners with distinction will be eligible to be entered to become a U.S Presidential Scholar in the Arts — one of the highest honors given to high school seniors by the president These finalists will be announced in early May each student went through a competitive review process by panels of distinguished artists representing each discipline Those selected will receive a prize of $250 for showcasing extraordinary technique a commitment to developing their craft and a remarkable sense of artistry Orange County School of the Arts student and bassoonist Ariana Kim was joined by 11 other local students in this special category she attended National YoungArts Week in Miami where competition finalists participated in interdisciplinary classes led by renowned artists like ballerina Misty Copeland and bestselling author Abigail Hing Wen They received mentorship opportunities and shared their own work for potential cash awards of up to $10,000.  12th-grader Ariana said getting to watch the amazing performances every night at National YoungArts Week “was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”  “There was so much to learn from every single one of the artists around me I learned something new every day,” said Ariana “Even outside of the amazing artists in my own discipline creativity and authenticity of the artists I watched across disciplines has inspired me so much in my growth as a classical musician.” Throughout their careers, YoungArts winners with distinction will have opportunities to receive creative and professional development support along with grants and financial awards. Students interested in applying can learn more on the YoungArts Program site Here are the YoungArts winners representing Orange County: Summer BrennanVoice/PopularOrange County School of the Arts Carissa HsuDance/Modern/ContemporaryOrange County School of the Arts Ariana KimClassical Music/BassoonOrange County School of the ArtsTerry KimDesignFairmont Preparatory Academy Jennifer KimDesignOrange County School of the Arts Olivia LeWriting/Spoken WordOrange County School of the Arts Jasmine LeeDance/Hip HopOrange County School of the Arts Victoria PhamFilmOrange County School of the Arts Nathan SongTheater/MusicalYorba Linda High SchoolPlacentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Eiline TaiClassical Music/VioloncelloCalifornia Online Public Schools Avalina ThomasVoice/PopularEl Dorado High SchoolPlacentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Chloe YangWriting/NonfictionOrange County School of the Arts Isabella BothVoice/PopularOrange County School of the Arts Minji ChoiClassical Music/ViolinNorthwood High SchoolIrvine Unified School District Samuel ChungJazz/Sax/TenorOrange County School of the Arts Nicholas DoanJazz/Double BassOrange County School of the Arts Jonathan DohClassical Music/PianoPacific Academy – Irvine Campus Liam GeoffroyDance/BalletHuntington Beach High SchoolHuntington Beach Union High School District Alice HuangFilm and Visual ArtsUniversity High SchoolIrvine Unified School District Jaden KimClassical Music/ViolinOrange County School of the Arts Euri KimWriting/FictionBeckman High SchoolTustin Unified School District Isabella LeVoice/Singer-SongwriterOrange County School of the Arts Jiyu LeeClassical Music/ViolinOrange County School of the Arts Rubi LeeClassical Music/ViolinPacific Academy – Irvine Campus Lana LeeWriting/Spoken WordOrange County School of the Arts Noelle LidyoffVoice/Singer-SongwriterFullerton Union High SchoolFullerton Joint Union High School District Amber LinWriting/PoetryTarbut V’Torah Community Day School Michelle LuDance/BalletPortola High SchoolIrvine Unified School District Allie MolinJazz/TrumpetOrange County School of the Arts Yena OhClassical Music/ViolinSunny Hills High SchoolFullerton Joint Union High School District Jaeyoon ParkVisual ArtsCrean Lutheran High School Victoria ParkWriting/NonfictionNorthwood High SchoolIrvine Unified School District Arianna RamirezDance/World Dance: Mexican FolkloricOrange County School of the Arts Joules RecanaVoice/PopularOrange County School of the Arts Viveka SaravananVoice/Classical Orange County School of the Arts Jadon VoDance/Hip HopOrange County School of the Arts Chloe WooWriting/NonfictionOrange County School of the Arts Harmony Yan-LiFilmIrvine High SchoolIrvine Unified School District Kyle YeungClassical Music/Piano and Classical Music/CompositionPacific Academy – Irvine Campus Alisha ZhaoFilmOrange County School of the Arts Did we miss any local students who were named 2025 YoungArts Winners? Let us know by emailing communications@ocde.us Print A Newport Harbor culinary student watched a pan of scallops intently as the seafood sizzled over the heat of a butane burner other students from the high school whisked saffron cream sauce and meticulously plated dollops of golden potato parsnip puree Chef judges with white toques perched on their heads walked around the table of tense students as they cooked “Heard!” the students barked back in unison a two-year industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students that is designed to prepare the industry leaders of the future Held this year at the Proud Bird Food Bazaar and Events Center in Los Angeles on Feb students competed for scholarships and the chance to represent California at the National ProStart Student Invitational in Baltimore “Programs like the California ProStart Cup and competitions like this are so important for students; it’s transformative,” said Alycia Harshfield president of the California Restaurant Foundation “It helps them not only think about what their future can be they tap into their potential and they get to test their skill.” Students from Marina High School compete at the California Restaurant Foundation’s ProStart Cup (Sarah Mosqueda) The competition is divided into two sections: a Culinary Cup and Management Cup teams of up to four students create an original three-course menu of an appetizer The Management Cup is a “Shark Tank”-style competition in which teams of students pitch an original restaurant concept before a panel of judges “They learn so much from these experiences and our industry needs people who are passionate curious and interested in being our next business owners entrepreneurs and fantastic chefs,” said Harshfield Early the first day, OCSA’s culinary team organized tools onto a speed rack as they prepared to take the floor for the culinary competition. Orange County School of the Arts students prepare their supplies for the three-course meal competition at ProStart Cup 2025. (Sarah Mosqueda) “We are putting all our equipment onto our equipment cart so it will be easy to grab and we can do that super-efficiently while cooking,” said Cynthia Zhou. “Soon we will get into what we call our ‘mise en place,’ prepping our ingredients before we enter the final cooking time.” The team trained extensively for the timed cooking contest. “We have been practicing since September, twice a week. Now it’s been, like, three to four times a week,“ said Stella Mulholland. “In the beginning months we were recipe testing, and by December we had our menu finalized. In January and February, we have just been drilling, doing the exact same thing over and over again to get it perfect.” Besides the main competitions, students also participated in quick-fire contests hosted by events sponsors, like Wienerschnitzel’s Dress Your Dog competition and Idaho Potatoes Loaded Potato competition. Others wandered around the college and career expo, meeting with hospitality-focused companies like Coca-Cola, Habit Burger, BJ’s Restaurants and more. Many of the volunteers and judges at 2025’s ProStart Cup are former students who competed in past competitions themselves. Chef Dominique Valenzuela, who served as judge for the Culinary Cup this year, recalled competing with La Quinta High School when he was a student. A College & Career Expo at ProStart Cup connects students with hospitality-focused career paths. (Sarah Mosqueda) “Being introduced to ProStart at an early age in high school really set the foundation needed to excel in culinary school and my career,” said Valenzuela. Today Valenzuela is the executive pastry chef at JW Marriott Desert Springs Palm Desert, and he enjoys coming back to the event as a volunteer. It is a way he can pay it forward to the California Restaurant Foundation and the many mentors who guided him on his own culinary journey. “It is definitely rewarding not only to be asked to participate in something that is so meaningful to many students here in California but also to see where I once was in their shoes,” said Valenzuela. “I realize how many people helped support me and get me to the place where I am today, and I want just want to do the same. It is rewarding to see the sprint, the drive and the dedication.” In another area of the event, Fullerton Union High School students filed into a conference room to get feedback from judges on the vegan and gluten-free food concept Cali Roots that they had presented for the management cup. Fullerton Union High School students participated in the restaurant management competition at ProStart Cup 2025. (Sarah Mosqueda) “We have been working since October, getting our written proposal together, then building our slides,” said Ben Dennis. The students shared how much they value the ProStart program and what it has given them. “We think the ProStart program is great, it is a great stepping stone for learning more about the food and hospitality industry, and we are very grateful to have this opportunity to be competing here,” said student Emma Kojonroj. Fullerton Union High chef and culinary instructor Mario Schwarz-Cole said he sees the difference the program makes for his students. “I see the growth in my students, their confidence,” said Schwarz-Cole. “It gives them great experience for the future. They growth together as a team too.” Whether or not the winners decided to pursue a career in the culinary arts or hospitality, Valenzuela said he knows the experience the students have at ProStart Cup will be a formative one. “The competition gives the students the opportunity to meet one another, to connect, to see that there are others that are mutually as invested and interested in getting to the next stage and that is so rewarding on all fronts,” said Valenzuela. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. TimesOC The president and CEO of Orange County School of the Arts has earned the highest honor for administrators from the Arts Schools Network a leading organization supporting schools nationwide For his commitment to excellence in arts education and training Teren Shaffer was selected by peers across the country to receive the Jeffrey Lawrence Award The accolade is named in honor of the long-time head of the Professional Children’s School in New York and is considered the most coveted award presented by ASN to arts administrators 24 at ASN’s yearly conference at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington Also in attendance was OCSA Assistant Principal of Arts Dr Operating under a charter authorized by the Orange County Board of Education Orange County School of the Arts provides a college-preparatory academic program along with professional arts training across 17 conservatories The school currently, originally founded in 1987, serves about 2,300 students in grades seven through 12 and was recently ranked California’s No. 1 charter high school by Niche Shaffer has served as president and CEO since 2021 Arts Schools Network is a nonprofit association established in 1981 with a mission to inspire emerging and seasoned leaders in K-16 arts schools by providing resources This spring Orange Coast was happy to host and mentor an OCSA student Julia is considering pursuing a career in the publishing or media business and we were happy to share the various facets of our business An excerpt from our interview with Julia is here: I grew up there and have lived there all my life We actually live in the same house that my mom grew up in I've been attending OCSA since my freshman year (2015 My conservatory is the Integrated Arts conservatory or "IA," we get to explore virtually every aspect of visual and performing arts so I've taken classes in everything from graphic design to screenwriting photo-realistic art to TV audition preparation I love my conservatory because it gives me the opportunity to expand my skill set as an artist and also to apply skills I already have across disciplines It's also given me such a deep appreciation for the ways each and every art form is collaborative Q: Can you share a bit about why you're visiting Orange Coast A: I am a member of the Professional Mentorship Program which is what has brought me to Orange Coast magazine This program is in its second year at OCSA and has been a huge success Students apply at the end of their sophomore year of high school and in their applications they talk about career paths and fields they're interested in OCSA goes through applications and matches up about four dozen students with working professionals whom the students then get to meet and talk to and gain insight into what that field is really like It's a wonderful way for students to learn if this job is really what they want to do and being his mentee has been an incredible experience A: I knew I wanted to attend OCSA from when I was very young An older sibling of a boy I went to elementary school with attended OCSA and that's how I first found out about it so I was initially attracted to the Musical Theater program OCSA offered I was very attracted to the idea behind Integrated Arts I wanted to attend OCSA because I felt dissatisfied with what my public middle school was offering in terms of academia and a social environment I was deeply interested in the idea of a community of artists it was something I was unsure was possible I had dreamt about it for so long that getting in didn't feel real because I had been rejected once before in seventh grade saying that I'd always wonder "What if" if I didn't apply the audition process is fairly standard: submitting three demonstrations of three art forms I filmed myself performing a monologue and a song There's also a lot of paperwork on your transcript and why you want to go to OCSA; it feels like applying to a college and it's certainly like getting into college when you do get accepted even though half of them didn't really care A lot of the bits of advice people gave me then come back to me now that I'm thinking about college applications Q: What is the best thing about being a student at OCSA A: The hardest thing about being an OCSA student is definitely the long hours: There are some days where you really feel the effects of not getting home from school until almost 6 There's also a certain degree of pressure just because other students and your peers are so accomplished you can feel pressured to take on too much this creates a sort of common ground among OCSA students and it's more likely for students to relate to each other over a heavy workload or upcoming test than be competitive The best thing about OCSA is the sense of community you build with everyone around you I'm also a fan of the opportunities afforded to OCSA students Middle schoolers get the chance to work with Broadway stars and culinary arts conservatory students intern at restaurants to gain on-site experience The school has a great focus on preparing us for the real world and our career field that I really appreciate Q: What has surprised you about OCSA Q: How do you think it’s different from public school A: The social atmosphere is so different from what I remember of public school There's no real social hierarchy that I feel aware of and it doesn't feel like that matters so everyone goes to each other's concerts and musicals and plays Everyone's nerdy to some degree—you kind of have to be to get in—and it's really easy to bond over that You make friends faster than you'd think I'm looking at a few schools on the East Coast I want to study Communication and Language and go into editing and journalism I'm really interested in political journalism and communications so I'd like to study that in college as well Q: What kind of advice do you have for anyone thinking about applying to OCSA A: I get this question more than any other and it's the hardest to answer My advice would be: It's not for everyone This sort of education is really for a certain type of student and it's OK if you decide it's not for you My advice would also be to ask questions and talk to the people when you go in for your interview—they want to get to know you remember high school isn't the end of the world and I love short stories and urban fantasy and I recently started playing Dungeons and Dragons with a few of them I'm kind of stereotypical: I like to watch movies and go to the mall and watch funny videos on the internet for the most part It's really great to have a good podcast when you're drawing or writing or cleaning I recommend 'Wonderful!' by Griffin and Rachel McElroy It's an awesome pick-me-up and just so funny and wholesome Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Riedel Communications announces that Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) has successfully integrated the Bolero wireless intercom system into their student-run productions a renowned nonprofit public arts high school utilized the Bolero system for both a live sketch comedy show and their annual fundraising gala enhancing the students’ creative capabilities and technical skills provided the students with professional-grade communication tools This setup allowed them to bring their artistic visions to life facilitating a seamless and efficient production environment we expanded our show’s scope and incorporated more dynamic elements than ever before but also when we faced unexpected challenges during the gala,” says Morgan Ang a senior and Performance Coordinator at OCSA “Bolero’s multichannel capability connected our directors two studios with notoriously poor reception extending even to outdoor locations and across the street We are immensely grateful to Riedel for their support which has helped us grow as artists and professionals.” The Bolero system played a crucial role in the second annual “OCSA Unleashed,” a student-produced sketch comedy show inspired by popular formats like “Saturday Night Live.” Broadcast live on YouTube from the school’s campus studios this year’s event involved over 100 students from five of OCSA’s 17 arts conservatories: Film & Television Bolero’s wireless flexibility and reliability enabled the expansion from a three-camera to an 11-camera setup ensuring flawless communication across a diverse and extensive team The system’s range allowed coordination even for outdoor and cross-street scenes during the final sketch which transitioned from live to a prerecorded scavenger hunt “Discovering and implementing the Bolero system was a game changer,” says Willie Yao and excellent coverage allowed us to focus on our performance without worrying about communication issues The reply and push-to-talk buttons were easy to use and customization features like renaming packs and setting party lines were fantastic We are thankful for Riedel’s support This experience has significantly enhanced our production quality and prepared us for future professional endeavors.” Bolero’s versatility was further demonstrated during OCSA’s annual fundraising gala held a week before “OCSA Unleashed,” with back-to-back rehearsals When the in-house communication system failed unexpectedly students swiftly deployed the Bolero system within an hour ensuring reliable communication in a room filled with more than 500 attendees The journey to acquiring the Bolero system began with the students Yao and Ang’s research into communication systems suitable for their productions led them to Bolero inspired by its presence at sporting events and a local Orange County large amusement park Intrigued by Bolero’s crystal-clear audio Their initiative paid off when Joyce Bente president and CEO of Riedel Communications North America “We are incredibly proud of our students’ initiative and ambition,” says Julia Gutierrez “‘OCSA Unleashed’ showcases their talents and demonstrates their passion and dedication to their craft This event has fostered phenomenal collaboration among our conservatories Our students are not just learning; they are thriving and making significant contributions to the arts community.” “We are extremely impressed with the students at Orange County School of the Arts Their ambition and dedication are truly inspiring,” says Bente and seeing ‘OCSA Unleashed’ firsthand was a privilege It’s an honor for Riedel to support these future industry leaders with world-class equipment Their ability to adapt our technology to both planned events and unforeseen circumstances highlights their ingenuity and resilience We are proud to be part of their journey and look forward to continuing our support for arts and education This collaboration has not only enriched the students’ educational experience but also laid a solid foundation for their future careers in the arts industry.” © 2025 Sports Video Group. All rights reserved. Site by Brightgreen Design/Arturan/Sfera Interactive In addition to being an independent owner of the Busy Bee King Mart in downtown Toronto, Kenny Shim is president of the Ontario Korean Businessmen's Association (OKBA) and United Korean Commerce & Industry Association of Canada as well as the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.  A hidden opportunity was created when the Ontario government allowed convenience stores to sell alcohol This new opportunity has the potential to increase sales of non-alcoholic products and boost store profits I expect at least a 25% increase in foot traffic at a minimum up to 40-50% depending on where the store is located Here is why this is good news for convenience store operators Stores in Quebec that sell alcohol had a 42% Increase in foot traffic resulting in additional sales of snack foods and ready-to-eat products this increased sales potential does not stop with food products corkscrews and bottle openers will also increase when customers shop for alcohol meaning larger baskets at check out.   Profit margins for chips and salty snacks are around 20-22% while profit margins for beef jerky are approximately 30% The key is marketing these items to maximize sales Placing any alcohol-related items where the alcohol is displayed Since we are in the beginning stages of alcohol sales store operators will learn by trial and error what works in their store location because alcohol requires more shelf and cooler space it is important to identify products that are not moving and get rid of them We are studying what customers want when they come into the store There are thousands of wine selections available from the LCBO I recommend that store operators ask your regular customers questions about what they drink You need to communicate with your customers and develop social media to increase your sales and increase profits The sale of alcohol comes at a critical time for convenience store operators Convenience stores are facing challenges from the sale of illegal tobacco products Illegal sales have stripped away one of convenience store operators' most profitable items If the government trusts us enough to sell beer and alcohol why are they limiting other age-restricted products like nicotine pouches only to pharmacies who don’t age test store owners can increase sales and profits by selling alcohol and non-alcoholic-related products at their store locations In addition to being an independent owner of the Busy Bee King Mart in downtown Toronto, Kenny Shim is president of the Ontario Korean Businessmen's Association (OKBA) and United Korean Commerce & Industry Association of Canada, as well as the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.  Read More Irvine’s Master Plan created a foundation for success a Stanford-bound hip-hop dancing pro recently named among 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts throughout the U.S He gives a lot of credit to Irvine schools “I owe so much to the empowerment they gave me to get me to where I am today,” Chen says testifies to a high-achieving educational system including one of California’s top 10 public school districts and a public university ranked 10th in the nation Irvine Company gave Orange County leaders a blueprint for the new city of Irvine It was designed from the start as a “city of intellect,” with villages surrounding public schools and radiating out from the new University of California campus when the Master Plan was still on the drawing board a Time magazine cover story praised its visionary design of a new “center of learning.” Thus began a virtuous circle for a city that has drawn an unusually well-educated population Roughly 7 in 10 adult residents of Irvine have a college degree while the city continues to attract parents who prioritize high-quality education for their children “My parents heard about Irvine while they were still living in Kansas City “Our relatives in California had told them about Irvine’s great schools so they stopped here when they were looking for a new home The schools were definitely a reason for their decision to move here.” Happy parents make for energetic school boosters they have joined local businesses in providing key financial support for the Irvine Unified School District IUSD has received more than $140 million in private donations including Irvine Company’s nearly $50 million commitment over 20 years to the Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund music and science education in elementary schools Those resources help the district afford important extras such as after-school and summer programs and college and career-readiness counseling says she took eight classes at Irvine Valley College while attending Irvine High pursuing interests including sign language The reputation of Irvine’s education helps attract world-class teachers Eddie Chen vividly remembers the difference skilled teachers made for him at Westpark Elementary School while fellow students were playing sports or socializing but it was harder for my peers to understand the joy it brought me,” he recalls That changed after his fourth grade teacher took time out from the class schedule to gather Chen’s classmates to watch him dance had previously worked at Sierra Vista Middle School and Greentree Elementary School “Irvine schools did an amazing job of training us when we were popping out of grad school,” she says “The early leaders had a clear idea of what they wanted excellence to look like They especially did a good job of making sure we knew how to work with gifted kids.” remembers Chen as very precocious and animated “One of the things that mattered to me was trying to find that spark And how could I find a way to make that important?” Chen recalls his performance as forging a bond with his friends and his teacher “The cheers and support from my classmates made me beam and showed me how art can bring people together.” Yale University: Global affairs and Russian Passionate about different languages and cultures Roussel has already studied abroad in Peru and Kyrgyzstan to learn Spanish and Russian “I learned so much linguistically and culturally,” she says “finding second homes even thousands of miles away from my family.” Roussel aims to work for the State Department as a foreign service officer specializing in relations with the Russian-speaking world enjoying its physical and artistic demands “I love being able to give back and inspire young dancers.” Harvard University: Chemical and physical biology This Research Science Institute Scholar intends to become a physician and a medical journalist she envisions herself “developing new therapeutics for diseases,” while as a writer she plans on “advocating against health care injustices.” When she’s not winning one of eight gold medals at Southern California Science Olympiads “Don’t be afraid to try something new and unexpected and embrace failure – they’re inevitable signs on the road to success,” she says Shen is passionate about helping others – whether it’s a new player on the baseball team he co-captains or a transfer student eating alone he led support for veterans’ centers and animal shelters while at church he assembled food boxes for families in need he worked with UC Davis professors with the goal of helping struggling groups across the globe – research he plans to continue in college “Get involved in new activities to find where your passions lie – and don’t forget to have fun.” A member of the Associated Student Body and Varsity Dance Team Besnard strives to make a positive impact on her community she uses her time and skills to give back to others serving organizations like Laura’s House and the OC Rescue Mission Having experienced the benefits of therapy Besnard intends to make a career in clinical psychology and put yourself out there,” Besnard advises freshmen “You never know the opportunities it will open up.” this CIF Southern Section Student-Athlete of the Year helped his varsity volleyball team achieve First Team All League and win the league championship for the first time in 25 years Apelian also applied his leadership skills at the American Legion State program in Sacramento as Senate Majority Leader last summer where he took home the Outstanding Citizen Award “I’m passionate about leadership and mentoring,” he says Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Electrical engineering and computer science A finalist in five international business and entrepreneurship competitions (including the Microsoft Imagine Cup and MIT Solve) Hua hopes to develop innovative tech solutions to solve real-world problems including designing robotic interfaces to address mobility issues Her award-winning device designed to assist the visually impaired garnered praise from several organizations Hua’s numerous awards and accolades include placing first in the Congressional App Challenge in her district and receiving three Presidential Volunteer Service Award gold medals She encourages freshmen to keep an open mind and explore new opportunities which might lead to discovering future passions UC Berkeley: Business administration and political economy When Krishan entered high school and discovered it lacked a debate team he built a nationally ranked team from scratch a student-led nonprofit that provides public speaking resources to over 600 students across the globe He and his teammates consistently ranked among the top teams in the nation “We had to work twice as hard to win against private schools with well-funded programs and experienced coaches,” Krishan says He advises freshmen to be passionate about their endeavors and not squander time on things that don’t excite them Lin did a lot of volunteering to learn what career path to choose He organized art shows and designed websites for nonprofits He directed fundraising for the student-run nonprofit Laugh Out Together which raised $3,000 for underprivileged youth he realized how much he enjoyed helping others He hopes to work in economic research and policy to “create opportunities and resources for others – one of the best ways to help people,” he says “My goal is to become a foreign service officer and work as a diplomat,” says Miller Northern Ireland and Ohio before her family moved to Irvine in her sophomore year singing onstage and volunteering as a writing tutor “Once I immersed myself into all the opportunities that my school and the community had to offer “My goal is to make a positive impact on the world and help people in any way that I can.” Claremont McKenna College: Philosophy and public affairs As president of Northwood’s mock trial team Venezia led the team to its best finish since 2017 noting that her proudest moments were helping underclassmen “become their best selves,” able to “speak their minds without backing down.” The aspiring lawyer also captained the varsity sprint team and was named Northwood’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year in both 2021 and 2022 “I wasn’t the fastest on the team,” she says “but I had determination and a passion to succeed.” University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Aerospace engineering Forghani aspires to work as a design engineer in rocketry and spacecraft projects “Space remains one of the biggest unknowns,” she says noting that she grew up watching aerospace documentaries with her dad The challenging move proved rewarding as she met people by tutoring in math and physics volunteering through the Youth Action Team and winning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Cornell University: Science and technology studies “I believe that I’ve been dealt a good hand and with that comes a responsibility to make the most of it,” says Chang a technology buff who’s studied artificial intelligence since OpenAI released GPT-2 in 2019 that connects students to technology programs research opportunities and virtual job shadowing And as an avid reader (he estimates he’s read over 70 million words in the past two years) he volunteers as a storyteller for elementary students – part of his lifelong goal to “make a positive impact on society.” Northeastern University: Business administration Palacios plans to use college to “grow and learn about myself and the world” – and how to make both better An Irvine Spur Award winner for showing outstanding character which extends far beyond his graduating class He’s passionate about volunteering and world travel something he’ll do more of as a Global Scholar at Northeastern His advice to freshmen: “Talk to as many people as you can And those interactions lead to the best things in life.” Cornell University: Computer science and economics Artificial intelligence and machine learning fascinate Zeng who has published several research papers in the field Applying statistics and the scientific method to aerospace manufacturing Zeng gained an appreciation for AI’s limitless potential across disciplines He intends to continue this work at Cornell Zeng founded Students Against Homelessness which has provided more than 8,000 meals and supplies to unhoused people in L.A He advises getting out of your comfort zone and not fearing rejection Hung plans a career in mental health care policy hoping to address systemic issues affecting mental health She organized several post-pandemic community service projects to address student isolation As president of her school’s Youth Action Team she oversaw Teen Summit and brought the mayor to speak to over 360 students Hung also placed second in National History Day beating out more than 50,000 other submissions “Don’t let college admissions be the primary motivation for your activities,” Hung says to freshmen “Choose a college that fits your needs instead of forcing your passions into a mold for college admissions.” Orange County School of the Arts & Heather Chen Irvine twins and high school seniors Eddie and Heather Chen got good news this spring while Heather will attend New York University The 18-year-old siblings are models of achievement as well as her school’s student representative on the IUSD Student Advisory Committee who attends Orange County School of the Arts teaches hip-hop and was recently named among 20 U.S high school students selected as Presidential Scholars in the Arts one of the nation’s highest scholastic honors What explains your phenomenal success?EDDIE: Both of us found our passions really early I was just 7 when my mom suggested I try hip-hop Today I’m especially proud of creating Two Step Together which has taught hip-hop workshops to about 600 kids in Orange County.HEATHER: I agree I got passionate about filmmaking and became more involved I joined the school’s broadcast team and was a lead anchor and I won for best show open at the Orange County Film Festival I chose filmmaking because I love storytelling What did your parents do right?EDDIE: Our parents are very accomplished; they met at the top university in Taiwan before they came to the U.S Both have been extremely supportive of what we do School always came first.HEATHER: They were definitely a crucial part of our work ethic mainly because we saw them working so hard They collaborate in a small import business where we always saw them at their computers.They also taught us to be disciplined with our phones and social media we were only allowed to use them a few hours a couple days of the week How has your community in Irvine contributed to your success?EDDIE: We’ve been surrounded by a culture where our classmates work really hard to achieve goals I interned for the mayor and was really impressed by all the activities the city promotes and how enthusiastic young people were about them I became very interested in the politics of food and eating disorders I’m excited that New York City has a great dance scene.EDDIE: I plan to major in international relations – maybe going into law or diplomacy – while also prioritizing dance This summer we’ll be teaching dance and nutrition in Taiwan through a new initiative called Dancing Moves the Heart performed at Irvine Talks and invented a medtech device – all while maintaining a 4.6 grade point average “Surrounding myself with the right people enabled me to grow,” she says of the many mentors who helped her develop a medical device that tracks and reports symptoms of stress to caretakers She aspires to be a positive force on people professional pursuits or “simply treating people with kindness.” Hilal committed himself to pursuing a career in neurobiology He’s already working in UCI’s neuroscience lab and serving on the board of a neuroscience-based nonprofit he serves as Associated Student Body president and enjoys R&B music Rice University: Computer science and cognitive sciences Niu strives to be a difference-maker and is seeking out a field with the greatest potential for future impact – artificial intelligence She plans to “participate in this wave of innovation” and positively influence the technology’s direction “I hope to ensure a responsible application of AI in a way that benefits society and sustains our existence,” she says she educates and empowers the next generation of coders Alongside teammates from Woodbridge’s Computer Science Honor Society Niu organized a district-wide hackathon to promote technological ingenuity “I’m proud of the communities I’ve built and fostered.” Subscribe to get the latest stories and community news from Irvine Standard delivered straight to your inbox Irvine Valley College’s Arts Village has improved how students learn and create in the arts Four Irvine Unified schools were named 2025 California Distinguished Schools the state’s highest honor for public campuses Irvine student musicians take center stage at the 41st annual Donald Bren Honors Concert Samuel Parigela has accomplished more in his youth than most manage in a lifetime LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio the Orange County Board of Education will vote on the future of the Orange County School of the Arts We know what they had to say because those draft conditions are included in an agenda released ahead of the meeting it would have made this story much more interesting if you had compared OCSA's application and admissions policies with those of an academic magnet school ..." Castrejón noted when it comes to magnet schools "districts are allowed to have practices that do weigh academic performance or admissions on other criteria that charter schools are very clearly not allowed to do." "What demographic percentage are applying?" We don't know the racial or income demographics of applicants - the school doesn't ask for race or income on the application forms we've seen from raw admission data the school provided to us that reflects and draws students from the County as a whole That's the argument the school made after Santa Ana Unified approved OCSA's charter with conditions including revisions to admissions and fundraising practices OCSA officials pushed back on those demands -- saying it amounted to denying the charter renewal -- and appealed which is how the matter came before the OCDE We got a couple related questions about funding and fund-raising: "Did you discover on the parent funding agreement that the amount is a suggested donation and that each family is asked to pledge an amount they can afford We never were able to pledge the full amount but fundraisers from [traditional] public schools are not Both are optional & don't affect enrollment; extracurricular activities aren't free at other public schools either." We also talked to a family whose parents said they took extra jobs in order to contribute toward the costs of the arts programs According to the most recent charter renewal petition the school assumes that on average parents will give $3,349 when writing its budgets Santa Ana Unified assessed the funding model that relies heavily on parent donations -- the school asks for contributions of over $4,000 per student -- and determined it could be a barrier for families unable to meet the recommended donation levels That finding played a role in the district's consideration of whether to approve the school's charter in December District staff wrote in that report that "parents who cannot afford to contribute are likely not to apply for admission." we've gotten a glimpse at the Orange County Department of Education staff's conclusions after reviewing the fundraising practices themselves Here's what the OCDE staff wrote in response to the petition: "Why aren't other schools in Santa Ana being held responsible for providing arts education as well Isn't access to arts also attending events put on by the school "We lack serious art education in our education system the school says it has served 5,000 Santa Ana children through this Camp OCSA programming and has enrolled 3,200 Santa Ana students reptiles and dung beetles — they’ve become part of the school experience for more than 400 Carver Elementary students As the Orange County Register reported this week the Santa Ana campus is taking part in a unique pilot program with the Santa Ana Zoo that’s providing students with hands-on learning opportunities introducing them to potential careers and meeting the state’s science standards A different grade level from Carver visits the zoo each week the students are tasked with collecting data and observing the animals and their habitats “This ain’t your grandma’s field trip,” Stacy Kline Students eagerly record their observations in notebooks and discuss their findings in a classroom at the zoo The program is designed to foster curiosity critical thinking skills and a connection to the natural environment as students learn about ecosystems Here are some of the other stories we’re following this week: Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More LOS ANGELES — When it opened in London in 1985 “Les Misérables” was revolutionary and not just because of its famous turntable stage. It grew into a global phenomenon seen by more than 130 million people in 53 countries and in 22 different languages celebrated in star-studded anniversary concerts and even done in a crosswalk during “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” and among the cast is Riverside native Nicole Morris standing in front of a packed wardrobe gondola meaning she covers about eight different ensemble tracks stepping into the show when someone else is out “We sometimes have to jump from one character to another character all in one show,” she explained she is no stranger to the historic theater in Hollywood or musicals in general. Her mother performed on Broadway and on several national tours and took her to the Pantages to see her very first musical — “The Lion King” — when Morris was no more than 4 years old “I remember we got a backstage tour,” she recalled But I remember just being up on that stage and being like she and the cast head to the Segerstrom where Morris saw many touring productions over the years and even performed on the stage when she was a student at the Orange County School of the Arts.  she also understudies the iconic role of Eponine which is played by her friend Christine Heesun Hwang The two actually went to college together on the East Coast and were cast in “Sister Act” but Hwang left halfway through rehearsals having gotten cast in the national tour of “Miss Saigon.”  She is not territorial about Eponine and said her friendship with Morris isn’t strained by their positions on the tour “Like I wouldn’t want to share with anybody else I think it’s like strengthened our bond because we can have a deeper sense of empathy and understanding of what our job entails us to do.” “And like we learn from each other,” Hwang continued Hwang said she is also continuously learning from the role even though she has performed the show some 300 times so far. The story of Jean Valjean may be set in the early 1800s but she said the topics it explores are incredibly relevant today who’s trying to rediscover his own life as well as the very complicated relationships within the police system and as well as the young students who want greater change for not only themselves but the generations ahead,” Hwang explained “And that is so pertinent to what we’re dealing with within our country and globally it’s the fact that the revolution started to begin with.”  Morris understands that sentiment. Just as she gets her musical theater genes from her mom social change is also in her DNA. She is a direct descendent of both Frederick Douglass and Booker T the family trees intertwining she believes a few generations back with her Grandma Honey on her father’s side. She said she often reflects on her ancestors as approaches the show and her life and everything is something that I’m advocating for today as well,” Morris explained “And I think ‘Les Miz’ is a good connection with both of that.” For those who come to hear the people sing Morris hopes they walk away not just humming the famous tunes but buzzing with what she thinks is the central message of the show The school's current Executive Vice President Teren Shaffer will assume the role of President & CEO on July 1 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- After more than three decades shaping the landscape of arts education in Southern California and across the country Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Founder Ralph S announced his retirement from his full-time position as the school's executive director effective at the conclusion of this school year OCSA's Board of Trustees voted unanimously yesterday evening to appoint Teren Shaffer the OCSA Foundation's executive vice president as the school's second president & CEO beginning July 1 Thanks to my extraordinary colleagues and so many generous community supporters who stood beside me over the years Opacic leaves an impressive 34-year legacy His love of performing propelled him to California in pursuit of a professional music career he soon discovered that his real passion was to inspire the next generation of young artists through arts education he became the choir director at Los Alamitos High School where he transformed a choir program with 30 students into a thriving program of 300 students Opacic secured a state grant to support his vision of creating a world-class arts school taught by professional working artists that offers a pathway to college and a career in the arts OCSA started as an after-school program with just four conservatories Quickly outgrowing the location in Los Alamitos Mayor Miguel Pulido invited Opacic to relocate OCSA to Santa Ana Recognizing a unique opportunity to grow the school and join the revitalization of midtown Santa Ana resulted in OCSA opening its doors in 2000 as a stand-alone charter school OCSA is recognized as one of the premier arts schools in the nation offering a rigorous college-preparatory academic program and pre-professional arts training in 16 conservatories OCSA now serves a student body of nearly 2,300 students from over 100 cities throughout Southern California The 350,000 square foot urban campus is spread across 10 commercial and historic buildings OCSA graduates are recruited by the nation's top universities One of the cornerstones of Opacic's plans for OCSA was also to provide a rich outreach program which offered accessible art activities and classes to the local community Opacic's leadership has enabled OCSA to raise more than $100 million over the past 34 years as an investment in the hopes and dreams of the school's passionate and talented students Continuing his vision to share OCSA's successful and innovative curriculum models with other communities in Southern California California School of the Arts ― San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) opened in 2017 to serve nearly 1,200 students In addition to his extraordinary work with OCSA and CSArts-SGV he has brought his deep experience and strategic thinking to arts schools across the country through his national leadership positions with Arts Schools Network and his nonprofit consulting services tenacity and vision of Opacic has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of students with the pioneering education programs and dynamic learning environment he designed and implemented Opacic has continuously brought OCSA to new heights devoting his career to creating opportunities for students," said Gary Humphreys he has expanded OCSA's instructional space tenfold created a student sponsorship program that enables all students to receive the same experience regardless of their family's financial capacity and administrators are grateful for his legacy and promise to uphold the school's commitment to excellence for many years to come." "Leading this organization has truly been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional career," Opacic said "Thanks to my extraordinary colleagues and so many generous community supporters who stood beside me over the years I am confident that our mission will thrive as I hand the torch to Mr His passion for and dedication to our school is immeasurable and I can think of no one better suited to step into this role." The school's mission will be carried on by Teren Shaffer who has been working alongside Opacic for the past four years as executive vice president of the OCSA Foundation and CSArts Foundation Shaffer began his tenure at OCSA in 2011 as music director and conductor of the acclaimed Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble He was quickly recognized for his leadership being promoted to director of the Instrumental Music Conservatory and then to dean of arts In his current position as executive vice president he plays a key role in strategic planning for the organization and has expanded educational opportunities for students including the celebrated Master Artist Series and special events departments at OCSA and the sister campus winning many prestigious awards including The Kennedy Center's Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award Stanford University's Exceptional Teaching Award and Orange County Department of Education's Outstanding Arts Educator Award He led the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble to become a finalist in The American Prize for Wind Ensemble Performance and to present a concert at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival the ensemble was the first high school band from Southern California to perform at the Midwest Clinic This is the largest annual music conference of its kind hosting nearly 20,000 educators and performers from more than 30 countries Shaffer serves as vice president on the national board of directors for Arts Schools Network and hosted the national conference at OCSA in 2018 he was on faculty at Chapman University and also served as general manager for the Orange County Youth Symphony Shaffer earned a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and bachelor's degrees in instrumental conducting music performance and music education from Chapman University Shaffer for several years while my two daughters attended OCSA," said Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors Vince Foley Shaffer is incredibly well prepared to lead OCSA into its next chapter dedicated and passionate educator and administrator who has an array of experience that makes him exceptionally qualified to further develop and implement the school's mission." the mission of OCSA is close to my heart," said Shaffer I was captivated by the commitment and passion of OCSA's students and inspired by the creativity and innovation of our faculty and staff OCSA truly provides a fundamentally different educational experience for students Opacic for his visionary leadership and for being a pivotal mentor in my life I have learned so much from him during my 10 years at OCSA and I look forward to his continued support as a strategic consultant following his retirement As we move forward into OCSA's 35th anniversary I am honored and thrilled to lead our distinguished school into the future as president & CEO." the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) provides an unparalleled arts and academic education in a creative challenging and nurturing environment to a diverse student body passionate about the arts preparing them to reach their highest potential OCSA serves more than 2,200 students in grades seven through 12 providing college-preparatory academics and pre-professional arts training through 16 different conservatory programs 1 Charter High School in California by Niche Department of Education and National Endowment for the Arts have recognized OCSA as a model arts education program OCSA has received the distinction of "Exceptional Charter School in Special Education" by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) for 2017 OCSA's counseling program is the first 7th-12th grade program in California to be named as a nationally Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (RAMP) Julia Gutierrez, Orange County School of the Arts, +1 (714) 560-0900 Ext: 3246, [email protected] Facebook http://www.ocsarts.net Do not sell or share my personal information: Six Musketeers Earn Honors from Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association 12.21.22 | Women's Soccer Five Musketeers pick up All-Ohio Honors; A pair earn Academic All-Ohio Arts-minded children can enjoy a full day of play at the OCSA Connects Community Arts Festival hosted on the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) campus Kids and their families are invited to come and enjoy live performances by OCSA’s talented students while engaging in arts activities This all-day event is fun for the whole family and offers accessibility for children of all abilities Space is limited. Register online Thanks for visiting The Osceola County School for the Arts is returning to the Essentially Ellington festival in May The Osceola School for the Arts band will be returning to New York’s Lincoln Center for Essentially Ellington They are one of only 15 high school-aged bands out of a pool of 89 schools from across the country selected to perform and compete at the festival In his first year as Director of Jazz Studies and the band’s leader Jason Anderson has known how good the band was from the start “When Jazz at Lincoln Center sent master bassist and educator Rodney Whitaker down to work with the band It was very encouraging to hear him only focusing on the very high-level aspects of playing It really spoke to the level that the kids are playing at now,” Anderson said Each high school grade is represented in the band and the Jazz Band competed at the festival in back-to-back years 2017-18 Essentially Ellington is named in honor of the iconic Big Band leader It is a free program for high school jazz bands that aims to elevate musicianship Famed New Orleans jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is the Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center and musicians from across North America to participate in workshops concluding with an evening concert and awards ceremony featuring the three top-placing bands The show closes with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Disney World provided a $20,000 donation for the trip to New York City plus a travel scholarship granted by Jazz at Lincoln Center are covering most of the expenses to attend the festival Band leader Anderson sees great things for the band ahead “One thing we’re trying to keep in mind is that our band is fairly young which means we have an excellent chance of being selected for the Essentially Ellington competition next year as well When asked about what made the band so good Anderson said: “We definitely have a few outstanding soloists in the band Nathaniel Williford and Daniel Portuondo are our two fantastic trumpet soloists Solomon Geleta is our lead alto saxophonist and a strong leader in the band Isaiah Bravo is our top drummer who brings so much energy to each song Ella Kim is a fantastic freshman pianist on the rise as well But I think the real highlight in the band is all of the supporting players; the students who don’t have solos but put in just as much work as our soloists sometimes These are the individuals that make OCSA Jazz A so special and these are the kids that make us a band.” For more information on supporting the band financially © 2025 Osceola News Gazette Print On a recent Saturday evening in September some 300 parents and friends of students attending the Orange County School of the Arts converged on the bayfront lawn of the Balboa Bay Club and Resort for the “Season Premiere 2019” benefit It was a return engagement for student members of the performing arts conservatories within the public charter school Students came rehearsed and ready to perform demonstrating their all-consuming passion and dedication to vocal Students come to the Santa Ana arts school via audition and rigorous application OCSA is free of tuition and offers students the chance to pursue this passion which remains largely unavailable in California public education now in its 33rd year since its founding by Ralph Opacic a nurturing environment for kids who desire immersion in the arts while also completing required college prep classes the theatrical concept behind “Season Premiere” is to create a show that features some 25 student musicians and a similar number of singers and dancers performing as soloists members of ensembles and backups to a celebrity headliner that fronts the production that celebrity also happens to be an OCSA alumnus or alumna singer and Broadway performer Terron Brooks took center stage The production was an homage to the Motown 1960s with music from the likes of The Temptations Brooks just happened to be one of the stars of the Emmy-winning NBC miniseries “The Temptations,” playing the role of Eddie Kendricks The former star of Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking television production “Glee” certainly epitomized OCSA’s plan was the story of a diverse group of kids brought together by a common love of performance in a backdrop of public school challenges “Glee” told a story not unlike the OCSA experience; art imitating life Backing for the “Season Premiere,” as well as needed support for OCSA in general Every year some $10 million must be raised to cover costs beyond public funding of the school Making the “Season Premiere” possible were underwriting angels Carole Pickup of Balboa Bay Resort and the Bushala family Also sponsoring the evening were Stacey Downey Spotted in the crowd applauding the OCSA students were Bryan and Erin Giglia Don and Rosemarie Steiner and Kelly Townsend To learn more about OCSA go to www.ocsarts.net. B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The Orange County School of the Arts will live on for another five years – and it won't have to answer to the Santa Ana Unified School District anymore But the five-member county board voted 3-1 “The Orange County School of the Arts community can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the school they cherish is here to stay," OCSA founder and executive director Ralph Opacic said in a written statement "While I always had faith that the quality and impact of our program would be recognized I am grateful to the Orange County Board of Education and the Orange County Department of Education for becoming our new partner." Dozens of parents stood and applauded after the board vote "Thank goodness that we've got our charter and we've got it the way that we needed it .. in order for the school to continue to function on the level that it does," said Angela Grier and board member Lisa Sparks voted to approve OCSA's charter petition without conditions "I don't see what the harm would be in approving the petition with those conditions to assure that some of these changes have OCSA’s current charter with Santa Ana Unified remains in effect until June 30 'While we appreciate the relationship that we have fostered with OCSA over the last 20 years," the district said in a statement "we support OCDE providing oversight of OCSA going forward as we believe there are still outstanding issues to be resolved at the school." The county Department of Education will become the oversight agency for the public charter school starting July 1 The Osceola County School for the Arts Jazz Band took home top honors for the second year in a row at the 28th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival Saturday night presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City By placing first at the most prestigious high school jazz band competition in the country the group of amazing young Osceola County jazz artists can hold on to the claim that they are the best high school jazz band in the country OCSA’s Jazz Band A dominated once again as an ensemble but many of its individual players and jazz band sections stood out as well “This is the first time in nine years that any school has had back-to-back wins at Essentially Ellington The competition was more competitive than ever this year but the kids played their heart out and brought home the win OCSA Jazz Band A Director Jason Anderson said after his band took first place in New York.” Renowned Trumpet player Wynton Marsalis presented awards to each of the 15 finalist high school jazz bands Osceola County School for the Arts took home the first-place trophy and an award of $5,0000 Wagner High School accepted second place and an award of $2,500 New World School of the Arts accepted third place with an award of $1,000 The remaining bands were each awarded $500 All monetary awards are to be used for improving the jazz education programs of each respective high school “Winning the Essentially Ellington competition for the second year in a row is an extraordinary accomplishment for the students This victory demonstrates not only the exceptional talent of the students but their dedication and commitment to their individual craft This win will provide the students with several opportunities that will help them advance their music careers They will gain more exposure that may lead to scholarships and future collaborations The students have dedicated so much time to refining their techniques and musicianship Many of them start their music journey at a young age and work tirelessly to perfect their skills putting in time both individually and as a team to create the music that brought them to this achievement I am thrilled to see the doors that this victory will open and the opportunities that will be afforded to these students We are all so very proud of the students and their director Jason Anderson,” Dr Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist with the School District of Osceola County said after the OCSA Jazz Band A back to back win The three-day festival provided students with a Q&A with Wynton Marsalis jam sessions with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra members The weekend culminated in Saturday night concerts on the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center stage where each top-placing band performed with their choice Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member as a featured soloist The night also featured the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis – whose members served as mentors for the finalist bands throughout the weekend – performing repertoire to be featured as part of next year’s Essentially Ellington program “It is emotional for me to hear our young people play during Essentially Ellington Just to see some of them playing by memory understanding how difficult it is for them to face their nerves the things they have to do to not let the ensemble down and the difficulty of what is being played… To think that competing against people is important—you realize as you get older that that is not what’s important,” said Wynton Marsalis Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center “The things we take away from these experiences have nothing to do with competition It has everything to do with coming together with people.” The top-placing bands were chosen by a panel of judges comprising distinguished jazz musicians and historians Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis jazz arranger and composer Francisco Torres Essentially Ellington alumni and Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra bass player composer and Essentially Ellington alum Alexa Tarantino The Essentially Ellington band program includes access to free sheet music and the chance of a lifetime to play on the stage of Frederick P the Essentially Ellington program provided transcribed and published previously unavailable sheet music that bands could submit to apply for the event; traditionally this music was by Duke Ellington and over the years expanded to include Benny Goodman the musical options include four songs by Afro-Cuban-New York jazz and salsa pioneer Machito Print LONG BEACH — Trinity Wiideman Aurelia Carrie and Hannah Dromgoole excitedly arranged three dishes on an oval tray in front of the judges at the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2023 ProStart Cup at the Long Beach Convention Center on March 7 Wearing white chef coats and flushed faces the team of culinary students from the Orange County School of the Arts had just completed the three-course cooking competition portion of the day “We worked really hard to get to today,” said Wiideman The two-day competition brought together 250 California high school students to compete for $500,000 in scholarships participating Orange County schools included Fountain Valley “All of the students are part of the ProStart program,” said Alycia Harshfield the executive director of the California Restaurant Foundation “which is a national culinary art and restaurant management training curriculum and program It is where they are learning in the classroom all about food and careers in food service and hospitality.” Orange County School of the Arts students Trinity Wiideman Aurelia Carrie and Hannah Dromgoole listen to judge Juan Lopez during the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2023 ProStart Cup at the Long Beach Convention Center (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer) Collectively the competition represents the future of California’s restaurant and food service industries and students have the opportunity to network and meet with college and university representatives during the Career & College Expo also taking place at the competition The competition itself is broken down into two categories “It is a cooking and restaurant entrepreneurship competition that has really multiple events within an event,” said Harshfield where two to five students have one hour to create an appetizer “They are judged on how they have properly and safely packed their food so it gets temped by a set of judges,” said Harshfield They are also required to demonstrate knife skills and cost out all their recipes “It is really wonderful to see what the students create,” said Harshfield “I would say the majority of the plates are the kind of plates you would see at a high-end restaurant.” The OCSA culinary team worked together to prepare a seared scallop appetizer with a lemon tarragon pea foam seared bistro filet with celery root puree entree and a “fallen” apple dessert with caramel mousse Students from OCSA present seared scallops with lemon tarragon pea foam lemon spun cucumber and parsnip hash during the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2023 ProStart Cup at the Long Beach Convention Center on March 7 (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer) Okajima said he most enjoyed preparing the appetizer and creating the pea foam for the dish “You take a milk solution or a just solution overall add xanthan gum and charge it in one of those iSi chargers with CO2 which creates a light and airy foam,” said Okajima Carrie said the most challenging part was setting the mousse for the dessert on time we had to do a makeshift compartment of ice and salt,” Carrie said which made making sure the dessert held its shape a little more stressful “We had to adjust our recipe completely … there was lots and lots of trial and error,” said Carrie Seared bistro filet with celery root pure and glazed vegetables with a creamy oyster mushroom sauce made by students during the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2023 ProStart Cup at the Long Beach Convention Center (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer) The second category of the competition is restaurant entrepreneurship “It is a team event as well,” said Harshfield “and they develop and present a business plan for a new restaurant concept Students create a business plan that is printed and presented to the judges as well as a PowerPoint presentation While the pressure for the cooking round happens during the competition Newport Harbor student Kylie Papa said the pressure in the entrepreneurship competition happens beforehand “Management is a totally different facet,” said Papa who competed in the culinary competition last year “because it is less about what we are cooking in front of the judges and more about how we take the food and surround it with all the different dimensions it takes to get that food to customers.” presented a Polynesia restaurant concept called Archipelago for the entrepreneurship competition Newport Harbor High School’s Duke Caperon Kylie Papa and Jeffrey Dangl compete in the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2023 ProStart Cup at the Long Beach Convention Center on March 7 (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer) “I personally think it is a type of cuisine that isn’t being tackled by anyone,” said Caperon “I think it is important that it gets a light shone on it.” Event sponsors also put on two just-for-fun contests: Wienerschnitzel’s Dress Your Dog competition and Idaho Potatoes Loaded Potato competition “They are basically creating a topping for a hot dog and a potato,” said Harshfield OCSA took home first place in the culinary competition and also won first place in the Dress Your Dog competition and Loaded Potato competition OCSA placed second in entrepreneurship competition The top teams in the Management and Culinary Cups will now go on to represent California at the National ProStart Student Invitational in Washington “What I love about this ProStart competition is it is a chance for students to showcase their skills their creativity and their passion,” Harshfield said they have their platform for showcasing their talents This ProStart competition gives that to the students that are interested in food.” Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Six dance students from the Orange County School of the Arts will be part of MTW’s adaptation of the Broadway classic “42nd Street,” beginning Feb Audiences will be enchanted by the “Lullaby of Broadway” during Musical Theatre West’s spirited production of Broadway favorite “42nd Street.”  this adaptation of the famed musical will premiere Friday at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located on the Cal State Long Beach campus and enjoy a two-week theatrical run through Feb The Tony Award-winning Broadway production originates from the 1933 Hollywood musical film “42nd Street” — originally adapted from Bradford Ropes’ 1932 novel of the same name — and was brought to the theater in 1980.  The story of “42nd Street” is set in Great Depression-era New York and follows the behind-the-scenes making of the musical “Pretty Lady,” where wide-eyed chorus girl Peggy Sawyer is thrust into the lead role and forced to save the show While highlighting the difficulty of bringing a theater production to life “42nd Street” champions the magical star-making power of the Broadway stage MTW’s production of “42nd Street” boasts an extensive cast with several returning performers such as Ricky Bulda and Quintan Craig and a number of new faces including Phillip Atmore and Emma Nossal in the lead role of Peggy Sawyer.  The show will feature six dance students from the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) a 7th through 12th grade public charter school based in Santa Ana with a focus on arts-based education spearheaded the collaboration when she reached out to the Director of OCSA’s Commercial Dance Conservatory to see if her dancers might have a place in the production “It’s really our goal to be able to create the beginnings of a partnership with OCSA that might be able to extend to other schools in the future We can really create a pipeline for students to be able to have firsthand experience with professional theater and inspire them … and to cultivate the love of an artform that desperately needs people to be involved with it.”  After getting the go-ahead from the Actors’ Equity labor union to include the students in the production MTW auditioned them at OCSA near the end of 2023 All ten dancers were welcomed into the show with open arms With the show now on the cusp of its premiere “42nd Street” Associate Producer Bren Thor said he sees this production as a stepping stone for future partnerships between the theater and student performers “It’s really our goal to be able to create the beginnings of a partnership with OCSA that might be able to extend to other schools in the future,” Thor said “We can really create a pipeline for students to be able to have firsthand experience with professional theater and inspire them … and to cultivate the love of an artform that desperately needs people to be involved with it.”  OCSA Commercial Dance Conservatory students Olivia Liddi and Ariel Tello jumped at the opportunity to join the “42nd Street” cast Liddi recalls listening to the musical’s soundtrack on the way home from her audition and feeling hopeful “I had never even heard of ‘42nd Street’ before but when Cheryl started teaching the audition combo it really clicked and I could tell that it was going to be really fun,” Liddi said.   The heart of “42nd Street” lies in its dynamic tap dancing ensemble OCSA dancers form this key part of the production showcasing their skills and providing strength in numbers.   who typically spend a whole semester learning new choreography for a commercial dance performance learned their tap dance-oriented parts for “42nd Street” in just nine days.  “The cornerstone thing about ‘42nd Street’ is that it’s a big old-fashioned tap dance show and the story is about a member of the ensemble who gets an opportunity to step into the leading role and saves the show,” Thor said Ariel and all of the kids are very integral to the process.” a Broadway revival and worldwide theater adaptations as an intriguing hybrid of “backstage” and “jukebox” musical.  Thor notes that while MTW’s production will be a mostly faithful adaptation of “42nd Street,” director Cynthia Ferrer and Baxter both of whom have a rich history with the show are ensuring the production will remain as entertaining as ever “They have really been able to steer this path that stays true to the material while still breathing new life into it,” Thor said Liddi and Tello said that learning alongside their classmates was crucial in making the process more comfortable they look forward to showcasing what they’ve learned together with their peers and new theater family onstage.  “I’m excited to go on stage and feel what it’s like to see that many seats in the audience and dance with my friends,” Liddi said.   Musical Theatre West’s production of “42nd Street” begins Feb 9 and will run for thirteen shows through Feb 25 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center Tickets for “42nd Street” can be purchased on Musical Theatre West’s website ranging from $23 to $114 There will be a special discount for OSCA students applied for the show’s Feb [A previous version of this article was published that incorrectly stated that there were ten OCSA students instead of six that Berger initiated the student’s involvement in the production instead of Baxter and that Bren Thor’s name was Bren Joy and he was the casting director Print Scott Barnhardt spent years as a professional actor in New York performing in “Book of Mormon” and other shows before deciding to come home He is currently in his second year working as the director of musical theater at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) in Santa Ana “In ‘Book of Mormon,’ I was a thirtysomething grown man playing a teenager so there was a legitimate timeline that I could feel ticking,” Barnhardt said of his acting days That was my hop-out of the performer lifestyle I had been living for 10 Barnhardt found himself adept at arts programming and just as he was wrapping up his time in grad school the musical theater directorship at OCSA opened up Barnhardt is far from hanging up his performer’s masks As part of the 2018-19 Broadway Cabaret Series at the Irvine Barclay Theatre Barnhardt will share the stage with fellow OCSA alum Krysta Rodriguez for “Coming Home,” in which the duo will alternate tales of the stage with some of their favorite show tunes from across their careers “We title it ‘Coming Home’ because this really is where we both grew up,” he said It’s really cool we get this chance to [come] back and perform together.” the Broadway Cabaret Series will kick off Oct 20 with a performance by Christine Ebersole (“Amadeus,” “Madam Secretary”) Bebe Neuwirth and Jerry Harmon are among the other notables who will take part in the series heading into 2019 said the impetus for the series came from his numerous trips to New York where he would not only catch the shows but get to know the stars better by watching them perform their cabaret routines I decided to shake the place up and put in a series the way other places do,” said Mandel who had originally wanted to do the series at Segerstrom Center of the Arts when he was the president there because I’ve always been a Broadway person.” “Last year we had Linda Eder and Brian Stokes Mitchell so for this season I wanted to have an interesting balance,” he said of the 2018-19 cabaret series And then I’m ending the season with Sutton Foster [April 13] Mandel believes it is important to give not only established names a platform but to highlight Orange County’s up-and-coming artists like Barnhardt and Rodriguez as well as another OCSA graduate “Glee’s” Matt Morrison he always tries to give his students a taste of the profession beyond the classroom setting [fellow OSCA alumni] Lindsay Mendez called and said she was doing a concert with Musical Theatre West and she needed a choir,” he said I know some kids.’ And that’s a priceless experience…to give these students opportunities to interact with industry.” Barnhardt and Rodriguez will invite a handful of OCSA students to join them for their cabaret show in January “People see the talent we have here at OCSA and want to add to that experience,” said Barnhardt “[Both] for their students and their audiences For information on the Barclay’s Broadway Cabaret Series, visit: www.thebarclay.org Numerous public schools in Orange County made their way onto the U.S. News & World Report’s yearly breakdown of the nation’s best high schools which examined data from more than 25,000 campuses.  Oxford Academy in the Anaheim Union High School District was highest on the list locally The digital media outlet noted that Oxford offers “an intensive honors curriculum that requires students to take a minimum of four Advanced Placement courses to graduate.” Oxford freshmen and sophomores can choose from four career pathways to supplement their core courses and software systems and development.  nine campuses in Orange County placed within California’s top 100 and 17 local schools placed in the top 1,000 nationally They include Troy High School in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Troy was the second-highest-ranked school in Orange County Northwood High School in the Irvine Unified School District was third in the county 216 nationally.University High School from Irvine Unified closely followed Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana Irvine High School and the Garden Grove Unified School District’s La Quinta High School were also listed within the top 2 percent.  1 spot in the nation was claimed by The Early College at Guilford The school provides high school students with the chance to earn dual college credits from Guilford College enabling them to graduate with two years’ worth of credit While various news outlets have made an effort to rank school programs over the years News is perhaps the most widely recognized and consistent Coordinating with North Carolina-based RTI International, a global nonprofit social science research firm, U.S. News examined indicators in six areas: college readiness “College readiness” measured participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams “Underserved student performance” focused on students who are Black Here are the Orange County schools that we found in the top 2,000: Did we miss any Orange County schools in the nation’s top 2,000? Let us know by emailing communications@ocde.us For Teren Shaffer ’08, the conductor’s baton is the quintessential symbol of leadership. But not for the reasons you might expect. As a former award-winning conductor, Shaffer knows that even the most subtle stroke of a baton can cause an ensemble to snap to attention. But since his early days conducting and serving as an adjunct faculty member in Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University Shaffer has always known that the art of conducting is less about exerting control and more about collaborating toward a shared vision you don’t really make the music,” said Shaffer “I’m not directly responsible for creating any of the beautiful sounds inspire the musicians and shape the architecture of the music.” Shaffer is stepping onto a different stage and applying the lessons he learned at the podium to his new role as president and CEO of the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) From arts management opportunities to production support on stage Shaffer immersed himself in an array of hands-on activities during his time at Chapman helped him realize that possibilities within the arts industry extend far beyond the stage A passion for the people he serves is ingrained in Shaffer’s creative vision As he embarks on this new chapter in organizational leadership he’s guided by the philosophy of his longtime mentor quality relationships and culture are everything.” nurturing environment where people feel appreciated and where innovation and creative thinking are embraced “Just as a conductor relies on the ensemble to create the art and move the audience leading an organization is the exact same thing,” says Shaffer All I can do as a leader is commit to a vision create an environment that supports that vision and have an uncompromising focus on organizational culture and community.” The top 15 high school-aged jazz bands from across the country will converge at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home for the 29th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival May 9-11 One of those jazz bands will once again be from the Osceola County School for the Arts OCSA’s Jazz Band A pulled off a back to back repeat last year in New York and is hoping to pull off a ‘three-peat’ next week when they face 14 other excellent jazz bands from around the country The Students will spend three days immersed in workshops Jazz at Lincoln Center marks the 125th birthday of Duke Ellington (April 29 1974) with a festival of events at Frederick P Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2023-24 season focuses on the concept of community; the broader community of jazz; the numerous communities that nurtured its master practitioners across its timeline; the communities of consciousness that influenced these practitioners; the music’s power to bridge divides and coalesce these distinct communities; and the role of jazz – and the arts writ large – in maintaining the human connection in the digital era Jazz at Lincoln Center explores these subjects with concerts featuring the forward-thinking composers and ingenious conceptualists that populate the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra tours directly evoke themes that illuminate as Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis puts it “Our music has the exceptional ability to bring people together.” In addition to 24 unique live concerts throughout Frederick P Rose Hall and more than 350 nights of music at Dizzy’s Club the organization offers webcast performances via the Jazz Live app and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis tour dates worldwide Join us in wishing OCSA’s Jazz Band A the best of luck The photo used in this article is from the 2023 OCSA Jazz Band A