In collaboration with the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Leadership Class, we are so excited to announce our special 35th Anniversary Spotify Playlist to get everyone pumped up for the remainder of the school year! This list celebrates the amazing musical talents of OCSA’s alumni and student bands, singers, instrumentalists, and Broadway stars. Here is a sampling of who you will find on this special playlist:
French Park: This incredible band is made up of current students and a recent graduate. Band members include Charlotte La Rue (PM, '21), Lance Evensen (PM, '22), Thomas Muri (PM, '22) and Wyatt Beckley (PM, '22). Be sure to follow @french_park on Instagram for info about upcoming shows.
Sean Lee (IM, ‘05): Sean Lee is a notable violinist who recently just released an album with pianist Peter Dugan, Paganini X Schumann: 9 Caprices. He is a recipient of the Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Career Grant and is currently a faculty member of the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division and the Perlman Music Program.
Undecided Future: Matt Isaac (FTV, ‘15), Cole Fredrick (PM, ‘16), Nick Stone (PM, ‘15), Matisse Pasillas (FTV, ‘15) and Chris Trimmer make up the award-winning urban pop band, Undecided Future. The group can often be seen performing live around Orange County and has even performed on campus for OCSA students! Be sure to follow and support these amazing alumni on Instagram @undecidedfuture.
Alix Page (PM, ‘20): Alix Page made her mark here at OCSA when she was a student and vocalist in the Popular Music Conservatory and MONTAGE! She performed in many memorable shows for her conservatory, as well as OCSA’s annual Gala and Season Premiere. This amazing vocalist also just released an EP called Old News, which you can check out here.
Krysta Rodriguez (MT, ‘02): Krysta Rodriguez is a Broadway and television actress known for her roles in hit productions including In the Heights, Spring Awakening, and The Addams Family. She has most recently been seen alongside actor Ewan McGregor in the Netflix mini-series Halston, where she played Liza Minelli.
Stephanie J. Block (MT, ‘90): In 2019, Stephanie J. Block won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Rick Elice’s The Cher Show. Additionally, she has starred in several memorable and beloved musicals including Wicked, Falsettos, Anything Goes, and many others.
Timothy Wynn (IM, ‘88): Alumnus and LA-based composer Timothy Wynn has scored many video games, films, and television shows. You may recognize his work if you have seen Supernatural, Freaks, or Disney XD’s MechX4, or if you’ve played XCOM 2, Darkness II or Total War: Warhammer. In 2020, he and renowned writer, director and producer Sandy Sternshein participated in an interactive career discussion as part of OCSA’s Master Artist Series.
New York Youth Symphony with Michael Repper (IM, ‘08): Musician, educator, advocate and conductor, Michael Repper currently serves as Music Director for the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS) among other projects. In addition to recently helping OCSA to celebrate its 35th anniversary at the “Symphony of Dreams” concert, he just released an album with the NYYS that was recorded amid the pandemic titled Works by Florence Price, Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery.
To see more, be sure to check out the full playlist. Other artists include: Alexa Cappelli, Grace McLean, Terron Brooks, c a n d i d !, and many others.
Did we miss anyone?! Be sure to direct us to any amazing OCSA students and alumni that we can add to the playlist. In the meantime: happy listening!
Note: Some songs on this playlist may contain adult language.