Patricia Dobiesz joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2000 and currently serves as director, Instrumental Music Conservatory. She received her master’s degree in musicology from California State University, Long Beach in 2002. Dobiesz’s thesis on Richard Strauss “Metamorphosen” received the Best Thesis, College of the Arts Award and is appreciated by renowned biographers and musicologists for its elucidation of previously unknown historical facts about the piece. After completing a bachelor’s degree in piano performance and a bachelor of science degree at California State University, Long Beach, Dobiesz earned a doctor of medicine degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and worked for two years as a general practitioner before leaving medicine to return to music full-time. She is a former piano student of Julien Musafia and a former student at the Music Academy of the West studying under Reginald Stewart and Jerome Lowenthal, and has taught and performed as a pianist in Southern California for many years

Christopher Russell, Coordinator, Orchestral Program

Christopher Russell joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 1993 and currently serves as director, Instrumental Music Conservatory. He holds a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in composition from California State University, Fullerton. Russell has held conducting positions at the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Pasadena, the Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra, the Indiana University String Orchestra, and the Biola University Symphony. He is also a member of the California State University, Fullerton faculty and, beginning in the fall of 2007, will conduct the Azusa Pacific Symphony Orchestra. A respected conductor of contemporary music, Russell has conducted numerous national and international premieres including the first United States performances of symphonies by John McCabe and Robert Simpson and works by Jonathan Harvey, Per Nørgård and Kaija Saariaho. He also frequently gives pre-concert lectures for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

William Nicholls, D.M.A., Coordinator, Frederick Fennell Wind Studies Program

Dr. William Nicholls brings his expertise as a music educator to the Orange County High School of the Arts after ten years as a music instructor, recruiter, and band and program director at Mater Dei High School; and more than twenty years as emeritus conductor and wind ensemble conductor for Saddleback Valley College District. Nicholls’ extensive experience as an educator also includes teaching, conducting and directorial positions with Concordia University, Irvine; Orange County Unified Schools; Denver University, Colorado; California State University, Fullerton; Washington State University, Pullman; and Northern Illinois University, Dekalb.

A seasoned performer, Nicholls has appeared in concert with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, The Juilliard Repertory Company, Carnegie Hall Artist Series, Manhattan Opera Orchestra, Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, San Diego Symphony Orchestra and more.

He has been named the recipient of several awards including the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Soloist Award and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Award for Recording Artist/Conductor. Nicholls has served as a guest conductor, teacher, and clinician for world-renowned organizations and institutions of higher education including University of Wisconsin, Alaska Arts Council, Illinois State Music Festival, Camrose Music Festival in Canada, Festival de Inverno in Brazil and more. He has also spearheaded numerous educational research projects and publications including A Life of Joyful Discovery, a video biography of Dr. Frederick Fennell.

Additionally, Nicholls has served as president of the College Band Director’s National Association Northwest Division, regional music chairman of the Olympic Organizing Committee, chairman of the Mid-America Conference Commissions Committee and more.

Nicholls holds a doctoral degree in musical arts from University of Miami, where he studied under the advisement of legendary conductor Dr. Frederick Fennell; a master’s degree in trombone performance from The Juilliard School; and a bachelor’s degree in music from California State University, Long Beach.

Keith Fiddmont, Coordinator, Jazz and Commercial Music Program
Saxophonist Keith Fiddmont was born in the jazz-rich city of St. Louis, Missouri. He received his first formal training on piano, switching to clarinet and saxophone in high school. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from Boston University, he went on to earn a master’s degree in jazz and commercial music from Manhattan School of Music.

During his years of graduate study, he toured the world with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He remained with the group from 1985 - 1988. After playing with various small combos and big bands in and around the New York area, Fiddmont moved to Los Angeles in 1991.

He began touring with singer Rickie Lee Jones later that year, and remained until late 1992. Fiddmont has since recorded or performed live with such legends as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and Jennifer Holliday, as well as gifted artists like Kenny Rankin, Billy Childs, Gary Taylor, and Tony, Toni, Tone'. He is a featured player on several recently released projects: Tom Kennedy's “Basses Loaded,” Gary Taylor's “Time After Time,” and Leslie Drayton's “Urbanesque.”
Fiddmont is currently a member of several jazz performing groups, the most notable being the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He is a member of the music faculty of Santa Monica College where, in addition to teaching academic courses, he conducts the Jazz Ensemble. Fiddmont joined the Orange County High School of the Arts faculty in fall 2007.

Vasil Chekardzhikov, Coordinator, Guitar Program
Vasil Chekardzhikov currently serves as Coordinator of the Guitar Program. Born in Varna, Bulgaria, Chekardzhikov started his musical studies at the age of five. He played the accordion for four years before beginning guitar studies with world-renowned pedagogue Liuben Haralmbiev at the age of nine. A graduate from the high school of the arts “Dobri Hristov” in Varna, Chekardzhikov holds a bachelor’s degree in music education with four specialties: classical guitar, voice, solfegio (ear training) and tambura. Additionally, he gradated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in guitar performance from California State University, Fullerton.

Chekardzhikov maintains a performing and recording career as a soloist and chamber musician with his brothers Nikola and Petar Chekardzhikovi in the internationally recognized guitar trio Triada. With more than a thousand concert appearances, four CD releases, and a dozen national and international awards, Chekardzhikov is widely recognized for his exceptional talent. He has also maintained a private studio of students ages 4-40 years old for more than twelve years.