Kick off another exciting school year with a stunning beachfront concert at sunset!

Kick off another exciting school year with a stunning beachfront concert at sunset!

Join us Saturday, October 1, 2022 for an exciting concert by OCSA’s incredible singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, who will share the stage with accomplished alumni and renowned guest artists. This captivating show will feature special appearances by MONTAGE!, OCSA’s celebrated performance group, as well as the Ambassador Jazz Orchestra, a talented ensemble of student musicians that recently took third place at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival in New York City.

When: 5:30 p.m. | Cocktail Reception

            6:30 p.m. | Dinner and Performance

Where: Balboa Bay Resort

             1221 West Coast Highway | Newport Beach, CA 92663

             Complimentary valet parking provided

*Suggested Attire: California Casual (event will take place on the lawn)

Underwriting

Help support the talented student performers at OCSA’s annual Season Premiere through a tax-deductible cash donation of $100 or more! Your contribution will help provide our bright and talented young artists with a once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity. 

The Orange County School of the Arts Foundation is organized as a nonprofit organization under IRS code 501(c)(3).  Our Tax ID is 33-0377341. All cash donations are fully tax deductible as provided by law.

Underwriting

About Our host, Lauren Lim Jackson (CMD, '03)

Originally from Orange County California, Lauren Lim Jackson graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts where she was the Academic Valedictorian as well as Valedictorian of the Commercial Dance Conservatory. She later attended Harvard University where she received her B. A. in Sociology with a Secondary in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Her Broadway credits include Pretty Woman, Motown, Memphis, Wonderland, and Finian’s Rainbow. Her off-Broadway/Regional/Tour credits include The Wiz (Encores), Chicago (Velma Kelly), Big Fish (Josephine), Ring of Fire (Alpine Theater Project), Rocky Horror Show (Old Globe), and West Side Story (Anita).

Her film Film/TV credits include Natalie on Almost Family, High Maintenance, New Amsterdam, The Post, Shades of Blue, The Blacklist, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Deadbeat, Bikini Moon, When We Grow Up, Strange Past, Smash, The Smurfs, Mrs. Santa Claus, and Kidsongs. Ms. Jackson is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA and is the Director of Musical Theatre at Orange County School of the Arts.

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About Our host, Lauren Lim Jackson (CMD, '03)

About the guest artists

 

Wayne Bergeron

Wayne Bergeron is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world with studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keeping him busy. As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of recording credits span across the genres of contemporary jazz and pop, including artists like Ray Charles, Green Day, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Idina Menzel, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, and others. He has played on over 500 television and motion picture soundtracks, including Soul, Ford v. Ferrari, the Toy Story and Frozen film franchises, Crazy Rich Asians, Sing, Moana, Hairspray, Dreamgirls, and more. He has recorded and played with some of Los Angeles’ most respected bands including Quincy Jones, Gordon Goodwin, and many others.

Lacey Bihari

Lacey Bihari (BR, '17) is a Professional American Rhythm Finalist and ballroom dance instructor. She began dancing at the age of 10 and later attended OCSA in the Ballroom Dance Conservatory. While at OCSA, Bihari participated in numerous ballroom dance competitions and performances, including becoming a Youth Latin Finalist at Embassy Ballroom Championships in International Latin. She went on to attend California State University, Fullerton where she studied human services while continuing to teach and develop her professional rhythm career. Bihari has been teaching since the age of 16 and enjoys sharing her passion for dance, performance, and fitness.

Bernie Dresel

​Bernie Dresel has been one of the busiest drummer and percussionist studio and live musicians in the world since moving to Los Angeles in 1983. Dresel, an alumnus of the prestigious Eastman School of Music, has had a major impact on the art of modern big-band drumming. He has traveled the world as the drummer for the Grammy-winning Brian Setzer Orchestra and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. 

Dresel’s film and TV credits include: Jurassic World​, Inside Out, Incredibles 2, Up, The Sopranos,​ ​The Simpsons, and more. He has also recorded and/or performed with Chaka Khan, Andrea Bocelli, Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, and others.

Gianna Pedregon

Violinist and composer Gianna Pedregon (IM, '21) attends University of the Pacific and is part of the Pacific Jazz Ambassadors. Pedregon graduated from Orange County School of the Arts’ Garn Family Jazz Studies Program and was part of several performance groups, including the Monterey Next Generation Women In Jazz Combo, the NYO Jazz ensemble, and the Colburn Jazz Workshop. She has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Jazz Education Network conference, and others. She has received numerous awards as a jazz soloist and has been mentored by and played with Marquis Hill, Samara Joy, Sullivan Fortner, Gretchen Parlato, Helen Sung, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wayne Bergeron, Kenny Rampton, Tamir Hendelman, and Josh Nelson.

Eric Marienthal

Eric Marienthal is a Grammy award-winning saxophonist, recording artist, and author. He began his career performing with legendary New Orleans trumpeter, Al Hirt. Marienthal later became a member of the famed Chick Corea Elektric Band and Jeff Lorber Fusion. He has released 15 solo CDs and performed with many renowned artists, including Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, David Lee Roth, B.B. King, Patti Labelle, Olivia Newton-John, and others. Marienthal is also an active online music educator with more than 200 video lessons, tracks, and exercises for students of every level.

Jamond McCoy

Jamond McCoy is an improvisational jazz and gospel influenced vocalist, pianist, composer, arranger, session singer, and accompanist creating music for various venues and other fellow musicians. He is dedicated and committed to giving each musical endeavor the passion, energy and respect it deserves. McCoy’s current endeavors include teaching at studios and working as an assistant director at the Monterey Jazz Summer Camp. McCoy is looking forward to pushing the limits and carrying on the legacy of M-pact, a music group hailed as "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world" by the San Francisco Chronicle, for which he now sings baritone.

John Swiger

John Swiger (BR, '17) is a proud graduate of the OCSA Ballroom Dance Conservatory, and an Amateur Youth and Under 21 Latin champion and finalist. He was an Under 21 Latin finalist at the USA Dance Nationals in Baltimore, and Under 21 Latin Jr. Olympic Gold medalist. While at OCSA, Swiger received the program's highest honor, The Director's Award and was the Captain of OCSA's award-winning Latin Formation Team. He is now a teacher for the OCSA Ballroom Dance Conservatory and a Professional American Rhythm finalist with his partner, Lacey Bihari.

OCSA's Ambassador Jazz Orchestra

OCSA’s Ambassador Jazz Orchestra (AJO) has won multiple top honors at jazz festivals, including the notable Reno Family Jazz Festival, placed third in the nation at the widely renowned Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition. The orchestra opened for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, consisting of 15 of the world’s finest jazz musicians and led by Wynton Marsalis, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the end of 2021. AJO is part of The Garn Family Jazz Studies Program within OCSA’s Instrumental Music Conservatory.

*Ambassador Jazz Orchestra photos by Ulrika Molin Photography

SPECIAL THANKS TO HONORARY PRODUCER CAROLE PICKUP AND THE BALBOA BAY RESORT, AND TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK AND MCKENNA SUBARU