SCHOOL FOUNDATION SUMMER & COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS BOX OFFICE
             

 

 

Staff Profiles
   
  Ralph Opacic, Ed.D., Founder, Executive Director, and President
  Dr. Ralph Opacic founded the award-winning Orange County High School of the Arts in 1987 and currently serves as executive director and president. Opacic is credited for assembling the finest artist-teachers and academic instructors in Southern California and creating an opportunity for young performing and visual artists to develop their talents to their greatest potential.

Widely awarded for his achievements in arts education, Opacic was one of only five outstanding Orange County entrepreneurs to be named a 2007 Orange County Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award recipient. He was also named the 2007 Cultural Legacy Award: Artistic Visionary by Arts Orange County; Orange County Arts Educator of the Year for Administration by Arts Orange County and the Orange County Music & Arts Administrators; and a 2006 Outstanding Contribution to Education Award recipient by the Orange County Department of Education. Additionally, he has been featured in OC Metro’s “Hot 25” list as someone “defining Orange County with passion, creativity and an endless drive to make their mark” in 2000.

While under the leadership of Opacic, the Orange County High School of the Arts has received top honors and recognition for excellence in both arts and academic education. The U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts have identified the school as a model arts education program. The school has been ranked in the top ten percent of high schools in the State of California, and is one of the top five highest ranking high school academic programs in Orange County.

Additionally, the Orange County High School of the Arts has been named a 2006 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, recipient of the International NETWORK of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education’s 2006 Exemplary School Award, a 2005 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, and a 2004-2005 Creative Ticket National School of Distinction by the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and the California Alliance for Arts Education.

Actively involved in the local arts community, Opacic also served as president of the West Coast School of the Arts and president of the Pacific Coast Dance Fest, two programs that provide musical theatre and dance lessons for children of all ages. He has also served as the producer of Evolution Dance Company, the resident dance company at The OC Pavilion. Additionally, Opacic serves on the executive boards of the International NETWORK of Performing and Visual Arts Schools and served on the Executive Board of Pathways to Independence, a charity that serves adolescents in need.

He is the past president of the Society of Delta Epsilon at the University of Southern California and has served in board and member capacities for the Los Alamitos Television Corporation, the Los Alamitos Youth Center, and the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos.

Opacic earned his bachelor of arts degree in music from California State University, Long Beach in 1981, a master of science degree in educational administration from National University in 1990, and a doctoral degree in education from University of Southern California in 1994.

  Sue Vaughn, Principal
  Sue Vaughn joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2000 and currently serves as the school principal. She has held a key role in the school’s development since it opened as a public charter school in 2000 and previously served as director of curriculum and instruction.

Vaughn has been involved in every aspect of the school’s academic program, from serving as state test coordinator, to academic advisor for students in grades 7-12, to developing the master schedule each year. She implemented the school’s current curriculum, bringing the school recognition as a California Distinguished School and No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon School. Additionally, Vaughn served as chair of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation team that resulted in a maximum, six-year accreditation for the school.

She also collaborated with teachers and conservatory directors to create the school’s UC approved curriculum, and implemented the school’s state approved Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Plan. Vaughn has been part of the hiring process for every academic teacher currently on staff at the Orange County High School of the Arts and has supported them in their professional growth by creating a well-defined staff development plan each year.

Prior to joining the Orange County High School of the Arts, Vaughn taught education courses on the college level at California State University, Long Beach and in Missouri, and served as a teacher and learning specialist for Los Alamitos Unified School District. She has more than 20 years’ expertise in the education field and has been involved in teacher training her entire career, serving as a workshop leader and consultant, college instructor in education, student teaching supervisor, and administrator.

Vaughn earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in education from the Presbyterian School of Education in Richmond, Virginia, and an administrative degree from University of California, Irvine.

  Robin Follman, Artistic Director & Director, Opera & Choral Conservatory
 
Robin Follman joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2002 and currently serves as artistic director and director, Opera and Choral Conservatory. She has been described as a soprano with “...the whole package” (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). With international acclaim, she has performed opera, concert, and oratorio works throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Opera News says Follman, “…brought enchantingly pure tone, easy high range and rich musical style to her international-class Marguerite.” She has performed with opera houses including Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, Washington Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Opera Pacific, Florentine Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera Malaysia, Hawaii Opera, and Opera Carolina.

In the 2008-2009 Season, she makes several role debuts including Rose of Sharon in the west coast premiere of Grapes of Wrath with Opera Pacific, Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly with Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, and the title role in Turandot with Dayton Opera. Ms. Follman recently collaborated with conductor Steven Mercurio and the Seattle Music Orchestra for a sequel to her debut album “Rare Verismo Arias,” which will be released in 2009. In the recent 2007-2008 Season, she performed Minnie in La Fanciulla del West with the St. Bart’s Festival, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Opera Carolina, Musetta in La Bohème with Opera Columbus, and in concert at the Irvine Bowl with Opera Pacific entitled “Young at Heart.” In the 2006-2007 Season, she performed Nedda in I Pagliacci with Opera Hong Kong, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Manitoba Opera, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on Taiwan, as well as the Soprano Soloist in the Andrea Boccelli “A Royal Christmas Tour” west coast tour dates to renowned acclaim.

Additional recent engagements include the Three Heroines in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with The Madlenianum Opera and in Belgrade; Hannah in The Merry Widow with Indianapolis Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera and Lyric Opera Malaysia; Alice Ford in Falstaff with Opera Lyra Ottawa; Madga in La Rondine with Utah Symphony & Opera; Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and Marguerite in Faust with Michigan Opera Theater; Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Santa Barbara Opera; Carmina Burana in Portland, Oregon with the widely acclaimed dance troop BodyVox; First Lady in The Magic Flute with the Beijing Music Festival; Desdemona in Otello with Hawaii Opera Theatre; Mimi in La Bohème with Opera Carolina; Musetta with New York City Opera, Micaela in Carmen for Houston Grand Opera; and Nedda in I Pagliacci with Fresno Grand Opera.

On her first solo album “Rare Verismo Arias” (VOG/Qualiton) with Yves Abel conducting the English Chamber Orchestra, Gramophone Magazine says “a dramatic prowess that tears into the very heart of the style. Some singers invest every note with emotion. Follman's first attention is to the musical line, which she pushes and pulls to great effect…Follman's performances are clearly delineated, with no two characters sounding alike.” She can also be heard on Brahms' Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 82, with the William Hall Master Chorale (Angel).

A frequent visitor to the concert stage, Ms. Follman has appeared with the English Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, International Italian Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Alabama Symphony. Ms. Follman recently appeared in recital with tenor Warren Mok in Taipei, Taiwan with the Purely Professional Orchestra in the National Cultural Center. In addition, she has performed the soprano soloist in Rossini's Stabet Mater with the Macau International Music Festival in a live Asian broadcast, Serpina in La Serva Padrona with the Bochum Symphony Orchestra and Violetta in La Traviata with the South Texas Symphony.

  Cambria Morgan, Vice President, Marketing and Special Events
  Cambria Morgan joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2003 and currently serves as vice president, marketing and special events. She brings more than 11 years of extensive marketing and public relations experience to the school. Prior to joining, she managed accounts at local Orange County agencies including RiechesBaird and Benjamin | A Weber Shandwick Company. Prior to her agency work, Morgan served as director of public relations and special events at a women’s and children’s shelter in Arizona. She has been awarded a coveted Silver Anvil Award by Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for her work in the high-tech sector
  Steven Wagner, Chief Operations Officer and Vice President of Business
  Steven Wagner joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2001 and currently serves as chief operations officer and vice president of business. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in education to the Orange County High School of the Arts, Wagner is responsible for the management and supervision of the school’s award-winning academic and arts instructional programs. Additionally, he oversees the school’s non-instructional support services including facility, food, technology, and finance and budget. Wagner has served as both a teacher and administrator for schools throughout Orange County . Prior to joining the Orange County High School of the Arts, he served as principal at Serrano Intermediate School in Saddleback Unified School District . Wagner’s experience with the Orange County High School of the Arts began more than 20 years ago when he taught alongside Ralph Opacic, Ed.D. at Los Alamitos High School from 1987 - 1990. Wagner holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from California State University , Long Beach and a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University , Fullerton .
  Cindy Peca, Creative Director and Assistant Director, Commercial Dance Conservatory
  Cindy Peca joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 1988 and currently serves as creative director / assistant director, Commercial Dance Conservatory. A 19-year veteran at the Orange County High School of the Arts, began her distinguished career by winning the title of “National Swing Dance Champion” at the age of 11 and 18. Peca’s career has encompassed professional performances, dance education and choreography for university dance teams, film, television, commercials, professional sports teams, and stage. She has worked on and choreographed numerous industrial events such as Reebok, Asics, KMS, Neutrogena and Matrix hair products. Her film and television credits include “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Coca-Cola,” “Millers Outpost,” “Dance Fever,” “Star Search” and 1984 winner of the “American Bandstand Dance Contest.” Peca has worked with and/or choreographed for such celebrities, companies and professional sport teams as Rita Moreno, Tina Turner, Bob Hope, the Los Angeles Laker Girls, Dick Clark, Merv Griffin, Bob Fosse, and Walt Disney Records. She also choreographed the Orange County High School of the Arts production of “Gidget, The Musical” directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
  Marlene Peña-Marin, Director of Ballet Folklorico Conservatory
  Marlene Peña-Marin joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2002 and currently serves as director, Ballet Folklorico Conservatory. Widely recognized throughout the Southern California dance community, Peña-Marin has been featured in prestigious performances such as the International Folkdance Festival at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Mariachi USA Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, the City of Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Grito , and the L.A. Fiesta Broadway for the City of Los Angeles , which was profiled by KMEX-TV. An expert in dance education, Peña-Marin has instructed students in the art of ballet folklorico for more than 20 years. In addition to her role at the Orange County High School of the Arts, she currently serves as director of Relampago del Cielo Grupo Folklorico. Peña-Marin received her dance training from renowned instructors including Rosie Peña, Emilio Rivas and a variety of maestros from the United States and Mexico . She has continued her dance education training by participating in conferences sponsored by the Asociacion Nacional de Grupos Folkloricos and Instituto Nacional de Belles Artes in Mexico City .
  Steven Hyde, Director of Classical and Contemporary Dance Conservatory
  Steven Hyde joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2006 and currently serves as director, Classical and Contemporary Dance Conservatory. He began his dance training at Ballet Florida under the artistic direction of Marie Hale in 1980. In 1983, Hyde was invited by Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Artistic Director, Arnold Spohr, to join the company as a member of the corps de ballet. He quickly rose within the company and was named a principal dancer in 1987. In 1988, Hyde was invited by Evelyn Hart to perform at the International Ballet Festival in Tokyo , Japan . In 1990, he received the attention of the international ballet world when he partnered Laura Graham at the 14th International Competition in Varna , Bulgaria . Although not an official competitor, Hyde was awarded the certificate for “Excellence in Partnering.” He Hyde danced with the American Ballet Theatre from 1993-96, performing many soloist and principal roles partnering Paloma Herrera, Amanda McKerrow, Julie Kent and Christina Fagundes.

In January 2000, Hyde retired from dancing and joined the New England Ballet Company as ballet master/associate director. Additionally, he served on the faculty of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre from 2003 - 2004. Hyde also instructed and choreographed for American Ballet Intensives from 2005-2007, Kaatsbaan’s International Dance Centers Summer Intensive Program from 2004-2007, and American Ballet Theatre's™ Summer Intensive Program in Alabama from 2000-2003. Steven has guest taught at Cornell University , Ithaca College and Skidmore College .
  Jim Kolb, Director of Commercial Dance Conservatory
  Jim Kolb is a Los Angeles-based dance performer, teacher, and choreographer.  He was formally a principal dancer of the Gus Giordano Dance Company and is currently a regional director of the World Jazz Dance Congress.

Kolb was the special segment producer for the 1996 Fosse Awards Show and has performed in many movies, including New York, New York, 1941, Pennies from Heaven, and Tap.  Mr. Kolb has also toured with several stars, including Ann Margaret, Connie Stevens, and Suzanne Somers.

Kolb is on the faculty at Glendale College and Whitman College.
  Jim Blaylock, Director of Creative Writing Conservatory
  Jim Blaylock, Director of the OCHSA Creative Writing Conservatory, has written 14 published novels and about 50 short stories, novellas, and essays, including his most recent collection of short stories, Thirteen Phantasms. His novels and short stories have been published in translation in 15 foreign countries. He was twice winner of the World Fantasy Award; his novel Homunculus won the Philip K. Dick Memorial Award; and he was nominated for the O.Henry Award in 1990 for his short story "Unidentified Objects".

All in all, he has been a professional writer and teacher for 25 years, having started teaching at Fullerton Community College in 1976, the same year that his first short story appeared in print. Since then he has taught composition, literature, and creative writing at Cal State Fullerton, Redlands University, U.C. Irvine, and Chapman University before developing the Creative Writing program at OCHSA.
  Aaron Orullian, Director of Film and Television Conservatory
  Aaron Orullian came to OCHSA in 2002 as a teacher and independent filmmaker and now serves as Director of its Film & Television Conservatory. After getting a degree in film from Brigham Young University in 1997, he worked in development with the Cort/Madden Company at Paramount and as a literary assistant for the Chasin Agency in Hollywood. In 2001 Orullian received a teaching credential from Cal State University Fullerton, coming to OCHSA shortly thereafter to develop the film studies and screenwriting programs for the Film and Television Conservatory.
Aaron Orullian has continued to work on independent features and short films while mentoring his students on film production and screenwriting. He has judged the American Screenwriters Association annual script contest and assisted the Newport Beach and Sundance Film Festivals. Aaron Orullian was a finalist for the Sundance Writers Workshop in 2004 and has won other awards for screenwriting and short fiction. In 2007, he was one of twenty art teachers nationwide to win the prestigious Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship which enabled him to make a short film with his students as well as attend the Toronto Film Festival. Aaron Orullian became Director of Film and Television in the fall of 2007.
  Patricia Dobiesz, Director, Instrumental Music Conservatory
  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
  Dr. William Nicholls, Coordinator, Fennell Wind Studies Program
  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 doctorate in musical arts from University of Miami, where he studied under the advisement of legendary conductor Dr. Frederick Fennell; a master of science in trombone performance from The Juilliard School; and a bachelor of arts in music from California State University, Long Beach.

  Heather Stafford, Director of Integrated Arts Conservatory
  Heather Stafford joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 1994 and currently serves as director, Integrated Arts Conservatory. She earned a bachelor of arts from California State University, Sacramento and a master of arts from University of California, Davis and has participated in post graduate studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Stafford began her teaching career by instructing theatrical makeup classes for Harvard University's summer program during her graduate studies at Tufts University. She has served as a faculty member for the Hartnell College Department of Theatre, where she directed and performed in a variety of theatrical productions. Stafford has also served as a part-time faculty member at Fullerton Junior College. She has been a member of the Orange County High School of the Arts Music and Theatre Conservatory faculty for more than a decade. Additionally, Stafford has worked as a freelance makeup artist for several performing arts organizations throughout Orange and Los Angeles County including the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. She was selected to design and apply makeup for the “Wizard of Oz” starring Cathy Rigby at the La Mirada Theatre. She has also worked as the resident makeup artist for the Fullerton Civic Light Opera for more than 16 years. Stafford began her professional performance career in summer stock theatre in Winnipeg, Canada. She has extensive training in voice and dance and has studied with the Manitoba Theater Centre and Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
  Jeff Paul, Director of Music and Theatre Conservatory
 
Jeff Paul joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2002 and currently serves as director, Music and Theatre Conservatory. He earned his master of fine arts degree in acting/directing from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Upon graduating summa cum laude, Paul was awarded recognition as the Outstanding Graduate of the College of the Arts and subsequently joined the CSULB faculty. In addition to his teaching duties at CSULB, Paul has served as an adjunct faculty member at Long Beach City College, Santa Ana College, Saddleback College, El Camino College, Santiago Canyon College, and as guest director at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and Irvine’s Woodbridge High School. Paul has directed productions at the Century City Playhouse, West Hollywood’s Elephant Theatre, Saddleback Civic Light Opera, Long Beach Studio Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, and for various college and university programs. He co-taught with artists-in-residence Bill Irwin and Rachel Rosenthal for the California State University summer arts program.

Paul’s work in the theatre has garnered Drama-Logue Awards (Sweeney in Sweeney Todd; The Devil in Merlin) acting nominations, and notable performance awards from local organizations (Marat in Marat/Sade – OC Weekly; Georges in La Cage aux Folles – OC Register; "ROBBY" nomination for Sweeney Todd; performance awards for Salieri in Amadeus and Henry in The Lion In Winter – CSULB; File in 110 in the Shade – Newport Theatre Arts).

He has been a long-time company member of CalRep (Assassins, Much Ado About Nothing, The Boys of Summer, Cyrano de Bergerac, Jacques Brel…, Hamlet) and Saddleback Civic Light Opera (Tintypes, Little Shop of Horrors, The 1940s Radio Hour, Peter Pan, 42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain, and many others). Additional notable performances include Ragtime (Musical Theatre West), Room Service (Laguna Playhouse), Eden Court (International City Theatre), Jesus’ Kid Brother (Hollywood’s Lillian Theatre), Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue, Bent, The Lion in Winter, Wait Until Dark, A Little Night Music, Speed-the Plow, Blame It On The Movies, Hair, Titus Andronicus, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Robber Bridegroom, the Sondheim revue You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow; and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.

Paul has won awards for his direction of The Wiz, Psycho Beach Party, Haiku and Play On! His other directing credits include Ruthless! The Musical; The Boys Next Door; Twelfth Night; How I Learned to Drive; Once On This Island; Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; The Tempest; Hello, Dolly!; Graceland; The Shadow Box; Grease; Rumors; Dark of the Moon; Co-Dependent Cooking; The Crucible; Our Town; Parallel Lives; Bobby Gould in Hell; Sylvia; Story Theatre; The Marriage of Bette and Boo; The Solo Voice and The Baby Dance.

Paul became director of the Orange County High School of the Arts Music and Theatre Conservatory in 2002. Since then, he has updated and recalibrated the Music and Theatre Conservatory curriculum and performance opportunities for high school and middle school students. He is proud to have assembled a staff of more than 30 arts specialists and to have produced a full array of programming that reflects the diverse talents and strengths of the school’s students.

The Music and Theatre Conservatory faculty represent all of the performing unions and the majority hold advanced degrees. Additionally, many are also faculty members at various local colleges and universities.

Paul has directed the following productions at the Orange County High School of the Arts: The Laramie Project; The Shadow Box; Godspell; The House of Blue Leaves; The Dining Room; Bye Bye Birdie; Into the Woods; Working; Dearly Departed, License to Jive; A Tribute to Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (Gala 2004); and The Santa Ana Historical Society 2002 Fairhaven Cemetery Tour. Working was selected to represent California at the International Thespian Festival and was voted “Best Performance at Show” at the 2007 MACY awards. During Paul’s tenure at the Orange County High School of the Arts, Music and Theatre Conservatory students have participated in master classes with or performed alongside celebrated performing artists, including Donna McKechnie, Clay Aiken, Barbara Cook, Jerry Herman, James Blunt, Megan Mullally, Carol Channing, Hector Elizando, Cathy Rigby, Alice Ripley, Susan Egan, Jodi Benson, Matthew Morrison, Davis Gaines, Karen Morrow, Teri Ralston, Jason Graae, Hollis Resnik, Christine Andreas, Marin Mazzie, Jason Danielly, Lisa Richard, Teri Bibb, and Karen Culliver.

  Kevin Cook, Director, Production and Design Conservatory
  Kevin Cook joined the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2008 and currently serves as director, Production and Design Conservatory. He previously served as technical director / lighting designer for Brite Ideas, Inc., where he provided overall technical direction and designed lighting and/or sound for a number of projects and high-profile clients, including the Orange County Performing Arts Center, J. Paul Getty Museum, Lexus U.S. Open, Variety 100th Anniversary, Elton John, Roberto Cavalli, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Maroon 5, California State University, Fullerton and more.

Cook spent nineteen years as resident lighting and sound designer for Saddleback College, where he managed the research, design, purchase and installation of a $1.4 million state-of-the-art lighting, audio and rigging system, and provided direction for a variety of productions, including Romeo and Juliet, Chicago, and 42nd Street, as well as special guest artist events featuring Susan Egan, North Carolina Dance Theatre, New York Harp Ensemble, and more.

He has also served as an associate faculty member at Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College and Santa Ana College, teaching technical theatre / design classes, stage lighting, theatre production and stagecraft, and supervising student technical crews. Cook has also worked as a freelance designer and production manager for a variety of professional theatre groups, including Utah Shakespeare Festival, Santa Fe Opera Company, Center Theatre Group, and more. He holds a master of fine arts degree in technical theatre / design and a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from California State University, Fullerton.

  Paige Oden, Director of Visual Arts Conservatory
  Paige Oden is a lifetime resident of Orange County, specifically the town of Laguna Beach. Paige completed her Bachelor of fine arts degree in Drawing and Painting at California State at Long Beach, where she earned a scholarship to study art history in Florence, Italy during her junior and senior year. Upon returning from Italy Oden began her master of fine arts degree in Bronze Sculpture, working under the instruction of well-known Bay area artist/sculptor, Steven De Staebler. While in graduate school, Ms. Oden taught life sculpture and drawing at the university level. After finishing her master of fine arts degree, Ms. Oden continued to teach classes at CSU Long Beach as well as set up an art studio in Laguna Beach, where she began producing her own paintings and sculptures.

Oden currently exhibits her artworks in galleries throughout the United States, most notably in the Northern California Bay area. She has also been an eleven-year exhibitor in the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, in her hometown of Laguna Beach, California. Her artworks are included in public and private art collections throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan.
   
   

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