STATE OF THE ART

The following students won first place in their categories in Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) High School Music Competition.

Solo Piano
Helaine Zhao (IM, ‘24) - "Allegro de Concierto" by Enrique Granados

Performer Composer (Instrumental)
Diego Legras (PM, ‘23) - "Improvisation #1" by Diego Legras

Solo Voice
Viveka Saravanan (CV, ‘24) - "Fair Robin I Love" by Kirke Mechem

Chamber Music
Christopher Cung (IM, ‘22) - "Trio in B Minor for Piano, Oboe and Clarinet, Movement I" by Edouard Destenay

The following students received the top score of 5 on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams. They were also among an elite group of students in the world to earn a perfect score on an AP exam.

Melanie Huq (CW, ‘21) - English Literature & Composition, United States Government & Politics
Hadley Miller (MT, ‘22) - Research
Yaira Spitzer-Tilchin (MT, ‘22) - Research
Helaine Zhao (IM, ‘24) - Chinese Language and Culture

John Walcutt, Director of The El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory, recently performed his one-man show, "The Mythology of Me," at the Margaret A. Webb Theatre.

Reese Gonzales (ACT, ‘19) was cast as Dante Quintana in the film adaptation of "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe." To read more about the film, please visit: https://bit.ly/3mlcrYH

Ava Kuntz (CV, ‘21) was selected to participate in the South Coast Symphony’s Young STARS of the Future concert.

Ava Gwendolyn Richards (CW, ‘25) published a book, titled "Training Wheels," now available on Amazon.

Chloe Ness (MT, ‘24) won first place in Contemporary Commercial Music and Classical categories at the 2021 VO-Cal Competition.

Jessica Hong (CW, ‘24) received the Judge’s Distinction Award in Category III (ages 13-15) of the Satori Strings Grand Prize Contest.

Jennifer Vu (IM, ‘26) won the Golden Prize and a $300 award in the Chamber Music Division (Youth Piano Duet) at the 2021 Kansas City Conero International Piano Competition.

Hazel Vuu (IM, ‘23) and Rachael Vu (IM, ‘24) received first place in the 2021 Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. They were invited to perform their winning piece, "Variations on a Theme by Paganini" for two pianos by Witold Lutoslawski, at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City.

Ella Jerrier (FTV, ‘25), as president of GirlBoss Films, recently wrote, produced, directed, and starred in her own film, "The Waiting Room." Her film was shown at the TCL Chinese Theatre and NoHo Cinefest in Hollywood and has also been selected for the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Zach Willis (MT, ‘25) was cast in the film "Dear Evan Hansen" and performed the song “You Will Be Found” as a member of the ensemble.

Dahlia Sarmiento (CW, ‘24) was unanimously appointed to the City of Santa Ana Youth Commission by the Santa Ana City Council.

Melody Chang (IM, ‘22) won the prestigious 2021 Dragon Challenge from the Dragon Kim Foundation for her project “Let’s Learn about Public Health!” Her project entailed writing a book for children in grades 3-6, in an effort to educate them about modern concepts of public health. She also ran a community summer camp to deliver her curriculum to 120 children. Through the Dragon Kim Foundation, she was awarded $5,000 to translate her book into other languages, develop a curriculum to teach her book in elementary schools, and advocate at the state level for her book and curriculum to be taught in more school districts. To read more about Melody’s project, please visit https://bit.ly/3uIEpQx

Andy Choi's (CW, ‘22) debut novel, "Slow Hot," has been published by Schism Press. Set in a near-distant, near-dystopian world where everyone has alphanumeric names and chip implants are commonplace, "Slow Hot" explores the main character’s journey through an over-commercialized world and their longing to connect with a Korea of the past.

Sophia Kang (PD, ‘24) performed in the Arts & Learning Conservatory’s production of "Once on This Island Jr." in the lead role of Asaka, Mother of Earth. She also won first place at the 2021 Musical Arts Competition of Orange County in the Musical Theater category.

The following students performed in a Braver Players Musical Theater Foundation production of "Spring Awakening."

Sadie Braverman (ACT, ‘23)
Mya Gonzales (ACT, ‘23)
Collin Heinrich (ACT, ‘23)
Zach Hoffman (ACT, ‘22)
Lauren Williams (ACT, ‘22)

Sarah Parigela (IM, ‘23) and Shayna Kaplan (IM, ‘23) started a nonprofit organization, called Strike a Chord, to teach music to underserved children in Orange County. The organization aims to provide everyone with the opportunity to flourish through the power of music with performances and instrument donations.

Josh Wood, Director of the Creative Writing Conservatory, had his flash science fiction story, "Space & Aces," published in the online magazine 365 Tomorrows.

Haven Aram Hanson (PD, ‘23) was cast in the lead role of Seymour in Yorba Linda Spotlight Theater's production of "Little Shop of Horrors." He also provided wig and makeup design, in addition to creating specialty props for the show.

Creative Writing Instructor Tira Palmquist's newest play, "King Margaret," had an online reading with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The following students from OCSA’s Eye Matter club hosted a national online summer camp for visually impaired children, utilizing a $5,000 grant from the Anekant Community Foundation. Over the course of five weeks, they focused on creating a supportive community and fostering a sense of belonging, all while combating ableism within the arts. To view their program highlights video, please click here: https://bit.ly/3uGuevU

Ritika Asher (BCD, ‘23)
Alex Breschini (CV, ‘22)
Cece Fanelli (PD, ‘22) - Vice President
Stella Goodman (CV, ‘23)
Anjal Jain (CV, ‘22) - President
Delaney Manna (PD, ‘23)
Finley Sasena (BCD, ‘23)
Hailey Somphone (CV, ‘22)

Wyatt Beckley (PM, ‘22) attended the Berklee College of Music’s Summer Aspire program and was selected as a guitarist in the All-Star Funk-Fusion Band.

Soren Almeida (FTV, ‘22) displayed and sold his photography as a student artist at Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach. To read more about the student artist program, please click here: https://bit.ly/3a6Jhpe

Sonali Dhanidina (IA, ‘25) was chosen to perform her spoken word piece “Silent Colors” at Breaking Bias, the annual spotlight event for NewGround, which empowers Jewish and Muslim change-makers with the skills, resources, and relationships needed to improve Muslim-Jewish relations and strengthen cooperation on issues of shared concern.

Paige Oden, Director of the Visual Arts Conservatory, has been named the 2021 Woman of the Year by Congressman Lou Correa and the 46th California Congressional District. This award honors outstanding women who exemplify ethical leadership and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) has been ranked by Niche as the #1 Best Charter High School in California for the third year in a row, as well as the #6 Best Charter High School in America for 2022! We would like to express our gratitude to all the students, teachers, and staff who continue to make OCSA an exceptional institution. To view all rankings for OCSA, please visit: https://bit.ly/3D8R02u

The following students participated in the short film “Musical Theater Camp 3” produced by Braver Players Musical Theater Foundation.


Sadie Braverman (ACT, ‘23)
Colin Daniels (ACT, ‘22)
Mya Gonzales (ACT, ‘23)
Zach Hoffman (ACT, ‘22)
Jack Ireland (ACT, ‘25)
Chase Johnson (ACT, ‘26)
Caleb Malis (IA, ‘23)
Madeline Rosenberg (ACT, ‘26)
Leilani Steiner (ACT, ‘25)

The following students and alumni, along with faculty members Briana and Kris Suakjian, were recognized for their accomplishments at the 2021 Embassy Ballroom Championships.

Jacqueline Artinian (BR, ‘22)
Gabriel Cho (BR, ‘24)
Presley Herthel (BR, ‘26)
Jack Hillebrecht (BR, ‘26)
Lucas McCollum-VanHoosear (BR, ‘22)
Aurelia Philmore (BR, ‘24)
Marina Pitt (BR, ‘26)
Isaac Reynoso (BR, ‘20)
Kaylee Tran (BR, ‘27)
Cynthia Zhang (BR, ‘27)

Emilia Djordjevic (IM, ‘23) won first place in the Piano Open Category in the Satori Summer Music Festival.

Ava Kuntz (CV, ‘21) won first place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Competition in the Musical Theater Competition. Her award-winning performance was “Me and the Sky” from Come From Away by Sankoff & Hein.

Joy Baik’s (VA, ‘19) illustration work was published in the book "In All of Your Days Have You Seen the Ways an Animal Plays an Instrument?" by Lisa Baker.

Keira Base (CV, ‘22) was named the Division 6 Young Marine of the Year. Representing eight states on the west coast, she was selected to travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other young marines.

Anirudh Kota (FTV, ‘22) was one of three winners of the Lockdown Script Writing Contest sponsored by Notre Dame High School and the Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation.

Estella Sky Keyoung (CV, ‘25) was accepted into the Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) program at Johns Hopkins University. This selective program identifies and provides special services to gifted youth.

Aryan Simhadri (ACT, ‘24) booked the role of Walter in the new Broadway musical Trevor, scheduled to premiere on Stage 42 this fall.

Bianca Lozano (BF, ‘21), Fatima Oregon (BF), and Sammy Perez (BF, ‘21) were a part of a team that helped inspire children through Mexican folk dancing at Garden Grove Methodist Church. They taught folklórico to more than 50 kids through their program, titled Sembrando Dahlias, which was made possible by funding from the Dragon Kim Foundation. To read more about their story, please visit: https://bit.ly/3uPS8Fl

Anjal Jain (CV, ‘22) won the National Talk and Mend Asian American Storytelling Competition. Anjal filmed, directed, and edited a short film depicting the struggles of the South Asian community in the United States. This film offered potential solutions to combating racial prejudice and bridged the gap between racial communities. Anjal also won the $2,000 Outstanding High School Project award in the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes’ Discovery Award competition for her project “From Asylums to Institutions: Samuel Gridley Howe's Unsung Perpetuation of Anti-Ableism.”

Ariyah Brown (ACT, ‘21) received second place in the inaugural OC Youth Poet Laureate competition. The OC Poet Laureate program celebrates and honors local poets who exhibit a commitment to not just artistic excellence, but also to civic engagement, youth leadership, and social justice.

Clara Choi (CMD, ‘25) was recognized as one of the top 30 finalists selected to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS competition. Broadcom MASTERS, the nation's premier STEM competition, seeks to inspire the young scientists, engineers, and innovators who will solve the complex challenges of the future. Clara will compete for over $100,000 in experiential awards and prizes.

Caitlyn Mason's (CW, ‘23) original play, Fluent Love, placed in the top eight entries in the Kennedy Center's Annual VSA Playwright Discovery Award Competition. The awards highlight the experiences of students with disabilities.

Sammie Gee (CAH, ‘24) was recognized for culinary excellence, artistry, presentation, and service for original handcrafted hors d'oeuvres at OC Wonderland.

The following students received a cumulative total of 113 gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Dancesport category at the West Coast Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games. Some dancers also represented OCSA as Junior Olympic Ambassadors.

Hannah Ayala (BR, ‘23)
Jude Camaya (BR, ‘23) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Gabriel Cho (BR, ‘24) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Presley Herthel (BR, ‘27)
Jack Hillebrecht (BR, ‘27)
Grace Kim (BR, ‘22) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Jared Lee (BR, ‘23) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Natalia Lin (BR, ‘22) - Junior Olympic Ambassador and National Anthem Vocalist
Sophie Ma (BR, ‘23) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Colton McCann (BR, ‘22) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Isabelle Miranda (BR, ‘21)
Samantha Okada-Lam (BR, ‘26)
Aurelia Philmore (BR, ‘24)
Marina Pitt (BR, ‘27)
Joshua Qin (BR, ‘23) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Meghan Reardon (BR, ‘24)
Ambria Shields (BR, ‘27)
Brody Silva (BR, ‘25)
Sean Sulit (BR, ‘24)
Jeffrey Tadeo (BR, ‘22)
Jericho Tran-Faypon (BR, ‘22) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Hana Uehara (BR, ‘23) - Junior Olympic Ambassador
Celeste Valadez (BR, ‘24)
Alexander Vargas (BR, ‘24)
Melissa Yan (BR, ‘23)

Jacki Vellandi (ACT, ‘22) was awarded first place in the Playwriting category at the International Thespian Excellence Awards for her play "Reverie" and received the Grace Kelly Scholarship.

Maya Alvarez-Coyne (CMD, ‘21) was crowned Miss California’s Outstanding Teen and received first place in both talent and interview categories.

Luna Zamora (CV, ‘24) was cast in the guest starring role of Gabby on the Nickelodeon show Blaze and the Monster Machines.

Former Director of the Popular Music Conservatory Rachel Kramer received the 2021 Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton Emerging Leader Award from Arts School Network (ASN) for elevating the conservatory to a new level of excellence and providing an exceptional learning environment for OCSA students. The Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton Emerging Leader Award is designed to recognize excellence and achievement among rising arts schools administrators and to highlight the innovative educational practices or programs of those leaders.

Zoe Hebbard (IA, ‘21) performed the lead role of Eva in South Coast Repertory's production of the play "Snow Angel."

West Mulholland (ACT, ‘23) was cast in the role of Axel on season five of "Animal Kingdom" on TNT.

Adrienne Amanda Morrow (MT, ‘25) was cast in the role of Freddy and as the understudy for the role of Katie in "School of Rock: The Musical" at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Utah. The show features the first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on-stage.

The following students participated in the Fred Astaire World Championships and received the following awards.

Amateur Championship Youth Smooth
1st Place: Jacqueline Artinian (BR, ‘22) and Lucas McCollum Van Hoosear (BR, ‘22)
2nd Place: Jude Camaya (BR, ‘23) and Meghan Reardon (BR, ‘24)

Pro-Am Open Smooth Scholarship
1st Place: Jacqueline Artinian (BR, ‘22)
2nd Place: Lucas McCollum Van Hoosear (BR, ‘22)

Youth Amateur Jr. Open Smooth Scholarship
1st Place: Jude Camaya (BR, ‘23) and Meghan Reardon (BR, ‘24)

Zoe McCuen (DM, ‘19) illustrated the book Kid and the Magic Orb, which is now available on Amazon. Zoe was also featured in an article on the CalArts blog. To read the article, visit: https://bit.ly/3jfnYag

Elsa Chang (VA, ‘06) participated in a Comic-Con@Home panel for her work on “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” and the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. To view the full panel, please visit: https://bit.ly/3gwDwVB

Matthew Garbacz (MT, ‘23) plays the role of John Deacon, bassist and backup singer, in The Kings of Queen, a professional Queen tribute band.

Syona McEligot (MT, ‘25) performed in an Arts and Learning Conservatory production of Once on This Island, Jr. She played the role of the narrator and danced in a majority of the numbers.

Garrett Wirth (CV, ‘26) received an honorable mention in Classical Voice and Theater from the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) San Diego Branch VOCE Competition.

Zabby Bagnol (PD, ‘24) was recognized by the Orange County Human Relations Commission’s To Know Better Contest for outstanding community arts efforts related to the rise in hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zabby was awarded $500 for her submission. Zabby also designed the costumes, makeup, and set at OC Steampunk Wonderland.

The following students placed in the California Restaurant Foundation’s Prostart Cup Competition and competed against 27 other high schools and 194 students.

Culinary:
Wienerschnitzel's Dress Your Dog Competition
1st place: Madison "Star" Lu (CAH, ‘22)
2nd place: Naya Garg (CAH, ‘24)

Taco Throwdown
2nd place: Naya Garg (CAH, ‘24)

Cupcake Bake-Off
2nd place: Natalie Dixon (CAH, ‘22)

Management:
Create + Curate: Original Menu
1st place: Isabella Vegh (CAH, ‘21)

Branding Challenge: Logo + Marketing
1st place: Isabella Vegh (CAH, ‘21)
3rd place: Madison "Star" Lu (CAH, ‘22)

Design Challenge: Floorplan + Decor
1st place: Isabella Vegh (CAH, ‘21)
2nd place: Madison "Star" Lu (CAH, ‘22)

The following students were awarded overall superior ratings in the 2021 State and International Thespian Festivals.

International Competition:
Acting Monologue
Jacki Vellandi (ACT, ‘22)

Playwriting
Bridget Phillips (MT, ‘22)

Solo Musical
Mia Geise (MT, ‘24)

State Competition:
Acting Duet
Hope Lee (ACT, ‘26) and Alexandra Sprague (ACT, ‘26)

Group Musical
Ana Sofia Gomez Garza (MT, ‘25)
Shayla Knihtila (ACT, ‘26)
Lana Lee (IA, ‘26)
Hope Lee (ACT, ‘26)
Hailey Perng (ACT, ‘26)
Alexandra Sprague (ACT, ‘26)
Erin Tardibuono (MT, ‘25)

Monologue
Bridget Phillips (MT, ‘22)
Erin Tardibuono (MT, ‘25)
Jacki Vellandi (ACT, ‘22)

Musical Solo
Meghan Barton (MT, ‘23)
Mia Geise (MT, ‘24)
Shayla Knihtila (ACT, ‘26)
Jacki Vellandi (ACT, ‘22)

James Yi (CW, ‘24) was offered a Scholastic Awards Summer (SAS) Scholarship to attend Writopia Lab’s Full-Day Camp.